From the gospels, we see Jesus begin His ministry by preaching about repentance and the Kingdom of God to the people around the towns of Galilee. As He chooses His disciples, He says, “Follow me” (Matthew 4:18-20). They closely follow and see Him pray, minister, heal and teach the crowds with many parables and signs. Jesus tells His disciples that He would have to suffer and die in Jerusalem at the hands of the chief priests and elders, after which He would be resurrected to life. But they are confounded on hearing this. Peter especially draws Him aside saying he will never allow Jesus to suffer – to which Jesus sternly reprimands him (Matthew 16:21-23). Jesus goes on to say in Matthew 16:24 “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.”
This is mentioned in Matthew 10:38, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23, and Luke 14:27 in the gospels. It was clear that following Jesus would come at a price when He told the disciples to do so. What does it mean to follow Jesus in this day and age as a disciple of Christ?
It all starts with love
It’s true that we’re curious to learn more about God, but are we prepared to submit to His discipline? We prioritize activities and make a lot of decisions in our daily lives, but do we ever pause to consider whether or not we are doing everything in a way that honors God? For a large number of us, life is one big pursuit of material goods, rights, authority over other people, and other goals. We must pose a few questions to ourselves:
- Do I love God more than everything I own or everything that makes me who I am?
- Will pursuing fame and fortune bring me nearer to God or farther from Him?
- If my religion is to prove my love for God, am I willing to give up advantages, ingrained routines, irreversible bonds, or endure persecution?
Jesus humbly took up His execution tool, the cross, to the point of death because He decided to put His Father’s desire above all else (Philippians 2:6–9). For everyone who will place their faith in Jesus, [the cross represents victory and salvation] following His resurrection. To follow Jesus is to live a virtuous life in accordance with God’s word, to love and obey Him, and to be humble like Him. As we obey God out of love, we quickly come to see that the fulfillment, peace, and joy that God provides us through Christ Jesus greatly surpass the expense of letting go of our selfish and carnal desires (Romans 14:17).
Unlike other people, Jesus instructed His disciples to put aside their selfish interests and serve one another out of brotherly love. All of us are affected by the admonition to “love each other,” which helps us bear the cross—or other hardships in life—better.
Denying oneself
As a sign that they should be prepared to walk the path of pain, persecution, and occasionally even death as they follow him rather than the luxuries and immoral ways of the world, Jesus instructs His disciples to deny themselves. “Because whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it,” he continues. What good is it for a man to acquire the entire world but lose his soul? Or what would a person give up in exchange for their soul? Matthew 16:25–26
By holding onto our material belongings and comforts, we trick ourselves into thinking that our lives are safe. Jesus warns us in Matthew 6:19–21 that the treasures we accumulate in heaven will endure forever, but the honors and splendor of this world are transient. Following Christ gives us greater riches than anyone could ever hope to receive in this life, together with eternal life, even if it means losing our reputation, comforts, or even our life itself.
Taking up our cross means Jesus has become more precious to us than approval, honor, comfort, and life
In the current context, choosing to follow Jesus entails voluntarily allowing our sins, complaints, immoral attitudes, greed, and selfishness to be crucified and eliminated from our behavior (Galatians 2:20). Rather,
- We give the Holy Spirit permission to chastise us, guide us in serving others, and help us put God first in everything we do (Deuteronomy 6:5–6).
- Even in the midst of hardships, we can find happiness, fulfillment, and contentment (Romans 8:18).
- We know that when His Kingdom is ultimately established in this world, God will make us co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17) as His offspring.
Remember that as followers of Jesus, we follow His teachings and represent Him everywhere we go. God’s love and kindness should be shared with others via our deeds, words, thoughts, and compassion. Studying God’s Word, spending time in prayer and devotion, and taking part in worship and fellowship with other believers are all essential ways to improve our daily lives. God asks us to follow him even if we humbly acknowledge that we are undeserving when we approach him. Therefore, let us pursue His kingdom and righteousness so that, as the Word promises, everything will be added (Matthew 6:33).
