“Follow Me”: What Does It Really Mean to Follow Christ?

Luke 9:23

“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

“Follow Me”

There are words a person can hear and forget.

But there are words that demand a response.

When Jesus said to Peter and Andrew:

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

They were not simply being invited to listen to another teacher.

The Gospel says:

“And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”

Matthew 4:19–20

Why?

Because Jesus’ call was greater than an invitation to gain new knowledge.

He was calling them to change the direction of their lives.

And now, after seeing who Jesus is, the question becomes even deeper.

If Jesus is truly God, if He is the eternal Son through whom all things came into being, if He is Lord and Savior, then His words:

“Follow Me”

cannot be reduced to a simple metaphor.

What, then, does it really mean to follow Christ?

Following Christ Is Not Simply Believing That He Existed

A person can believe that Jesus lived.

They can acknowledge that He was a great Teacher.

They can admire His words.

They can even agree with many of His moral principles.

But the Gospel demands more.

Jesus did not say:

“Study Me.”

He said:

“Follow Me.”

There is an enormous difference between the two.

Knowing about Christ does not yet mean living with Christ.

Even demons know who Jesus is.

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

James 2:19

Therefore, biblical faith is not merely intellectual agreement with certain statements.

Faith leads to trust.
Trust leads to obedience.
And obedience changes life.

“Follow Me” Means Recognizing That Christ Has the Right to Lead

In ordinary life, we often want to determine the route ourselves.

We want to know:

where we are going,

how long it will take,

what we will receive,

what the cost will be,

and whether it will be comfortable.

But Christ did not first show His disciples the entire route.

He said:

“Follow Me.”

This means trusting the One who knows the way, even when you cannot yet see where it leads.

Abraham went out without knowing where he was going.

Peter left his nets.

Matthew left his work.

The other disciples left what had been at the center of their former lives.

In every case, the same thing was happening:

the person was no longer the center of his own path.

But Christ Does Not Simply Ask Us to Change Our Route

He speaks much more radically:

“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Matthew 16:24

These words cannot be made comfortable.

Jesus did not say:

“Give up a few of your weaknesses.”

He did not say:

“Add a little Christianity to your present life.”

He said:

“Deny himself.”

This does not mean hating yourself or believing that your life has no value.

It means something deeper.

I am no longer the ultimate master of myself.

My desires are no longer the highest authority.

My plans are no longer the highest law.

My “I want” no longer stands above the will of God.

Therefore, Christian discipleship begins not with the question:

“What can Jesus give me?”

but with the question:

“What does my Lord want from me?”

Following Christ Means Taking Up the Cross

For the first century, the cross was not an ornament or a decorative symbol.

It was an instrument of execution.

Therefore, when Jesus spoke about the cross, His disciples could not simply hear a metaphor for life's difficulties.

He was speaking about a willingness to lose even what a person normally lives for, if remaining faithful to God requires it.

Jesus continues:

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”

Luke 9:24

This is one of the greatest paradoxes of the Gospel.

A person tries to preserve himself — and loses himself.
A person gives himself to Christ — and finds true life.

But Does This Mean That We Must Earn Salvation?

No.

And here we must make an essential distinction.

We do not take up the cross in order to purchase salvation.

Christ has already done what we could never do.

He died for our sins.

He rose again.

He reconciles us to God.

Paul writes:

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 5:1

Therefore, discipleship is not the price of salvation.

But genuine salvation inevitably leads to a new life.

Grace does not merely forgive a person.

Grace changes a person.

That is why Paul says:

“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 6:11

Following Christ Means Dying to the Former Master

The problem of humanity is not only that people commit wrong actions.

The deeper question is:

To whom do they belong?

Without Christ, a person lives around himself.

Around his own desires.

His own glory.

His own security.

His own will.

The Gospel moves the center of life.

Paul says:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”

Galatians 2:20

This is the heart of discipleship.

Not simply:

“I added Jesus to my life.”

But:

“My life now belongs to Him.”

Therefore, a Disciple Is Not Simply Someone Who Calls Himself a Christian

Jesus Himself asked a very serious question:

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

Luke 6:46

These are extraordinarily important words.

A person can call Jesus Lord and yet not live as though He is Lord.

A person can know His name without submitting his life to Him.

A person can have outward religion without genuine discipleship.

That is why Jesus says:

“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.”

John 8:31

A disciple remains in Christ’s word.

He does not merely hear it.

He allows Christ’s word to determine his life.

Following Christ Means Learning to Live According to His Word

Jesus said:

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

John 14:15

Here we see another essential truth.

Christian obedience is not an attempt to earn God's love.

Obedience is a response to love.

We do not obey Christ to make Him love us.

We obey Him because He has already loved us.

Jesus says:

“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love.”

John 15:9–10

Therefore:

love → obedience → abiding in Christ → fruit.

Jesus Does Not Simply Call Us to “Become Better People”

This distinction is extremely important.

Christianity is not a system of self-improvement.

The Gospel does not say:

“Become good enough, and God will accept you.”

