37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
In Matthew 10:2 these are the first three apostles named. They are to the history of the church as representative of Christ’s sojourn on earth and His physical relationship with His people as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are to the Jews and God’s personal dealing with them.
They represent the Twelve Apostles as witnesses to specific miracles. In Matthew 17:1, in one fulfillment of the preceding verse, Matthew 16:28, they are led up the the Mount of Transfiguration to see the Lord in His glory. This is revealed later in Mark, as well, and beginning in Luke 9:28.
Later in Mark we will see that these three disciples ask him privately about the end of the age as they sit on the Mount of Olives looking in the direction of the temple. He also separates them from the others in the Garden of Gethsemane and takes them with him a little closer to the place where he prays the night before His execution.
There are many people who follow Christ. Some of them are very, very busy for Him, doing all sorts of works they feel called to do. A small few, though, He takes with Him and shows them things the others are too busy to take the time to see. I guess the question you might ask is are you one of those He takes with Him or are you part of the group that is so busy working for Him, trying to earn your salvation, which is an impossibility, that you miss things He wants to show you.
We must always remember, as the great Chinese Christian, Watchman Nee, said in “Two Creations”, that it is not about us. It is about Him. We should not be seeking our own spirituality, our own righteousness, or our own works but His, in all things. Do you desire to see God’s way as a righteous Christian does or do you desire to see God’s way as Christ did? There is a difference.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
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