Following Jesus is one of the greatest privileges a person can ever receive. It is an invitation into forgiveness, grace, purpose, fellowship with God, and eternal life. But Jesus never promised that following Him would always be easy.
In a world that often tells us to protect our comfort, pursue our desires, and put ourselves first, Jesus gives us a different invitation:
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24
These words are beautiful, but they are also serious. Jesus did not call people to simply admire Him from a distance. He called them to follow Him. And following Him means surrendering our lives to His lordship.
The cost of following Jesus is not about earning salvation. We are saved by God's grace through faith, not by our sacrifices or good works (Ephesians 2:8–9). Rather, the cost is the surrender that comes when we truly recognize that Jesus is worthy of having our whole lives. The different ways Jesus called His disciples to follow Him also show that discipleship can lead people into different forms of service and sacrifice.
What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus?
To follow Jesus means more than identifying as a Christian. It means trusting Him, believing His Word, obeying His commands, walking in His ways, and allowing Him to become Lord over every area of life.
Jesus said:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15
Following Jesus involves relationship and obedience. A disciple does not simply ask, “What do I want to do?” A disciple learns to ask, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” That change may seem simple, but it reaches into everything. It affects our relationships, ambitions, money, time, priorities, entertainment, habits, decisions, dreams, and plans for the future. Jesus does not want a small compartment of our lives. He wants our hearts.
1. Following Jesus Requires Self-Denial
One of the clearest descriptions of discipleship is found in Luke 9:23:
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Notice the word daily.
Following Jesus is not a one-time emotional decision followed by a life of self-rule. Every day brings opportunities to surrender our will to God's will.
Self-denial does not mean hating yourself or believing that you have no value. You were created in God's image and are deeply loved by Him. Self-denial means refusing to make yourself the ultimate authority.
Sometimes following Jesus means saying no to something your flesh wants because you know it does not honor God. Sometimes it means forgiving when you would rather remain angry. Sometimes it means telling the truth when lying would be easier. Sometimes it means walking away from a relationship, habit, opportunity, or environment that is pulling your heart away from Christ. The question becomes: Is Jesus truly Lord of my life, or am I only following Him when His direction agrees with mine?”
2. Following Jesus Requires Taking Up Your Cross
The cross was not a symbol of comfort in the first century. It represented suffering, rejection, sacrifice, and death. When Jesus tells His followers to take up their cross, He is showing them that genuine discipleship can involve costly obedience. This does not mean that every Christian will experience the same kind of suffering. But every believer is called to surrender.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Galatians 2:20
The Christian life is not simply about adding Jesus to an already self-centered life. It is about allowing Christ to transform the life we have surrendered to Him. There are things God may ask you to lay down.
- Your pride.
- Your bitterness.
- Your desire for control.
- Your obsession with human approval.
- Your sinful habits.
- Your insistence on doing everything your own way.
Sometimes the hardest thing to surrender is not something we possess, but something we desperately want. Yet what we place in God's hands is never wasted.
3. Following Jesus Can Cost You the Approval of People
Jesus warned His disciples that following Him would sometimes bring rejection. He said:
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” John 15:18
Not everyone will understand your commitment to Christ. Some people may think your convictions are unnecessary. Others may mock your faith or question your choices. Sometimes the pressure is subtle.
- You may be tempted to remain silent about your faith because you want to fit in.
- You may be tempted to compromise your values because you want to be accepted.
- You may fear being considered different.
But Jesus calls us to seek God's approval above human applause. Galatians 1:10 asks:
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?”
Following Jesus does not mean deliberately trying to offend people. Christians are called to live with gentleness, wisdom, humility, and love. But love does not require compromise. There will be moments when faithfulness to Christ costs you someone's approval. When that happens, remember that you are following the One who knows you completely and loves you perfectly.
