How Do We Follow Jesus?

What does it really mean to follow Jesus?

When Jesus said, “Follow me” to the disciples, there was a physical presence to follow, and audible teaching to listen to.

In Matthew 8, it said large crowds followed Jesus. They desired healing and most likely, an encouraging word.

But in 2015, how do we follow someone we cannot touch, or whose photo we can’t even Google?

Instead of following Jesus, we say we believe in the Son of God, but then follow after other pursuits.

Accolades,

Approval,

Financial Gain,

Love.

But when we pursue these paths, they often lead to disappointment, and at times, a dead end.

We followed an idol, rather than the one true God made incarnate, through Jesus.

It’s next to impossible to follow a man from Galilee who walked the earth 2,000 years ago, but we find out how to accomplish the task in Scripture.

In Matthew 16:24, Jesus said to his followers, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

What does that look like?

Maybe it means putting others first. Taking time out to visit someone who is down. Giving up something you deem as fun, but could be considered ungodly. It could mean spending all morning trying to figure out what it means to follow Jesus, instead of shopping, or enjoying the beautiful day outside.

On Wednesday night, I witnessed a perfect example of someone denying herself. Our speaker from a Christian outreach luncheon that day, most likely tired from exerting so much energy to share her story, took time out from a relaxing dinner to minister to our waiter. He was a gentleman in his late 40’s or early 50’s and was searching for answers.

When asked what he believed, the waiter told us he was spiritual, and proceeded to show us his cross, Star of David, and an evil eye he wore every day. He wanted to cover his bases, but he didn’t have assurance concerning his eternal future. The speaker, a woman who knows Jesus only because someone reached out to her, denied herself. She let her food get cold so she could spend time with our waiter and lead him to Christ. Praise God. Today our waiter is a Christian brother, and is also being issued a call to take the next step, to follow Jesus.

The great evangelist, Billy Graham, says following Christ means being committed to Jesus as Savior and Lord. He says, “This means we want him to be the master of our lives instead of trying to run them ourselves. Have you turned over the control of your life to him?”

Following Jesus doesn’t mean everything will be perfect in our world. Troubles come, but during trials he is there with us.

When we follow, he is close by.

He may call us to places we never dreamed we’d go, or we may follow him to familiar territory, not far from our own backyard.

When the disciples followed Jesus, they traveled down dusty, dirty roads to places where they were accepted, but also rejected. They followed him into a storm, to the mountaintop, and to the valley. Eventually they followed him to a martyr’s death. We have to ask ourselves, “Are we willing to follow Jesus wherever he leads?”

Larry Huch, the author of The Torah Blessing says, “When Jesus said, ‘Follow me,’ He meant ‘Imitate Me, walk the way I walk; talk the way I talk; eat the way I eat.” The only way we can do this is to study the life of Jesus in the Gospels, and be a reflection of him.

Jesus gives a promise to anyone who chooses to follow him. In John 8:12 he says, “I am the light of the world—whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Isn’t it nice to know Jesus’ light is available to us and has an eternal guarantee?

Just like any worthwhile pursuit, following Jesus takes time. It takes diligently reading God’s word every day. It takes prayer, listening, and requires a surrender of our lives to the one who knows what’s best for us.

If you have not been following Jesus, are you ready now?

We may not be able to see him or touch him, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Light of the World stands before us with an outstretched hand, and asks us to follow him. He is the way. He is truth. He provides life.

Is there anyone more worthy to follow?