Follow Jesus
What does it mean to follow Jesus?
Christians talk a lot about "following Jesus," but what does that actually mean?
To understand it, it helps to look at how Jesus' original disciples would have understood His invitation to follow Him and what that means for us today.
What Following Jesus Meant for the Disciples
In Jesus' time, when a rabbi (a Jewish teacher) invited someone to follow him, it was an incredible honor. It meant more than listening to teachings. It was an invitation into a way of life.
Disciples practically lived with their rabbi. They traveled where he traveled, ate what he ate, and learned by watching how he lived. Following a rabbi meant full access to the teacher and a deep commitment to live under his authority. This created numerous opportunities to learn new things about God and largely, how the rabbi believed God's laws should be lived out in community.
Jesus invited His disciples into this kind of relationship. They did not just learn His teachings. They shared His mission. They joined Him in declaring the good news, taking short-term journeys to share what they were learning (Luke 10), and eventually carrying that message to the world.
What It Means to Follow Jesus Today
Over time, the disciples realized they were not just following a rabbi. Jesus was the promised Messiah. He was not only a teacher. He was Lord over all, whose mission was to announce that the Kingdom of God was coming and to invite people to take part in bringing that Kingdom to earth.
Following Jesus today still begins with recognizing Him for who He truly is. He is more than a good person or great teacher. He is the Messiah, Lord over all, and Savior of the World.
Declare Jesus as Lord
Following Jesus starts with belief. We acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Savior of the world.
The Apostle Paul puts it this way in Romans 10:9:
"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
By declaring Jesus as Lord over our lives, we take our first step in following Him. Through this confession of faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins to empower us to understand Jesus' teachings, live them out, and grow to become more like Him (John 14:23-26).
Obey His Teachings
While we cannot physically walk alongside Jesus the way the disciples did, following Him still means shaping our lives around His teachings.
In John 8:31-32, Jesus said to those who believed in him,
31 "You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Followers of Jesus are commanded to apply His teachings and the truth of Scripture into their everyday lives. As we do, the Holy Spirit works to change our lives from the inside out, heart first, and gives us the ability to know Jesus and live in obedience to Him (Galatians 5:19-25).
Find Your Place in the Body of Christ
When we follow Jesus, we do not do it alone. The Bible describes the church as the body of Christ (1 corinthians 12). Each person has been uniquely gifted, and the church functions best when everyone plays their part. Paul explains it this way in 1 Corinthians 12:15-20, 27:
“If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body . . . . Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it”
As we discover how God has gifted us and step into our role, the church is strengthened and equipped to carry out its mission.
In Jesus' time, when a rabbi (a Jewish teacher) invited someone to follow him, it was an incredible honor. It meant more than listening to teachings. It was an invitation into a way of life.
Disciples practically lived with their rabbi. They traveled where he traveled, ate what he ate, and learned by watching how he lived. Following a rabbi meant full access to the teacher and a deep commitment to live under his authority. This created numerous opportunities to learn new things about God and largely, how the rabbi believed God's laws should be lived out in community.
Jesus invited His disciples into this kind of relationship. They did not just learn His teachings. They shared His mission. They joined Him in declaring the good news, taking short-term journeys to share what they were learning (Luke 10), and eventually carrying that message to the world.
What It Means to Follow Jesus Today
Over time, the disciples realized they were not just following a rabbi. Jesus was the promised Messiah. He was not only a teacher. He was Lord over all, whose mission was to announce that the Kingdom of God was coming and to invite people to take part in bringing that Kingdom to earth.
Following Jesus today still begins with recognizing Him for who He truly is. He is more than a good person or great teacher. He is the Messiah, Lord over all, and Savior of the World.
Declare Jesus as Lord
Following Jesus starts with belief. We acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Savior of the world.
The Apostle Paul puts it this way in Romans 10:9:
"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
By declaring Jesus as Lord over our lives, we take our first step in following Him. Through this confession of faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins to empower us to understand Jesus' teachings, live them out, and grow to become more like Him (John 14:23-26).
Obey His Teachings
While we cannot physically walk alongside Jesus the way the disciples did, following Him still means shaping our lives around His teachings.
In John 8:31-32, Jesus said to those who believed in him,
31 "You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Followers of Jesus are commanded to apply His teachings and the truth of Scripture into their everyday lives. As we do, the Holy Spirit works to change our lives from the inside out, heart first, and gives us the ability to know Jesus and live in obedience to Him (Galatians 5:19-25).
Find Your Place in the Body of Christ
When we follow Jesus, we do not do it alone. The Bible describes the church as the body of Christ (1 corinthians 12). Each person has been uniquely gifted, and the church functions best when everyone plays their part. Paul explains it this way in 1 Corinthians 12:15-20, 27:
“If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body . . . . Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it”
As we discover how God has gifted us and step into our role, the church is strengthened and equipped to carry out its mission.
If you are taking your next step in following Jesus or have questions about what it means to follow Him, please let us know below. We would love to connect with you and walk alongside you as you continue this journey.