“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.'”
Matthew 16:24
Follow me. These two simple words carried life-altering weight in Jesus’ time. A rabbi’s call to follow meant leaving everything – family, business, comfort zones, personal plans. When Jesus called fishermen by the sea, their nets dropped immediately. When He passed Matthew’s tax booth, ledgers were left behind. If Jesus was physically with us today, He would have visit our offices, school, or businesses. Maybe even dropped by our churches and ask us to follow Him.
In Jesus’ time, a rabbi wasn’t just a teacher – he was a master whose life was worth copying entirely. Students would follow their rabbi so closely they would be covered in the dust from his feet. They didn’t just learn their rabbi’s teachings; they learned how to be like him in every way. They studied how he talked, how he ate, how he prayed – everything.
But Jesus wasn’t just any rabbi calling followers. Other rabbis waited for the best students to apply to their schools. Jesus walked up to ordinary people and invited them to follow. Other rabbis taught students to follow the Torah. Jesus said, “Follow Me.” Other rabbis pointed to tradition. Jesus pointed to Himself.
Following Jesus meant physical proximity. These followers didn’t just agree with Jesus’s teachings or attend His weekly seminars. They walked where He walked, ate where He ate, slept where He slept. They watched how He handled conflict, how He treated outcasts, how He prayed. They had the best vantage point on how heaven on earth is done.
Today we’ve reduced following to agreement with a set of beliefs. We think we’re following Jesus when we attend church, read Christian books, or post Bible verses online. Not that those are bad. But Jesus never called us to follow His principles. He called us to follow Him – His person, His presence, His way of life.
We’ve created a version of following that doesn’t cost us anything. We follow Jesus when it’s convenient, pause when it’s costly, and resume when it’s comfortable. We’ve turned the radical call of discipleship into a spiritual hobby that fits neatly between our real priorities. And do we dare ask ourselves today, “Am I living a Christian life designed by God or by me?” Do we dare to even answer?
Chinese church leader Watchman Nee once said, “The distance between head and feet is often greater than the distance between heaven and earth. It is one thing to know what to do, and quite another to do what we know.” This exposes the gap between our knowledge and our actions. We might know all about following Jesus – the right theology, the proper doctrines, the correct responses – but knowledge alone doesn’t move our feet. Following Jesus isn’t an intellectual exercise; it’s a physical act of going where He goes, doing what He says, living as He lived.
Real following means letting Jesus set the pace and direction. When you follow someone, you can’t go ahead of them or take your own path. You have to stay close enough to see their footsteps. You have to be willing to go where they go, even when the path looks difficult.
Following Jesus often leads to unexpected places. Peter probably didn’t expect to walk on water when he started following. Matthew couldn’t have imagined writing a gospel. Following Jesus means surrendering our right to know the destination before we take the first step. You might see yourself in uncomfortable and unfamilar places and in situations. But you’re not alone, my friend.
Sometimes we try to follow Jesus at a comfortable distance. Close enough to be considered His follower, but far enough to maintain our independence. Like Peter during Jesus’s trial, we follow far off. But distant following eventually leads to denial. Discipleship works in proximity. Following Jesus means by association, by affirmation, and by application. Sometimes, it can get messy and uncomfortable.
Following Jesus today looks like daily surrender in practical ways. It means choosing forgiveness when we’d rather hold a grudge. It means speaking truth when silence would be easier. It means giving generously when culture says “save for yourself.” It means loving difficult people, serving without recognition, and standing firm when faith costs us something.
Following Jesus transforms not just what we do, but who we become. The disciples didn’t just learn new information; they became new people. As they followed Jesus, they started to think like Him, love like Him, see people like He did. True following always leads to transformation. In time, you will be like the Rabbi you are following.
Godseekers, Jesus is still calling “Follow Me” today. Not “Follow my rules” or “Follow the crowd” or “Follow your heart.” Just “Follow Me.” It’s personal. It’s profound. And it requires the same surrender done two thousand years ago. It is a line drawn on the sand. Will you take that step and follow?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for the invitation to follow You. Forgive us for trying to follow at a safe distance. Give us courage to follow You closely, wherever You lead. Transform us as we walk in Your footsteps. In Your name, Amen.
Personal Reflection
- Have you been following Jesus or just following Christian culture?
- What’s keeping you from following Jesus more closely today?
Step of Faith
Today, I will identify one area where I’ve been keeping Jesus at a distance and take a step to follow Him more closely in that specific situation.
