By: Kurt Barnes

Have you ever wondered what it truly means to follow Jesus? Not just in name, but in the fullness of discipleship that transforms every aspect of our lives? The journey of a Christian is not merely about personal growth or inner peace. It’s about becoming an intentional apprentice of Jesus Christ, learning to be with Him, become like Him, and ultimately, do what He did.

At the heart of this transformative journey lies a profound truth: our abiding relationship with Jesus is the foundation for everything else in our Christian life. As Jesus Himself said, “Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5). This isn’t just a casual connection; it’s a conscious, intentional, and constant linking of our lives to His.

Imagine a vine with its branches. The branches don’t produce fruit on their own – they need to remain connected to the vine. Similarly, our spiritual fruitfulness depends entirely on our connection to Christ. But what exactly is this fruit we’re meant to bear?

In botany, fruits are “mature or ripened reproductive structures that enclose seeds and aid in their dispersal”. An apple tree doesn’t eat its own apples. Instead, as others consume the fruit, they carry off the seeds, allowing the tree to reproduce far and wide. In the same way, the fruit of our spiritual lives isn’t just for our own benefit – it’s meant to spread the seeds of God’s kingdom.

This brings us to a powerful realization: THE SEEDS ARE IN THE FRUIT. The very command given to mankind at the beginning – “Be fruitful and multiply” – takes on new meaning in our spiritual lives. As we abide in Christ, we’re transformed, becoming more like Him, and bearing fruit that has multiplication power.

Jesus was intentionally training His disciples for a purpose greater than their own spiritual growth. He was preparing them to continue His work. Just as an apprentice in any trade learns to become proficient and work independently, Jesus’ apprentices were being equipped to carry on His mission.

What was this mission? We see it clearly outlined in the Gospels. Jesus went throughout Galilee, “teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people” (Matthew 4:23). He saw the crowds as “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).

Recognizing the enormity of the task, Jesus instructed His disciples to pray for more workers. But He didn’t stop there. He immediately sent them out to do exactly what they had seen Him doing: teach, proclaim the Kingdom of God, heal the sick, and cast out demons. Jesus was multiplying His impact through His apprentices.

This wasn’t a one-time event or limited to the twelve disciples. Jesus made it clear that this was the plan for all His followers. On the night before His crucifixion, He made an astounding promise: “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).

It’s a promise that might seem unbelievable, even outrageous. How could we possibly do greater things than Jesus? The key lies in what Jesus said next: “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:13-14).

This is Jesus’ plan: We abide in Him, staying connected. Through the Holy Spirit, we’re trained and empowered to put His teachings into practice. As we walk in faith, we find ourselves working alongside Him in the harvest fields. We keep asking, and He keeps answering.

Even after His resurrection, Jesus emphasized this mission. On Easter Sunday, His first words to His disciples were, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). His final words before ascending to heaven reiterated this mandate: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

This mission continues today. The Church is the continuation of what Jesus started. We are called to heal the sick, teach, destroy the works of darkness, and raise up more disciples who will make disciples. It’s a beautiful, ongoing story of God’s people, filled with His Spirit, living in and inviting others to life in His Kingdom.

But let’s be honest – following Jesus is much easier said than done. The call to discipleship is not just an invitation to follow; it’s a call to die to our old self and enter into a new identity and kingdom life. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

This means reorienting everything in our lives around following Him. It’s not about earning God’s love or approval – we already have that in Christ. We willingly sacrifice our old selves because Jesus first sacrificed for us. In exchange, we’re transformed into a new creation. What an incredible trade!

As followers of Christ, we’re invited to be conduits of heaven’s power, authority, blessings, resources, goodness, beauty, mercy, and love right here on earth. It’s the greatest opportunity imaginable! We serve a God “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

So, the question remains: What could possibly hold us back from this invitation? Are we willing to lay down our lives, our comfort, our plans, to follow Jesus wholeheartedly? Are we ready to be not just believers, but true apprentices – being with Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and doing what Jesus did?

The journey of discipleship is challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. As we abide in Christ, we not only experience personal transformation but also become part of something far greater than ourselves – the ongoing work of God’s kingdom in this world. Will you accept the invitation to be a fruitful branch, connected to the true vine, spreading the seeds of God’s love and power to a world in desperate need?