In the Apocrapha of James (Nag Hammadi Library), Jesus makes a distinction between those who accompany him and those who pursue (follow) him:

“Instead of accompanying me, you pursued me.” – Jesus

Those who pursue (follow) are those Jesus identifies as:

• Listening but not hearing.
• Preaching but not living it out.
• Memorizing but not embodying.
• Chasing after Jesus as the cause of salvation without first being saved within themselves.

In this Jesus is calling out a kind of co-dependency among those who pursue rather than accompany – looking for an outside perceived authority to do the work of salvation for them.

In contrast, those who accompany Jesus, are known for:

• Coming to know the Love that they are in Union with Source – as Jesus himself did.
• Hearing Jesus’ teachings and applying them in their everyday lives.
• Applying these teachings and in doing so, being transformed through the healing of separation and the return to Oneness.
• Embodying Jesus’ teachings such that they understand that they are their own source of salvation.
• Achieving the salvation that can only come from within, as Jesus taught.
• Being that salvation in the world through the embodiment of Love such that others are inspired to discover and deepen that love within themselves.
• Understanding that salvation is only the beginning of the journey. It is being salvation that the purpose of our lives is fulfilled.

We are all pursuers at some point in our journey, but the ultimate goal, as it relates to Jesus, is to accompany him on that journey of inner salvation, and then being that salvation in the world so that others too might know the fullness of Love that they are and be that Love in the world.

PS: We don’t have to call ourselves Christian or proclaim Jesus Christ as “our personal Lord and savior” to apply his teachings, thus embodying our original nature as Love. The Love about which Jesus spoke is universal and meant for everyone regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or nationality.