After the first two posts of this series, it may seem like the final act of following Jesus is the most simple and will require less frustration on our part. Denying ourselves and taking up our crosses, for the American mind, seems impossible. You want me to say no to my flesh and look to Someone else as my greatest fulfillment? No thanks! I want the money and the luxury and the security of this life. But just retracing Jesus’ footsteps seems simple enough.
Here’s the reality: following Jesus is nothing like following your favorite celebrity on social media. It’s not seeing the life of Christ from afar and “liking” what He has done. It isn’t commenting on His work and being “so proud of You xoxo”. Honestly, obedience to the call of following Jesus can ONLY be done when we have first denied ourselves, taken up our cross, and committed to mimicking the life of Jesus in our lost and dying world.
The act of following Jesus is an essential part of being a Christian. It is the foundation which we base our entire lives upon. It is what sets us apart from the unbelievers of the world as we become imitators of Christ. In order to imitate Him well, we have to follow Him closely and constantly, having given up the comfort and security of our worldly possessions and relying fully on Jesus to sustain us. We look to Him as our example in this life to guide us to eternity in the presence of God the Father in the next life.
It is important to notice that Jesus calls us to follow Him, not just be fans of Him. We are not meant to sit on the outside as spectators of Jesus’ life but we are to partake in life with Him. We are expected to follow Him and live like Him, not just sit by and watch Him work in the pages of Scripture. We are to go where Jesus went, befriend people He befriended, and do the things He did.
Discipleship
Many of us have heard the term “discipleship” floating around the church for some time. Discipleship is loosely defined as “following someone as diligent students who respect and revere the one they are following”. When we willingly follow someone, we are a disciple of that person.
We need to be careful to determine who we are allowing to disciple us. We should be disciples of Jesus first and foremost. Jesus says “follow ME”, not “follow those who follow Me”. Over following anyone else in this world, we should follow Jesus. Not our parents, not our grandparents, not even our pastors or mentors. They are all broken humans who are unable to give us the abundant life that Jesus can provide. Jesus should be first in our lives, over anyone or anything else!
What it Means to be a Disciple of Jesus
But how do we follow Jesus and act as His true disciples? What does the day to day life of following Him look like? How is it different from our life before we were saved by Jesus?
Below are five practical steps to better understand who Jesus is and become diligent followers of His. After all, we wouldn’t follow someone we barely even know. Therefore, it is extremely important to know Jesus and who He truly is.
Here are 5 steps to knowing who Jesus is and how to become a true disciple and follower:
- First of all, it is important to talk to Jesus and LISTEN to what He says, both through His Word and through prayer
- We have to ACCEPT what He says as the ultimate truth in our lives
- Another thing we must do is OBEY Jesus by taking action
- Give Jesus room in your life. Let Him be PRESENT in your everyday life, don’t just push Him away.
- Lastly, it is important to be willing to LEAVE EVERYTHING BEHIND for the sake of following Him.
When we accept the call to follow after Jesus, we should not only be obedient to do these five things but we should EAGERLY accept these steps as followers of Jesus.
Other Notes/Final Exhortations
Being a disciple of Jesus is to be a true worshiper of Him exclusively as we see Jesus tell the woman at the well –
“But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
– John 4:23-24
We also must be willing to serve others in the name of Jesus. We see the example Jesus gives us after He Himself washed the feet of His disciples –
“So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done for you.”
– John 13:14-15
As disciples and followers of Jesus, we should want the people around us to follow Him. We should tell the story of His life, death, and saving resurrection as witnesses to those around us just as He did throughout His ministry here on earth –
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
– Acts 1:8
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