read verses 35 thru 37, where the Apostle John says beginning at verse 35,
Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith,
Behold the Lamb of God! 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
For our thoughts we want to consider with from this text and some other Bible verses, the scriptural concept of what it
means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.....
There are many sincere people in our world who truly believe that they are following Jesus and yet it is quite evident
that many who make this claim are not really following Jesus but are simply doing religious things which have no
bearing on divine truth or righteousness that is found in Christ.
For our study, we would just like to take a few minutes to consider from the Bible some basic characteristics that are
found in those who are true followers of Jesus. .
As we begin our study, you can first notice in our text, that when John made the statement that Jesus was the Lamb
of God, there were two of his disciples that heard him make that proclamation and the Bible says that after they
heard John say those words, it states that they begin to follow Jesus.
The word translated “followed” here simply carries the meaning “to be in the same way or path that another has
taken”.
Plainly, when these men began to follow Jesus, it simply meant that they had made a life changing determination that
no longer did they need to follow John, but rather they now needed to follow Jesus by being in the same way with
him.
Expound: You know today, the primary view from the worlds viewpoint of following Jesus is that
there are many paths religiously to take, and it is everyone’s personal choice as to what path one
chooses to take.
From the teaching we have in the Scriptures, we find that all religious paths do not lead to heaven, and
all paths are NOT trod by the Lord.....In simple terms, there is a path way that is marked and forwarded by
Jesus and consequently there are those who are truly following Jesus and His Way
Consider with me, some basic characteristics that are found in those who are true followers of Jesus
1) A person who is a true follower of Jesus is one who hears, believes and obeys the Word of
Lord at all cost.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the
will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have
cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never
knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
In Jam 1:25 the Bible says, But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a
forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
In Joh 8:31-32 – Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my
disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 10:25-27 – Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they
bear witness of me. 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.27 My sheep hear
my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
These verses clearly prove that those who are true followers of Jesus are not passive observers but rather they are
active participants in the Word of Jesus. They follow Jesus because they actively do what Jesus tells them to do,
through His Word.
Today, those who practice and do things in their life that is not in accordance to the Word of Jesus cannot be true
followers of Him, because as Jesus says it, “ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:...Jn 10:
27". The reality is if we want to be a true follower of Jesus we have to do what Jesus reveals in His Word so that we
may live in His Way!
2) A person who is a true follower of Jesus is one who relies upon the blood of Jesus for the
forgiveness of sins.
Col 1:12-14 – Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the
saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his
dear Son 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
It is certain that there are misled people today who truly believe that they are living in the way of Jesus and yet are
living without the benefits of having His blood applied for the forgiveness of sins. Friends it is impossible to be true
follower of Jesus, without having receiving the benefit from His blood. We cannot be a child of God, without having
the blood of His Son applied.
In Gal 3: 26-27, the Bible says,
Gal 3:26-27 – For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus 27 For as many of you as have been
baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
You see, it is by hearing, believing and obeying Christ in baptism that we put on Christ, and the blood of Jesus can
then be applied thus making it possible that as we follow Jesus we can have the forgiveness of sins and rely upon
that wonderful provision. For those who are children of God by faith, we have the assurance of forgiveness because
of the promise of cleansing through the blood of Jesus.
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
Obviously a true follower of Jesus is one who recognizes Jesus as being the Lamb of God and relies upon Him for the
forgiveness of sins and faithful living and honest confession when needed that one who follows Christ can be
cleansed from all unrighteousness by obeying Him and His Word,
That brings us to the next characteristic we want to look at today of a true follower and that is that,
3) A true follower of Jesus is one who bears their cross as they follow the Lord and Will.
In Mat 16:24-25 – 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. 25 - For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my
sake shall find it.
In Mat 10:38-39, Jesus furthers his comments by saying, And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is
not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
The idea of bearing a cross, is not a pretty concept to think about. A cross is an instrument used to put people to
death. Jesus was not saying that we take up a literal cross ourselves and then take our own life by suicide for his
sake, for that would be sinful....Rom 13: 9; Matt 5: 21. Rather Jesus was talking about something that involved NOT
the physical but rather a spiritual concept, whereby that we put death our own will, and live only for Jesus in every
area of our life.
Its one thing friends to say that you are follower of Jesus and its another when you are persecuted for the sake of the
Jesus and then you live out the claim by way of commitment and trust in the Lord.
Expound: On a sincere evaluation of the cross that we bear for Jesus? Are we bearing a cross for
the Lord? It is a sobering thought is it not!
In summary, what we learn in all these points is that to be a follower, we have to hear, believe and obey Jesus, we
have to exercise complete unaltered confidence in Jesus as our Lord and our Savior by having his blood applied in
baptism. And then as a child of God by faith, we must evaluate the cross we bear for him.
When we do these things, it may mean hardships and trials in this life are ahead for a period of time, yet when we
endure this life, we have the promise of eternal life that is to come.
Rev 2:10 – Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison,
that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of
life.
Well, lastly a true follower of Jesus is one who is a true servant of righteousness as Jesus was.
In other words, one cannot be a follower of Jesus and a follower of the devil at the same time.
Rom 6:16 - 22 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the
servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Rom 6:18 Being
then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men
because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity
unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.Rom 6:20 For when ye were
the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. Rom 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye
are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become
servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
What does it mean to have your fruit unto holiness?
- Fruit = that which is produced or yielded from one of its own kind.
- Unto = propping or leaning up against......joint heirship with Christ...take my yoke upon you
- Holiness - the state of being unmixed....It is something that is pure.
How does one succumb to producing in our life that which can be yielded from one of its own kind....Jesus = Word =
Confession or Profession of Jesus = Lifestyle
In our congregation, What equals fruit unto holiness?
Unity, Peace, Longsuffering, Goodness, Gentleness, Love, Meekness
In Worship, What equals fruit unto holiness?
Spirit and Truth....John 4: 23-24
In our homes, What equals fruit unto holiness?
Our Roles We Serve Eph 5, Col 3
In our public life, What equals fruit unto holiness?
Godliness, Holiness, Justified, Temperant, Loving, Diligent, Preaching and Teaching with Fervor and Conviction....
When we see all these things at work and producing, we can then be assured by the authenticity of the Word of
Jesus revealed that we are in the same way with Jesus and that we are walking the path that he has once taken.
Let us do all we can to stay on that old path, that eventually will lead us to where Jesus is now!