Jesus often said two simple words to those He called: “Follow Me.”
When Jesus called Peter and Andrew, He said:
“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).
They left their nets and followed Him. Following Jesus changed the direction of their lives. They would no longer live only for themselves. They now belonged to Him.
Following Jesus begins when a person repents of sin and places his faith in Jesus Christ. We are not saved because we follow Christ well enough. We are saved by God’s grace through faith.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).
Good works, obedience, baptism, church attendance, and religious effort cannot save us. Jesus saves us because He died for our sins and rose from the dead. However, the person who has truly trusted Christ will begin following Him.
Jesus said:
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).
Following Jesus means accepting Him as Lord, not merely asking Him to help us when we are in trouble. It means that He has the right to direct our lives.
Many people want Jesus as Savior but do not want Him as Lord. They want forgiveness, heaven, and answered prayer, but they do not want anyone telling them how to live. That is not what Jesus offered.
Jesus said:
“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).
Denying yourself does not mean believing you have no value. It means you stop treating yourself as the ruler of your life. Your desires, plans, feelings, and opinions no longer have the final word. Jesus does.
The world tells us, “Follow your heart.” Jesus tells us to follow Him. Our hearts can mislead us. Our feelings change. Jesus Christ does not change.
Taking up your cross does not mean putting up with ordinary problems, such as an illness, a difficult job, or an unpleasant neighbor. In the time of Jesus, the cross meant death. A person carrying a cross was not going somewhere to improve his life. He was going to die.
Taking up your cross means dying to the right to live only for yourself. Paul wrote:
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).
This surrender is not something we do only once. Jesus said we must take up our cross “daily.” Each day we choose whether we will follow Christ or follow ourselves.
Following Jesus means learning what He taught. We cannot follow someone while ignoring his words.
Jesus said:
“If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine” (John 8:31).
A disciple is a learner and follower. A disciple of Jesus reads His Word, believes it, and allows it to correct him. He does not pick only the parts he likes.
Some teachings of Jesus comfort us. Other teachings confront our pride, anger, greed, lust, unforgiveness, and selfishness. Following Jesus means accepting both.
The Bible was not given only to increase our knowledge. It was given to change the way we live.
“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (James 1:22).
You can know many Bible verses and still refuse to follow Christ. Knowing what Jesus said is not the same as obeying Him.
Jesus said:
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
Obedience does not earn salvation. Obedience is the response of someone who loves the One who saved him. We do not obey so that Jesus will save us. We obey because He has saved us.
Following Jesus will sometimes require us to turn away from things we once enjoyed. We may need to change our habits, friendships, entertainment, speech, or plans. Anything that leads us into sin must no longer control us.
Jesus said:
“If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you” (Matthew 5:30).
Jesus was teaching us to deal seriously with sin. He was not commanding people to harm their bodies. He was telling us to remove whatever repeatedly leads us into disobedience.
Following Jesus may also bring opposition. Friends or family members may not understand why you have changed. Some may make fun of you. Others may become angry because you no longer join them in sin.
Jesus warned:
“He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:38).
Following Christ has a cost. It may cost friendships, popularity, comfort, opportunities, or money. In some parts of the world, following Jesus can cost a person his freedom or life.
Jesus never tried to hide that cost. He told people to consider it carefully.
“For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost?” (Luke 14:28).
Jesus does not want followers who begin with excitement and leave when obedience becomes difficult. He calls us to remain faithful.
Following Jesus also means following His example. Peter wrote:
“For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).
Jesus was humble. He served others. He spoke the truth. He showed mercy. He forgave those who wronged Him. He obeyed the Father even when obedience brought suffering.
Following Jesus means we should become more like Him. John wrote:
“The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked” (1 John 2:6).
This does not happen overnight. A new believer will not understand everything at once. You will still face temptation, and you may fall into sin. Following Jesus does not mean you become perfect immediately.
The difference is that you can no longer make peace with sin. When the Holy Spirit convicts you, you confess the sin and turn from it.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
A follower of Jesus may stumble, but he does not want to stay down. He returns to Christ and continues walking.
Peter is a clear example. He followed Jesus, but he also failed badly. He denied three times that he even knew Jesus. Yet Peter repented, Jesus restored him, and Peter continued following Him.
Your failures do not mean Jesus has abandoned you. They should lead you to confession, repentance, and greater dependence upon Him.
Following Jesus also means loving other believers. Jesus said:
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
Christian love is more than a pleasant feeling. It means serving, forgiving, encouraging, correcting with kindness, and helping one another remain faithful.
A follower of Jesus should be part of a biblical church whenever possible. We need other believers who will teach us, pray with us, encourage us, and sometimes correct us. Christianity was never meant to be lived alone.
Following Jesus also means pointing other people toward Him. Before returning to heaven, Jesus told His followers:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19).
You do not need to be a pastor or know every answer. You can tell others who Jesus is, what He has done, and how He saved you. You can open the Bible and show them the truth.
Jesus said:
“If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also” (John 12:26).
Following Jesus is not adding religion to the life you already planned. It is giving your life to Him. He may lead you in ways you did not expect. He may close doors you wanted open and open doors you never considered.
You will not always understand what He is doing. You may not always feel close to Him. Following Jesus is based on faith in who He is, not on how you feel that day.
Read His Word. Pray honestly. Obey what you understand. Turn away from sin. Stay close to faithful believers. Trust Him when the way is difficult.
Do not expect to follow Him perfectly. Expect Him to keep teaching, correcting, and changing you.
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
Jesus does not call us to admire Him from a distance. He calls us to follow Him.
The question is not merely, “Do I believe that Jesus exists?”
The question is, “Have I trusted Him, surrendered my life to Him, and begun following where He leads?”