What Does it Mean to Follow Jesus?

What does it mean to follow Jesus? What does it look like to follow Jesus? What does the Bible say about following Jesus? If you asked a handful of people, you’d probably get a bunch of different answers. Does it mean going to church, serving, praying, or joining a small group? Obeying rules? Trusting Jesus as Lord and Savior? Saying a prayer to be saved? Doing good deeds and helping others? Being a good person? I think we’ve all asked these questions at one time or another.

Following Jesus isn't just a checklist of religious habits. There’s no checklist that says if I do these things, then I’m following Jesus and all is good. It requires sacrifice – giving up your wants to follow Jesus’ way. It’s making Jesus your whole life and not compartmentalizing Jesus into a neat little part of your life when it’s convenient. Following Jesus is a changed heart and response to what He has done for us. The majority of us weren’t taught what this actually means. We just picked up the habits hoping that would be enough.  

What does it mean to follow Jesus?

Luke 9:23 says, “Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’”

There are three parts I’d like to pay particular attention to in Luke 9:23. Jesus says to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow him. Let’s dive a little deeper into what this means for you and for me.

What does it mean to deny yourself? It’s putting God first and at the center of our lives. More of Him and less of us. It’s renouncing control of our lives and trusting in the One who is in control. It’s surrendering all to Him. It’s choosing His will over our desires because we know that God is good and sovereign. In Jeremiah 29:11, God declares, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Following Jesus is taking up your cross daily. What does this look like? It’s putting God first, setting aside our desires, and serving others. It’s making a commitment to follow Jesus, even through hardships. When circumstances are difficult, it’s about exercising patience rather than reacting immediately out of anger or frustration. It’s being kind to others in the face of adversity. It's through difficulties and suffering that God refines us to be more like Him, and we are reminded of the suffering Jesus endured for us so that we could be saved.

What does it look like to follow Jesus?

Following Jesus is following His examples and teachings. John 14:15 says, "If you love me, keep my commands." Jesus calls us to love God and love others. It’s the foundation for how we live as followers. Jesus says in Matthew 22:37-39, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Our obedience to Him is a response to His amazing and gracious love for us. When we obey, we begin to bear fruit which becomes evidence of following Him, and in turn, points others to Christ. John 15:8 says, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

Following Jesus also means telling others of the gospel. It’s a commandment in Matthew 28:19: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Following Jesus brings honor and glory to God, and in return, He gives us the light of life. When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Jesus invites, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Whatever is weighing you down today, Jesus invites you to bring it all to Him. You don’t have to carry it alone.

If you haven't already decided to follow Jesus, then I invite you to give your life to Christ. John 3:16 promises, "that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." If you already follow Jesus, let this be a reminder to surrender afresh to the One who is worthy and faithful.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).