4. Following Jesus May Require Giving Up Comfort
Jesus never promised His disciples a life without difficulty. When some people wanted to follow Him, Jesus explained that discipleship could involve uncertainty and sacrifice. In Matthew 8:20, He said:
“The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
Jesus Himself lived a life of humble dependence upon the Father. Following Him may sometimes take us outside our comfort zones. God may call you to serve when you would rather remain comfortable.
- He may ask you to step into something unfamiliar.
- He may lead you to forgive someone.
- He may call you to wait when you desperately want an immediate answer.
- He may ask you to trust Him when you cannot see what is ahead.
Faith often grows when comfort ends. Abraham had to leave his country.Moses had to return to Egypt. Peter had to step out of the boat. Paul had to embrace a radically different life after encountering Christ. For some disciples, this meant leaving their ordinary work to serve Jesus in ministry. The details differ, but the principle remains: Following God requires trusting Him beyond what feels comfortable.
5. Following Jesus May Cost You Possessions and Personal Ambitions
Jesus spoke very directly about our relationship with possessions. He said:
“You cannot serve God and money.” Matthew 6:24
The problem is not simply owning possessions. The deeper issue is whether possessions own us. Jesus encountered a rich young ruler who wanted to know what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus challenged him to surrender what had become central to his heart (Mark 10:17–22). The man walked away sorrowful. His possessions had become more important to him than following Jesus. This challenges us today.
What would you struggle to surrender if Jesus asked?
- Money?
- Career?
- Status?
- A relationship?
- Your plans?
- Recognition?
- A dream?
Following Jesus means holding earthly things with open hands. It means being able to say: “Lord, everything I have belongs to You.”
6. Following Jesus Requires Obedience When You Do Not Understand
One of the hardest costs of discipleship is trusting God's wisdom when we cannot see the whole picture. Peter experienced this when Jesus told him to cast his nets again after a night of unsuccessful fishing. Peter could have argued. Instead, he said:
“But at your word I will let down the nets.” Luke 5:5
That is the heart of obedience. “At Your word.” There will be moments when you do not understand why God is leading you in a certain direction.
- You may not understand the waiting season.
- You may not understand why a door closed.
- You may not understand why God has not answered a particular prayer.
- You may not understand why obedience seems difficult.
But faith does not require knowing everything. Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us to trust in the Lord rather than lean entirely on our own understanding. Following Jesus means trusting the Shepherd even when we cannot see the entire road.
7. Following Jesus Can Involve Suffering
The New Testament does not hide this reality.
“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” 2 Timothy 3:12
Peter likewise encouraged believers who were suffering for their faith (1 Peter 4:12–16). Christianity is not a promise that you will never experience hardship. But suffering does not mean that God has abandoned you.
Jesus Himself suffered. He was rejected, mocked, beaten, falsely accused, and crucified. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him. When suffering comes because of faithful obedience, remember that Christ understands suffering personally. And He does not leave His people alone.
8. The Cost Is Real, but Jesus Is Worth It
Jesus once asked His disciples whether they also wanted to leave Him after many people stopped following Him. Peter answered:
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:68
That is the heart of Christian discipleship. Yes, there is a cost. But there is also an incomparable treasure. Jesus is worth more than the approval of people.
- He is worth more than temporary comfort.
- He is worth more than worldly success.
- He is worth more than possessions.
- He is worth more than our desire to control everything.
Paul understood this deeply. He counted the things he had once considered gain as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:7–8). The Christian does not surrender because Jesus is trying to take something precious away. We surrender because we have discovered Someone more precious.
9. Following Jesus Is Not About Losing Everything Without Receiving Anything
Sometimes people hear about the cost of discipleship and become afraid. But Jesus does not simply call us to lose. He calls us into something greater.
- He promises His presence.
- He gives us the Holy Spirit.
- He gives us a new identity.
- He gives us fellowship with God.
- He gives us a spiritual family.
- He gives us purpose.
- He gives us eternal hope.
