Branch On The Vine

By: Alli Matthews

The concept that usually comes to mind in regards to following someone in today’s society is following their social media account. The only commitment you make to a person when you follow them on Instagram is to potentially view their content if it shows up on your feed. 

Maybe you do more than that. Maybe you like their photos when they pass by on your screen. Maybe you react to their stories with a little emoji. Maybe you actually read their captions. Maybe you leave some comments. Maybe you actually try to get to know them online. 

Sometimes you might even strive to be like, look like, or make your own account similar to someone based on what they post on social media. But in most cases, you don’t have a close relationship with the people you follow on social media. You may never communicate with them more than giving their photos a like.

Well friends, following Jesus is so much more and so much better than the relationships you have with people you follow on social media. 

First of all, who is Jesus Christ? He is both Creator and Savior. He came to earth as fully human and fully God. He lived a life without sin, healed the sick, cared for the people that society excluded, and taught people the way of God. He then took the sin of the world on his shoulders and gave up his life. He was crucified to make a way for God to dwell with us and to free us from our sin. He rose from the dead three days later, defeating death and demonstrating he is truly the Son of God. Then, he ascended to heaven to be the high priest who makes a way for us to know God. 

To receive the gift of salvation from sin and spiritual death that Jesus offers us, we must accept him as our Lord and Savior and choose to follow him.

So what does it mean to follow Jesus?

Looking Back in History

If we take it back 2000 years and look at how Jewish culture viewed ‘following’ someone, we can better understand what it looks like to follow Jesus today. His call of “follow me” will have a much clearer meaning.

Jewish rabbis were the religious teachers who claimed devotion to God and thoroughly studied scriptures. They would call young Jewish boys to be their disciples. If a boy were to accept this invitation to follow a rabbi, he would try to make his life look like a reflection of the rabbi’s. Therefore, he would also live a life completely devoted to God and thoroughly study scriptures. 

Since Jesus was a Jew who lived in Jewish culture, when he called his disciples to follow him, they knew this meant giving up their former lives to learn from him and to strive to live the way he lived (Bell).

Let’s look at how things went down when Jesus called his disciples to follow him: “As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.” Mark 1:16-20.

What we see happen here is these men completely drop what they are doing to follow Jesus. They all give up their careers and some of them even leave their father behind to learn how to imitate Jesus. 

However, choosing to follow Jesus does not necessarily mean that you need to quit your job or move out of your parents’ home. 

Following Jesus means that you stop living for yourself and trying to control your life, and instead start living for him and trusting him to be in control.

It means that you learn as much as you can from him and about him so that you can be like him. You read what he teaches in the Bible. You talk with him in prayer. You spend time with him. You learn to trust him. You love people like he does. You grow closer to him as you get to know who he is and see him working in your life. 

That’s what Jesus is calling you to when he says, “Follow me.” He is calling you to stop living in sin and start living for him.

Romans 6:11-13 says, “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.”

After reading that, you might be feeling a bit hesitant. You might ask, why would I want to follow someone who requires so much of me? 

Stick with me, I’m getting to the good part!

Jesus promises his followers some amazing things. I could tell you about all of them myself, but I think it makes more sense to let you read his words for yourself.

Seven Things Jesus Promises To His Followers

Eternal life: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Forgiveness: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Freedom from sin: But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. Romans 6:22

Rest: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (Jesus speaking)

Abundant life: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10b (Jesus speaking)

Peace: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Power of the Holy Spirit: You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. Romans 8:9

To conclude, truly following Jesus requires great sacrifice but this opportunity is the greatest gift that you have ever been offered. Following Jesus means turning away from sin and joining the movement of living like Jesus. Following Jesus means surrendering whatever control you think you have over your life and letting him lead you. Following Jesus means living in obedience to God and receiving eternal life, forgiveness, freedom from sin, rest for your soul, abundant life, peace, and the power of the Holy Spirit. 

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

Romans 6:22

References

Bell, Rob. Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith. HarperCollins Publishers, 2012.