Are You A Follower?

As Christians, we call ourselves followers of Christ. But what does that mean, "to follow Christ?"

I count about twenty times that Jesus said, "follow me." I understand that some of these are the same occurrence and told in more than one gospel, but none the less, there are many times that Jesus has said, "follow me" to someone. In some instances He literally meant, to go to the same place as or walk the same footsteps as, but what about the other instances? What about when He told some fishermen that they would become fishers of men if they would, "follow Him?" What about when Jesus said the dead could bury the dead, it was more important to, "follow me." What about the time He simply told a tax collector, "follow me", saying nothing about the dead or fishing or anything else. Why was Jesus wanting everyone to follow Him?

Did Jesus like the attention? Was Jesus afraid of being alone? Did Jesus just think, "the more, the merrier?" Maybe Jesus was more of a political figure than we realize, and by having followers, He appeared to be more influential.

But Jesus popularity craze doesn't really fit His profile. Too many times He wandered off alone. Too often He was found alone praying or teaching. He exorcised demons and told them not to say who He was. He cured the sick and asked not to be recognized. He tried to get away from His disciples many times, like when He slipped away to a quiet corner of a boat; only to be disturbed due to a storm and His followers lack of faith. No, Jesus was no egomaniac. There was something important about this "follow me" business.

Jesus knew that He was the only way to the Father. He knew that only by admission of sin in our lives(not for Jesus, mind you), truly believing in who He is, and confessing that He is Christ to the world could the way to Father be found. Jesus was going to see the Father and he was taking along everyone who wanted to go! That is where Jesus was going and that is why he says,"to follow."

But the journey is not just a matter of literal footsteps. Mark 8:34 says"Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Jesus was telling those who would listen that the way to the Father was not an easy path. He said we must deny ourselves; doesn't sound very democratic, does it? Jesus said that we must take up our cross AND "follow me."

Jesus uses the term, "take up his cross" very precisely here. In that time period, cruifiction was a method of punishment used by the Romans. The Romans made those about to be executed to carry their own cross as a sign of submission. So Jesus is saying that we must deny ourselves; and to submit to Him. Not so that he can punish us as the Romans, but so that He can save us, give us eternal life with the God.

Jesus was saying that there would be tough times and that there would be times that things looked very bleak. By carrying our own cross, not only are we showing submission, but we also acknowledge that we are willing to give our lives up for the sake of God's work, just as Jesus did. By carrying our own cross, we are showing that we will "follow" Jesus regardless of the turmoil in our lives or the cruelty that we face.

This "follow me" stuff is a little different that the"feel good religion"we hear all too often, isn't it? I can't remember the last time I heard anyone speaking of taking up my own cross, at least other than using it as a dramatic term referring to perseverance. I can't recall anyone being bold enough to say what Jesus REALLY meant in Mark 8:34, at least not from the pulpit. Maybe that is one of the contributing factors in why so few people know what it really means to "follow Jesus". Maybe that is why we see so little REAL discipleship, because it's a tough sell having to tell people that there may not be instant gratification by serving God. I don't think your popularity will rise if you tell everyone that following Jesus may mean a rough road that may cost you your life.

My challenge today is for you to read Jesus words and dig deep into what He is saying. My challenge is for you to truly be a follower of Christ. Know that God may not ask you to surrender your life, but also know that He may. Think about Mark 8:34 Read it over and over, then decide if you are a TRUE follower or just a cheap, common imitation. I pray you discover what all of this "follow me" stuff means to you and your ministry. I hope that by becoming a true follower of God that you will make an impact on those around you, becoming more and more like Jesus.