Following Jesus Christ

Examples of those who followed Jesus Christ

Crowds of people

Matthew 4:25 KJV 1900

And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

See also Mt 8:1; Mt 12:15; Mt 14:13; Mt 19:2; Mk 2:15; Mk 5:24; Lk 7:9; Lk 7:11

Those who were healed

Matthew 20:34 KJV 1900

So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

See also Mk 10:52

Those who were needy

Matthew 9:27 KJV 1900

And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.

The disciples

Matthew 8:23 KJV 1900

And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

See also Mk 14:51; Mk 15:41; Jn 18:15

Examples of those who obeyed Jesus Christ’s call to follow him

Peter and Andrew

Matthew 4:18–20 KJV 1900

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

See also Lk 5:11

James and John

Mark 1:19–20 KJV 1900

And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

Matthew

Matthew 9:9 KJV 1900

And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

Philip

John 1:43–45 KJV 1900

The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Examples of those who hesitated when called to follow Jesus Christ

Mt 19:21; Lk 9:59–60

Wrong motives in following Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 1:11–13 KJV 1900

For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

The cost of following Jesus Christ

Carrying one’s cross

Matthew 16:24–26 KJV 1900

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

See also Mt 10:37–39; Lk 14:25–33; Jn 12:23–25

Leaving security behind

Matthew 8:19–20 KJV 1900

And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

See also Lk 9:61–62

Those who failed to persevere in following Jesus Christ

John 6:66 KJV 1900

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Those who persevered under suffering in following Jesus Christ

Jn 13:12–17; Jn 21:19; Ac 22:4; Ac 24:14; Ro 15:5; 1 Co 11:1; 1 Th 1:6; 1 Pe 2:20–23; Re 14:4; Re 17:14

The blessings of following Jesus Christ

Mt 19:27–30 The reward is not on the basis of merit but the free gift promised to those who follow Jesus Christ.

See also Jn 8:12; Jn 12:26

The limits on following Jesus Christ

John 13:36 KJV 1900

Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.