The Gospel says:

“Come to Christ.”

And abiding in Christ produces fruit.

Jesus says:

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

John 15:5

This is profoundly important.

The Christian life is not built upon the autonomous strength of the human being.

A disciple does not merely try to imitate Christ from a distance.
He lives in dependence upon Christ.

Therefore, Following Is Not a One-Time Decision

“Follow Me” is a call that begins at a particular moment but does not end there.

Christ says:

“If any man will come after me…”

Not:

“If you once made a decision.”

But:

“Follow.”

Day after day.

Decision after decision.

In temptation.

In suffering.

In joy.

In uncertainty.

When faith is easy.

And especially when faith is difficult.

That is why Paul says:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20

But What Happens When a Disciple Falls?

Following Christ does not mean becoming sinless in a single day.

Peter denied Christ.

Thomas doubted.

The disciples abandoned Him in the hour of trial.

But Christ did not end their story with their failure.

After His resurrection, Jesus came to Peter.

And asked:

“Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?”

John 21:16

Christ does not excuse sin.

But the Gospel shows that failure does not have to be the end of the journey.

A disciple can fall.

But he returns to Christ.

Following Christ Means Remaining Faithful Even When It Costs You

Jesus never promised His disciples a life without difficulties.

On the contrary:

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

Therefore, Christian discipleship cannot be measured by comfort alone.

Sometimes following Christ means forgiving when you want revenge.

Speaking the truth when lying would be more profitable.

Turning away from a sin that seems attractive.

Remaining faithful when no one is watching.

Loving your enemy.

Helping someone who cannot repay you.

Putting God's will above your own advantage.

Sometimes it even means suffering for Christ.

Paul writes:

“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.”

Philippians 1:29

And Yet Christ Does Not Simply Call Us to a Difficult Life

If the Gospel were merely a call to self-denial, it would not be Good News. It would be another law.

But Christ does not call us merely away from something.

He calls us to Himself.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

That is the difference.

The Christian leaves the old life not to find emptiness.

He leaves it to gain Christ.

Therefore Paul says:

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.”

Philippians 3:8

The True Goal of Discipleship Is Not Simply to Follow Rules

The goal is to become like Christ.

Paul says that God has determined that His people should:

“be conformed to the image of his Son”.

Romans 8:29

This is where the path leads.

Not simply:

to know more of the Bible.

Not simply:

to have more religious habits.

Not simply:

to become a more moral person.

But gradually to become a person in whom the character of Christ is increasingly visible.

Love.

Holiness.

Mercy.

Truth.

Obedience.

Humility.

Faithfulness.

Therefore, “Follow Me” Is Not Merely a Question About Religion

It is a question of who has lordship over your life.

Who determines what is good?

Who determines what is sin?

To whom does my life belong?

Am I willing to surrender to Christ what I do not want to give up?

Am I willing to leave what He calls sin?

Do I trust Him enough to follow when I do not understand the road?

Because it is impossible to say:

“Jesus is my Lord”

while keeping for yourself the right to remain the ultimate lord of your own life.

This Is Why Christ’s Words Sound So Radical

He did not say:

“Follow Me if it is convenient for you.”

He did not say:

“Follow Me, but do not allow Me to change your life.”

He did not say:

“Add Me to everything you already have.”

He said:

“Follow me.”

It is a call to faith.

To repentance.

To obedience.

To discipleship.

To the cross.

To new life.

But Where Does This Path Lead?

To Christ.

And this is what matters most.

Christianity is not simply a path toward a certain set of moral principles.

It is a path behind a Person.

Not merely behind a teaching.

Not merely behind a system.

Not merely behind a religion.

Behind Jesus Christ.

The very One we considered in the previous scroll:

The eternal Son.

The Word who became flesh.

The One through whom all things came into being.

The One who died for sins.

The One who rose again.

The One who is Lord.

And now His words sound personal:

“Follow me.”

So What Does It Really Mean to Follow Christ?

It means to entrust your life to Him.

To recognize Him as Lord.

To repent of sin.

To turn away from a life centered on self.

To take up your cross.

To remain in His word.

To obey Him not in order to earn salvation, but because He has already saved.

To abide in Him.

To learn to love as He loved.

To remain faithful when the road becomes difficult.

To fall — and return to Him again.

And day by day, to allow Christ to transform you into His image.

But ultimately, it means something even simpler.

To follow Him.

Not ahead of Him.

Not beside Him only when it is convenient.

Not occasionally.

But behind Him.

And Perhaps This Is Where the Question Becomes Personal

Not:

“Was Jesus a great man?”

We have already considered that.

Not:

“Is Jesus truly God?”

That was the question of the previous scroll.

Now the question is different:

If He truly is God — what will I do with His call?

He said:

“Follow me.”

And this cannot be answered with knowledge alone.

It requires an answer with your life.

Because a person can know much about Christ —

and still not follow Him.

But a person can begin to follow Him today.

With repentance.

With faith.

With trust.

With one step.

Behind Him.