The young adult ministry with which I am involved has been going through a “Jesus Series” for several months now where we are examining the life and teachings of Jesus. The question we considered last night, (which has already been on my mind as has happened several times with these messages), is why do you follow Jesus?
Take one look through the gospels, and you will undoubtedly find that many of the people who followed Jesus did so for various reasons. In the gospel of John, the people want Jesus to perform signs upon signs before they will believe and follow Him for the right reasons. Others want Jesus to heal them or their loved ones. Still others, (like king Herod who imprisoned and later beheaded John the Baptist), had a casual interest in Jesus but no true desire to change and follow Him. Even the disciples, His twelve closest friends and constant companions for roughly three years, are patiently awaiting the day that their Messiah will overthrow the Romans and restore Israel to its former glory, the golden age as was seen in the Davidic period.
So, why do you follow Jesus? Is it just to get into Heaven? Is it to see Him do things for you? Is it to gain love and acceptance from other Christians? Have you been deceived into thinking that if you follow Jesus, He will magically make all your troubles disappear and will make your life problem-free?
or…
Do you follow Jesus because you truly believe that He is the once crucified and now risen Son of God and your personal Savior and Lord? Do you follow Him no matter the cost, in both good and bad times because you know that He is always with you and is worthy to be trusted and praised in all things?
Jesus does not call us to follow Him only when it is convenient or when we feel like it. Jesus calls us to follow Him always. He calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. Being a follower of Christ is not an easy road. Jesus does not promise an easy life. In fact, He promises persecution. He said that if the world hated Him, it will hate those who follow Him. I know that this is not the message that most hear about Christ today, and it makes us a bit uncomfortable, causing us to squirm in our seats a little, at least it does for me. I write this not because it is easy but because it is the truth. This is not to say that following Jesus doesn’t have personal benefits. It has many, in fact. We become children of God and can freely embrace all that comes with that adoption, and there is nothing greater than that. Truly, there is nothing that compares to knowing Jesus! Let us not forget, however, that Jesus is leading the way in our lives if we follow Him, not us.
I have found myself asking this question, and it is a good one to ask. Evaluating your reasons for following Jesus is one way in which you can examine yourself to see if you are truly in the faith. Let all of us, including me most of all, truly consider this question.
