Following Jesus is
the lifelong response of a disciple
who has heard His call,
turned from self and sin,
and committed to walk in His ways.
It involves
personal trust,
obedience,
self-denial,
and a willingness to go where He leads.
In the Gospels,
Jesus repeatedly invited people
with the simple but demanding words,
“Follow me.”
Jesus called individuals to leave their former lives and follow Him:
Following Jesus is not merely an initial decision; it is an ongoing relationship of learning from Him and obeying Him.
According to the New Testament, following Jesus includes:
Following Jesus means that He sets the direction and the disciple responds in trust and obedience.
Jesus was honest about the cost of following Him. It may involve the loss of comfort, reputation, relationships, or even life itself (Luke 14:25-33; Matthew 10:37-39). At the same time, He promised that those who lose their life for His sake will find it, and that the reward of following Him far outweighs the cost (Mark 10:28-31; John 10:10; 12:26).
Following Jesus is the heart of true Christianity. It is more than believing certain facts about Him; it is a living relationship of trust and obedience. Jesus still calls people today with the same words: “Follow me.” Those who answer that call find that He is not only the way to eternal life but also the daily companion, teacher, and Lord who leads them into the life they were created to live.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.