Following Jesus

Following Jesus

Read: Luke 5:27-28

“Follow me.”

Luke 5:27

“Christianity is Christ.”

—H. A. Ironside

IN WORD What does it mean to follow Jesus?

• Not adherence to a system of belief. Systematizing the teachings of Jesus leads to frustration and fractious denominations. The “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15) cannot be contained in a limited doctrine understandable by finite minds. Doctrine is important, but it is not sufficient.

• Not membership in a personality cult. Fans are loyal to rock stars, athletes, and actors for a time, but feelings are fickle. Jesus’ personality is winsome and worthy of praise, but there are times when He asks His followers to deny their feelings and obey Him.

• Not spectating. Many came to Jesus to see the amazing things He would do. But when the teaching got difficult, “many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him” (John 6:66).

• Not detached intellectual assent. Many will call Jesus “Lord” and agree with Him in principle, but not actually follow Him (Matthew 7:21).

No, to follow Jesus is not about living a religion, it’s about knowing a living person. He didn’t just leave us a legacy of teachings, He left us Himself. We don’t get our marching orders from Him and then proceed to live the Christian life without Him. We don’t observe and applaud His words and His works from a distance, without getting into the game ourselves. We don’t base our discipleship on our feelings, which come and go as often as the wind changes direction. We follow.

IN DEED The promise of discipleship is that we are not alone in our obedience. We are following a person. We can talk with Him, cry with Him, listen to Him, and work with Him. Unlike many religions that teach their adherents a set of principles and then send them out to live those principles, the living Jesus is with us as He teaches us. We should have principles, feelings, curiosity, and reasons, but we do not base our lives on any of these alone. We follow Him.