One evening at a Catholic Young Adult gathering in Harrisburg, a lecture series produced by the Augustine Institute was presented to the group. During that video series led by Dr. Tim Gray, it was mentioned that the famous commandment “follow me” from Jesus to Peter,  and also the phrase “get behind me, Satan” were the same in the Greek: ὁπίσω μου [opiso mou]…

(Mark 8:33-34) “At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me [ὁπίσω μου], Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me [ὁπίσω μου] must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

Since discovering that, I have often wrestled with those translations. Is it purely context that scripture scholars choose to translate that same phrase differently? Or is there a sense of uneasiness with having Jesus state the same exact phrase to the disciples and to Peter after having compared him to Satan?

Jesus probably would have said “follow me” originally in Aramaic. When I was learning Greek, the first word I learned for ‘follow’ was the verb Ἀκολούθεω/akoloutheo’. The word ‘ὁπίσω’ is used as a preposition or adverb meaning ‘behind’. In English translations, both words tend to be translated “follow”. Ἀκολούθει μοι (μοι/μου = me) is used 19 times in the Gospels while ὁπίσω μου occurs 14 times. However, Ἀκολούθει is used much more often than ὁπίσω overall in the Gospels (78 to 26 occurrences respectively), which means that the Gospel authors seem to often go out of their way to use the Greek phrase ὁπίσω μου rather than ἀκολούθει μου.

Both words are used in Luke 9:23 “Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me [ὁπίσω μου], he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me [ἀκολούθειτω μου].”

If that isn’t confusing enough, in Matthew 10:38 both words are used together, “And whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me [ἀκολούθει ὁπίσω μου] is not worthy of me.”

The phrase “follow me” should be striking to all Christians. Jesus uses it for Peter on the shore, Matthew in the Tax booth, and to large crowds.  Jesus continues to use the phrase with each one of us everyday. So how do we internalize these words in our hearts? Do we understand this phrase as a command to follow? To imitate? Do we follow Jesus the way we follow a set of rules or the way ducklings follow behind their Mother? Consider how Jesus may be calling you to follow God in a new way. 

Further Scripture to reflect on:

• Mark 1:17 “Jesus said to them, “Come after me [ὁπίσω μου], and I will make you fishers of men.”
• Mark 8:33-34 “At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me [ὁπίσω μου], Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me [ὁπίσω μου] must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
• Matthew 10:38 “And whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me [ἀκολούθει ὁπίσω μου] is not worthy of me”
• Luke 9:23 “Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me [ὁπίσω μου], he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me [ἀκολούθειτω μου].”
• John 13:36 “Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me [ἀκολουθῆσαι] now, though you will follow [ἀκολουθήσεις] later.”