Jesus said:
“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
What a promise. The road may become difficult, but we do not walk it alone. The Holy Spirit strengthens us when we are weak. When you feel unable to obey, ask the Spirit of God for help. When your heart is tired, return to Christ. When temptation becomes strong, remember God's Word. When fear rises, pray. When you fall, repent and get back up. Grace does not make discipleship unnecessary. Grace gives us the strength to continue.
10. Count the Cost, but Do Not Be Afraid to Follow
Jesus taught about counting the cost in Luke 14:25–33. He wanted people to understand that discipleship is serious. Following Jesus should not be treated casually. But counting the cost does not mean staring at the cost until fear prevents obedience. It means recognizing the seriousness of the decision and then responding to Jesus with faith.
Imagine someone standing at the entrance of a narrow road. They know the road will not always be easy. They know there may be hills, storms, and difficult seasons. But they also know who is leading them. That changes everything. Jesus is not merely asking you to walk a difficult road by yourself. He is saying: “Follow Me.” The One who calls you is the One who walks with you.
What Is Jesus Asking You to Surrender?
Take a quiet moment before God and ask: “Lord, is there anything I am holding more tightly than I am holding You?”
- Perhaps it is fear.
- Perhaps it is pride.
- Perhaps it is a relationship.
- Perhaps it is money.
- Perhaps it is your future.
- Perhaps it is the need to be recognized.
- Perhaps it is an old wound.
- Perhaps it is a secret habit.
- Perhaps it is simply your desire to remain in control.
Do not run from what God reveals. Bring it to Him. Surrender is not punishment. Surrender is placing your life into the hands of the One who knows you better than you know yourself.
The Blessing Hidden in Surrender
There is something beautiful about surrendering to Jesus. When we stop fighting God for control, we discover a deeper kind of freedom. When we stop living for people's approval, we become freer to obey God. When we release our future to Him, anxiety begins to lose its grip. When we surrender our desires to His will, we discover that His wisdom is greater than ours.
Jesus said:
“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 16:25
The world may tell us that life is found by getting everything we want. Jesus teaches that true life is found by giving ourselves to Him. That is the mystery of the Gospel.
- We surrender, and we find.
- We die to ourselves, and Christ gives us new life.
- We release control, and we discover God's faithfulness.
We follow Jesus, and we discover that He has been leading us toward life all along.
A Prayer for Those Who Want to Follow Jesus
I want to follow You, not merely with my words but with my life. Teach me to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow You faithfully. Show me anything in my heart that has become more important to me than You. Give me courage to surrender it.
When obedience is difficult, strengthen me. When I am afraid, remind me that You are with me. When people reject me because of my faith, help me remain humble and faithful. When suffering comes, keep my eyes fixed on You. When I do not understand Your ways, teach me to trust Your heart.
Holy Spirit, help me live each day in obedience to Christ. Give me strength to resist temptation, wisdom to make godly decisions, and courage to follow Jesus wherever He leads.
Lord, I give You my plans, my dreams, my relationships, my possessions, my future, and my whole heart. You are worthy. Teach me to follow You faithfully, one day at a time.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Conclusion: Jesus Is Worth the Cost
Following Jesus will cost us something. It may cost comfort. It may cost popularity. It may cost certain relationships or ambitions. It may require sacrifice, obedience, patience, and perseverance. But the greatest question is not simply, “What will following Jesus cost me?” It is also: “What is Jesus worth to me?”
He gave Himself for us before we ever understood the depth of His love. He carried the cross. He bore our sins. He died and rose again. Now He calls us:
“Follow me.” Matthew 4:19
You may not know everything that following Jesus will require from you. You may not see the whole road. But you can trust the One who walks ahead of you.
Take the next faithful step. Lay down what He asks you to surrender. Hold tightly to His Word. Depend on the Holy Spirit. And remember: the cost of following Jesus is real, but the privilege of belonging to Him is greater than anything this world can offer.
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