"Follow Me"- The Call of a Lifetime

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’”  — Matthew 16:24 (NKJV) 

The Call That Changed Everything 

When Jesus looked into the eyes of Peter, Andrew, James, and John and said, “Follow Me,” He wasn’t offering a casual invitation. He was extending the highest honor a young Jewish man could receive: the chance to follow a Rabbi. But this wasn’t just any Rabbi. This was the Son of God, the Messiah, the Word made flesh.  In their culture, disciples sought out Rabbis, hoping to be accepted to learn from them. But Jesus flipped the script. He sought them out—fishermen, tax collectors, everyday people. He called them not just to learn what He taught, but to become like Him.  They dropped their nets. Left their boats. Abandoned everything familiar for the opportunity of a lifetime. 

From Following a Rabbi to Carrying a Cross

  At first, following Jesus may have seemed like an adventure—healings, miracles, crowds. But as time went on, the cost of discipleship became clearer. Jesus didn’t promise fame or comfort. He said:  “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”  This wasn’t a metaphor to first-century ears. The cross was an instrument of death and shame. Jesus was calling them—and us—not just to follow when it’s easy, but to lay down our very lives.  To lose our lives in service.  To surrender our rights in obedience.  To give up self to gain Christ. 

Finding True Life in Surrender 

 Jesus made it clear: in losing our lives for His sake, we actually find the life that truly matters. Radical obedience, costly love, and sacrificial service aren’t burdens—they’re the path to joy.  In a world obsessed with self-preservation, Jesus invites us to self-denial.  In a culture chasing comfort, He calls us to carry a cross.  In a time of shallow devotion, He asks for everything.  To follow Jesus is to walk with the One who bore our cross and gave everything for us. 

No Turning Back

  There’s a powerful old hymn that declares:  “I have decided to follow Jesus,  No turning back, no turning back.”  The decision to follow Jesus is not a one-time event—it’s a daily surrender. Every morning, we take up our cross. Every moment, we re-choose Him. Every day, we live like it’s all His—because it is. 

Reflection Questions 

 Where are you tempted to hold back from full surrender to Jesus?  What might “taking up your cross” look like in your daily life?  Who can you encourage to follow Jesus more fully today? 

Prayer 

 Lord Jesus,  You called Your disciples with just two words: “Follow Me.” You are still calling today.  Give me the courage to leave behind whatever holds me back,  To take up my cross,  To walk in Your footsteps.  Help me to lose my life for Your sake  And in doing so, find the life that truly matters.  There’s no turning back.  I am Yours.  Amen.  

By Pastor Kathy Johnson