At the State Funeral for Queen Elizabeth, Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, preached a brief message with John 14:6 as his text. Welby said: “The pattern for many leaders is to be exalted in life and forgotten after death. The pattern for all who serve God – famous or obscure, respected or ignored – is that death is the door to glory…Jesus – who in our reading does not tell his disciples how to follow, but who to follow – said: ‘I am the way, the truth and the life’. Her Late Majesty’s example was not set through her position or her ambition, but through whom she followed.”
His phrase, “not…how to follow, but who to follow” has stuck with me this week, resonant and echoing. For personal griefs and trials, as well as for the sense of national loss and mourning, these words have become an anchor and a vital reminder.
Time and again we see Jesus in the pages of Scripture simply say, “Follow me.” He says to the worker, “follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people” (Matt. 4:18-20). He says to the bereaved, “follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead” (Matt. 8:21f). He says to the crowd, “take up [your] cross and follow me” (Matt. 10:37-39, 16:24f). He says to the privileged, “follow me” (Matt. 19:20-22). He says to the quisling, “follow me” (Mk. 2:14). He says to the urban youth, “follow me” (John 1:43). He says to the wanderer, “follow me” (John 10:27, 12:26). He says to the desolate, “follow me” (John 21:19-22). The obvious questions rarely come into focus: “Why?” “Where to?” “For How long?” “What’s involved?” “What will I get out of it?” “Who else is coming?” As Welby noted, it’s never “how to follow, but who to follow.”
The Archbishop carried on: “In 1953 the Queen began her Coronation with silent prayer, just there at the High Altar. Her allegiance to God was given before any person gave allegiance to her. Her service to so many people in this nation, the Commonwealth and the world, had its foundation in her following Christ – God himself – who said that he ‘came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.’”
Christ is the focus for our following. Christ is the pattern for our following. Christ is the example for our following. All our questions are resolved by following Him. All the costs and doubts and fears and worries and stresses and problems and obstacles are resolved by following Him.
When I wonder how I can navigate through moments of anguish and despair,
I choose to follow the One who is “the Way.”
When I wonder how I can navigate a straight path through a crooked world,
I choose to follow the One who is “the Truth.”
When I wonder how I can navigate through loss and bereavement,
I choose to follow the One who is “the Life.”