Follow Jesus

How to Follow Jesus

To follow Jesus means to answer his call, “follow me,” and then to walk with him as his disciple. It begins by turning from your own way back to God, which the Bible calls repentance, and by trusting Jesus, who died for you and rose again. From there it is a daily walk: learning from him, loving the people he loves, and slowly being made like him by grace. When Jesus met ordinary fishermen he simply said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19), and they left their nets and went with him. He is still calling, and you do not have to be worthy or have it all figured out first. You only have to answer, keep answering, and let him make you new.

What Jesus said

Notice the order. Jesus does not say become worthy first and then come. He says “follow me,” and promises “I will make you.” The following comes first; the changing is his work. To follow him is simply to hear his voice and go where he leads, one step at a time.

How to begin following Jesus today

You do not need the right words, a clean record, or all the answers to begin. Following Jesus starts with a turning and a trusting, and grace goes first.

• Turn to God honestly. Following Jesus begins by turning away from going your own way and toward him. The Bible calls this repentance, and it is less about shame than about coming home (Acts 3:19; Mark 1:15).
• Trust Jesus. Believe that Jesus died for you and rose again, and rest your whole weight on him rather than on your own goodness.
• Come as you are. You are not saved by being good enough but received by grace as a gift. He will do the changing that you cannot do for yourself.

A simple prayer to begin

There are no magic words, and God hears the heart. But if you want language for the turning, you can pray something like this, and mean it:

If you prayed that and meant it, welcome to the family. “Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:7). To as many as receive him, he gives power to become the sons of God (John 1:12).

Every time Jesus said “follow me”

Six times the Gospels record Jesus speaking those two words to a particular person. Here is each one, who heard it, and what happened next. These are his own words, and together they are the clearest picture of what following him means.

Peter and Andrew, casting their nets by the sea of Galilee. Matthew 4:19.

They answered at once: “And they straightway left their nets, and followed him” (Matthew 4:20).

Matthew the tax collector, sitting at the receipt of custom. Matthew 9:9.

He rose from his tax booth and followed, then opened his house to Jesus and other sinners (Matthew 9:9-10).

Philip, found by Jesus in Galilee. John 1:43.

Philip followed, and at once went to find Nathanael: “We have found him” (John 1:45).

The rich young ruler, who had kept the commandments. Matthew 19:21.

This one did not follow: “he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions” (Matthew 19:22). Following Jesus can cost what we hold too tightly.

A would-be disciple, asked to bury his father first. Luke 9:59.

Jesus answered, “Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:60). He asks for first place, not second.

Peter again, restored beside the sea after the resurrection. John 21:19.

After Peter had denied him three times, the risen Jesus asked three times “lovest thou me,” recommissioned him to feed his sheep, and called him again with the same two words: “follow thou me” (John 21:17,22). It is never too late to be called back.

One thread runs through all six. Jesus takes the first step and speaks first; the call is his, not yours to earn. Some answered instantly, one walked away, and one had to be called back after failing badly. Wherever you stand among them, the invitation is the same, and it is still open.

Read him yourself

The best way to learn to follow Jesus is to meet him in his own words. The four Gospels are his life, told by those who were there. If you are new, start with Mark, the shortest and fastest, then Luke and John.

Frequently asked questions

What does it mean to follow Jesus?

To follow Jesus is to answer his call 'follow me' and walk with him as a living Person, not merely to keep rules. It means turning from your own way to God (repentance), trusting Jesus who died and rose again (faith), and learning his way of life day by day until you become like him (Matthew 4:19; John 10:27).

How do I start following Jesus today?

Start where you are. Turn to God honestly, trust that Jesus died for you and rose again, and tell him so in your own words. 'If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved' (Romans 10:9). Then stay near him: read the Gospels, pray, and find other believers.

What does Jesus ask of his followers?

Above all, trust and love. Jesus gave a new commandment, 'That ye love one another; as I have loved you' (John 13:34), and said the world would know his followers by their love. He asks for your whole self, but in order to lead you into life, not to burden you.

What is a disciple of Jesus?

A disciple is a learner who follows Jesus closely enough to be changed by him. Jesus said his disciples continue in his word and are known by their love (John 8:31; 13:35). Every Christian is called to be a disciple; it is simply the everyday shape of following him.

What did Jesus mean by 'take up your cross'?

Jesus said, 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me' (Luke 9:23). The cross meant the end of the old, self-ruled life. Taking it up is dying to self so a truer life in him can rise. It is an invitation into real life, not a call to seek misery.

What is repentance?

Repentance is turning: away from going your own way and back toward God. 'Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out' (Acts 3:19). It is less about shame than about coming home, and heaven rejoices when one sinner turns (Luke 15:7).

What is faith in Jesus?

Faith is trusting Jesus, resting your whole weight on him rather than on your own goodness. It is receiving what he freely gives: 'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God' (Ephesians 2:8). Faith can begin as small as a mustard seed and grows as you walk with him.

Do I have to be perfect to follow Jesus?

No. No one comes to Jesus already worthy; you come to be made new. He called fishermen, tax collectors, and people who failed him, and kept loving them. Following Jesus is grace from first step to last: you come as you are, and he does the changing (Matthew 4:19; Ephesians 2:8-9).