“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” – Matt 16:24-25
Here is what it means to follow Jesus. It is to join Him in what He came to do as it is to gather with Him (Lk 11:23). That is, to gather followers for the glory of his Father. Furthermore, following the LORD Yeshua also means that those who are His share in his suffering. He knew that His pain would also spill over onto those who follow Him (Jn 15:20).
As John Piper puts it, His followers will also experience ruptures in their relationships with people, possessions, and vocation. There will be a loss of friends and family, setting aside treasure, objects, and belongings. And, at times, an abandonment of career pursuits and what others view as worldly aspirations. It is the overall decrease of self-interest in exchange for His interests and what He came to do.
