Whoever serves me must follow me
John 12:26 - The crowd heard His words—but only a few began to grasp where that path would lead. To follow Jesus isn’t just to listen—it’s to surrender, even to the point of the cross.
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“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”
John 12:26 NIV
Today’s devotional verse comes from an important chapter in the Gospel of John. Chapter 12 highlights the anointing of Jesus at Bethany by Mary (sister of Martha) with the resurrected Lazarus in attendance. Jesus enters Jerusalem on the back of a young donkey as followers in that city wave palm fronds and shout “Hosanna!,” and tells a crowd (including His disciples) of His impending death and resurrection. It is from this speech to the crowd that today’s verse is taken.
What a powerful verse this is! It begins with a command — “Whoever serves me must follow me.” Jesus is stating the difference between a believer and a follower, and considering where He will be going in several days (to the cross), this is a call for true sacrificial devotion.
The commentaries on this verse on Precept Austin point out that it is quite easy to profess one’s belief in Jesus, but it is another thing altogether to follow Him. Author and pastor Chris Tiegreen wrote these compelling words in The One Year At His Feet Devotional:
IN WORD
Much of the emphasis of modern evangelism is to create believers in Jesus. Faith is the overriding concern. Considering the overwhelming emphasis on faith in the Bible, this is an appropriate focus. But what kind of faith do we promote? What kind of faith does Jesus expect?
Jesus makes it clear that faith in Him does not mean simply an intellectual agreement with His claims. No, to believe in Jesus is to serve Him and follow Him. It is absolutely meaningless to claim faith in Jesus and then live contrary to His teachings with no apparent interest in aligning ourselves with them. Faith means hanging the entire balance of our lives on His claims and His commands. It means not only accepting Him as our Savior, but following Him as our Lord. To separate these two roles of Jesus is to make Him into something He is not, and it is to make our beliefs almost meaningless. Whoever believes Him, loves Him, serves Him—that person will follow Him. Whoever does not follow Him does not serve Him, love Him, or really even believe in Him.
So what does it mean to follow Jesus? It means that wherever He is, that’s where we’ll be. Is He at the right hand of the Father? Then we who follow are seated there with Him (Ephesians 2:6). Is He on the Cross? Then we who follow Him are there also (Galatians 2:20). Is He in prisons and slums? Then we will be there too. Wherever God is reconciling this vile world in Christ, that’s where Jesus’ true followers will be.
IN DEED
Ask yourself the hard questions about your discipleship. Are you a believer or a follower? In modern English, there’s a difference. But in Jesus’ vocabulary, each of those words implies the other. To believe in Him means to serve Him, as He commanded; and to serve means to follow.
Where are you willing to follow Jesus? Many will follow Him as long as He does not rearrange their lives. But this isn’t true following; it’s self-deception. Jesus will often take us where we are reluctant to go. If we serve Him, we will go anyway.
(Bold face added for emphasis)
Precept Austin administrator and author Bruce Hurt writes of the danger of thinking that you can just say “I believe in Jesus” and expect to go to Heaven when you die. As he points out, this is a very common false teaching in many churches:
What Jesus is commanding on one hand is "IM-possible" but on the other hand is "HIM-possible," the Him of course being the indwelling enabling Spirit. And while Jesus commands that we habitually follow Him, He is fully aware we still have sinful tendencies in these mortal frames. Therefore, Jesus is not calling for perfection, but He is calling for direction. If we say we believe in Jesus and have eternal life, there should be some evidence in our lives that we are generally following in the direction of the footsteps of Jesus. If not, then ponder 2 Corinthians 13:5+. Don't fall for the lie that you can make a profession of "I believe in Jesus" and that this assures you when you die you will go to Heaven, even if the rest of your life you live a godless lifestyle (See in depth comments on the false teaching of so-called "carnal Christian"). This false teaching is out there in evangelical circles and it is very dangerous to your spiritual "health" (I speak as a physician) and your eternal destiny!
(Bold face added for emphasis)
The next words in the verse are equally compelling: “And where I am, my servant also will be.” While His disciples would immediately react to His arrest, flogging, crucifixion, and death in a typically human and meek manner, they would all (with the exception of John, who would die of old age after writing Revelation) die as martyrs. They truly followed Jesus where He went, even to the point of suffering and dying for Him.
Jesus closes this verse with the promise “My Father will honor the one who serves me.” Serving Jesus by following Him comes with a reward, being honored by the Father. Charles Spurgeon is, as usual, eloquent in his explanation (once again from Precept Austin):
THE highest service is imitation. if I would be Christ’s servant I must be his follower. To do as Jesus did is the surest way of bringing honour to his name. Let me mind this every day.
If I imitate Jesus I shall have his company: if I am like him I shall be with him. In due time he will take me up to dwell with him above, if, meanwhile, I have striven to follow him here below. After his suffering our Lord came to his throne, and even so, after we have suffered a while with him here below, we also shall arrive in glory. The issue of our Lord’s life shall be the issue of ours: if we are with him in his humiliation we shall be with him in his glory. Come, my soul, pluck up courage, and put down thy feet in the blood-marked footprints which thy Lord has left thee.
Let me not fail to note that the Father will honour those who follow his Son. If he sees me true to Jesus he will put marks of favour and honour upon me for his Son’s sake. No honour can be like this. Princes and emperors bestow the mere shadows of honour; the substance of glory comes from the Father. Wherefore, my soul, cling thou to thy Lord Jesus more closely than ever.
When Jesus said “follow me,” He wasn’t speaking in metaphors—the path ahead led straight to a cross. In John 12:26, we’re reminded that true service means walking the same road He did… wherever it leads.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I come before You with a humble heart, seeking to follow the example of Your Son, Jesus. Help me to serve others with love and dedication, just as He served. Grant me the strength to walk in His footsteps and to honor You in all that I do. Thank You for the promise that You will honor those who serve You. AMEN.