Why do I follow Jesus?

Have you ever sat done and asked yourself a question like that? Have you ever tried to discover why you do anything? Usually we come up with answers like; because that’s what my parents did or that is what I was taught in school or that is one of our traditions or even because that is the law. All these reasons when put into the light of Jesus are the recipe of religion. Truly following Jesus is so far beyond religion. You can not follow Jesus by rules, traditions or laws. Following Jesus requires a relationship.

My family introduced me to the idea of Jesus but he never felt real. The giant sized Jesus statues, the candles, repetitive prayers, church organs, priests and rules never made me feel close to God. I didn’t get it. I just felt insignificant and far away from the person, Jesus, who people said was my savior.  

I had some friends that lived around the block. They spoke of Jesus as having a relationship with them. This was so foreign to me. No one in my church ever mentioned a relationship. My aunt was a Catholic Nun and she never spoke of a relationship. The priests who read the gospel to us and spoke homilies to us never said anything about a relationship. So one day I asked those friends, how do you have a relationship with someone in heaven when we are here on earth? They said, “’You must be born again’. This is what Jesus said.” I was in eighth grade when all this was taking place and I was very confused about Jesus. Why don’t I know Jesus? What relationship? What is born again? We were getting ready for confirmation in church but what could I confirm I had nothing but questions and no one had answers.

I gave up on religion and just lived. I always felt something significant missing and tried to fill it with many things. Everything I tried to fill my life with left me feeling emptier than before. It was like I was running further and further from my destination even though I had no clue where I was to go. One day I ran into my cousin at work and he spoke to me about Jesus. He told me things like “Jesus came to give me an abundant life, Jesus loves me, He loved me so much that he gave his life for me” my cousin let me know all the stories I heard in church and religion class about Jesus were done for me. I eyes were starting to open; I had never heard the gospel made so personnel. A week later I received a package in the mail. It was a MacArthur study bible with a list of scriptures I should read. The bible sat unopened for weeks. I remembered reading the bible once before only to discover I’ve been lied to and I wasn’t sure I was willing to do this again.

I opened the bible to John 3:16 and I read; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” I was so intrigued by this verse. Could Jesus really love me? I read on for a few weeks trying to wrap my head around this Jesus and his love for the world, his love for me and being saved. I soon lost interest and went on just doing what I’ve been doing. I tried so many things but was never satisfied I just felt like every relationship I had and all the parties I went to and trying to do all the world had to offer just left me empty. I had so much regret and depression. I was at my end. It was at my end is where I realized the most powerful relationship I ever had. I was depressed, suicidal and utterly rejected. This is where Jesus found me. He found me in a place where I couldn’t get any lower. He saved my life that night through my sister who had found Jesus a few years before. I read his word and it fed my soul and gave me life. I went to a bible teaching church and I learned the truth about Jesus. I prayed and he answered. I got it. I know what it means to have a relationship with Jesus. I prayed he would forgive me for all my sin. I prayed that he would enter my heart and stay with me. He forgave me and he is with me through his Holy Spirit and he has given my salvation through his grace by his work on the cross and nothing I have done.

This is how I came to have a relationship with Jesus, but why do I follow Jesus? Can I have this relationship with Buda? No. Can I have this relationship with Allah? No. Can I have this relationship with the many gods of Hinduism? No. Can I have this relationship as a Jew? Only if I realize Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and the promised messiah. Can any religion give me fellowship with God the creator of the universe? No, there is no religion that can give me fellowship with God only a relationship with Jesus can give fellowship with God. Jesus said, “…I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14: 6, 7

So why do I follow Jesus? The apostle Peter said it best “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,” John 6:68