What Must I do to Follow Jesus?
Who was this mighty man named Jesus? He preaches like no other. Love pours forth from His very being. Crowds, even multitudes,of people gather around Him. He raises the dead, heals the sick, opens the blinded eyes…but what is this? …He gathers the children to Himself, placing His hands on them and prays over them. A young, rich ruler watches from the crowd. Something is lacking in his heart. Mark 10:17 says that he went running to Jesus and kneeled at his feet asking, “Good Master, (Teacher), what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Jesus responds, “He who is good is One and that is God.” Jesus, the Father, and the Son are One, and They are God. Jesus identifies Himself with God. He then begins to speak the commandments, “Do not commit adultery; Do not kill; Do not steal; and etc.” The young man responded, “Master, all these have I observed from my youth.” Jesus beheld him and loved him (v.21). Jesus said, “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” The young man went away grieved for he had great possessions. Jesus said, “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!”
Why would Jesus ask the man to sell his possessions and give it away? So that he might have an everlasting treasure in heaven. Jesus was calling him to be a disciple. In order to be a disciple with Jesus, he would need to crucify his earthly affections as the other disciples did and follow Jesus.
Jesus calls Peter and Andrew to follow him. They walk away from their fishing occupation to fish for men. Jesus then calls James and John to follow Him. They walk away from their earthly father and their fishing business, too (Mt 4:18-22). Jesus calls Matthew and another time, Levi. They both leave their occupations of tax collecting (Mt 9:9 & Mk 2:14).
Is Jesus calling you to “follow Him” to be a disciple? Jesus said, “…If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (Jn 8:31). Is God speaking to your heart about ministry? In order to “follow Him,” do you need to leave some things behind. Are their sins to be confessed and repented of? What hinders us in our obedience to God’s call? Please follow the Lord at any cost. Jesus said in Matthew 19:29, “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” This promise says that we can receive these things “in this life time” (Mk 10:30).