Did Jesus Encourage Everyone to Follow Him?

Did Jesus encourage everyone to follow HIm? This is an important question. Following Jesus, also known as discipleship, is distinct from trusting Him for salvation (going to Heaven when you die). Becoming a disciple is a lifetime commitment to obedience.

Jesus Asked Us to Count the Cost Before Following Him

Jesus asked us to count the cost before committing ourselves: 
“For who among you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost to see whether he has resources to complete it? Otherwise, perhaps, after he has laid the foundation and (cannot) complete it, all who see it will begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and (did not) complete it” (Luke 14:28-30).

Salvation is a Free Gift

In contrast, point-in-time salvation is a free gift we receive by faith plus nothing. Jesus can offer it freely because He died on the cross for our sins and achieved eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12): 
“Let him who is thirsty (for salvation) come. Let him who desires take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).

When Jesus offered salvation, He encouraged all to receive it by faith in Him. When we believe, we’re transferred from Satan’s kingdom into Jesus’. Our destiny is no longer damnation; it’s Heaven. Gaining a destination in Heaven is not a reward; it’s a gift.

Jesus Knows the Cost of Being His Follower

However, when Jesus addressed whether someone should follow Him, He sometimes cautioned against it: 
“Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, ‘Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” Jesus replied, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head” (Matthew 8:19-20).

Jesus lived a spartan life and was persecuted by many; His followers should anticipate similar challenges. Jesus was on a glorious mission, but the citizens of this world didn’t recognize their King-Messiah. Therefore, they crucified Him.

We Will Receive Rewards in Heaven

In contrast to salvation, faithful disciples, also called servants, will receive rewards in eternity. These rewards are not gifts because they’re not based on Jesus’ finished redemptive work. Though Jesus finished His salvific work, He has a continuing mission for His servant followers. He told them, 
” Go therefore and make disciples of all nations … teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Jesus Invites Everyone to Salvation

Though Jesus invites everyone to drink the waters of salvation, He also warns those who wish to follow Him that their journey will be difficult. While He encourages people to believe in salvation, He advises them to consider the consequences before following Him:
“He (Jesus) turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple” (Matthew 8:26-27). 

Choose Jesus Above All Else

The term Jesus used about hating your family is a contrast word. For Jesus’ followers, fulfilling His mission must be our highest priority in life: That’s what He meant. The Apostle Paul puts it this way,
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on earth” (Colossians 3:2). 

Hating our lives means living to serve Jesus. He asked the rich young ruler to give his money to the poor and follow Him. Still, the man refused, failing the discipleship standard that Jesus set: “He (the ruler) was saddened by that word, and he went away grieving. For he had many possessions” (Mark 10:22). In contrast, blind Bartimaeus left his only protection in this world — his cloak — and followed Jesus on the path of discipleship: ” Throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus” (Mark 10:50).

Believing in Jesus for salvation never fails

Believing in Jesus for salvation never fails. However, discipleships can fail, and recovery is available but not guaranteed. And the reward for faithful following isn’t either:
“Or what king, going to wage war against another king, does not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Otherwise, while the other is yet at a distance, he sends a delegation and requests conditions of peace. So likewise, any of you who does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:31-33).

So, did Jesus encourage everyone to immediately follow Him as a disciple?

Consider whether you have enough to build that tower.
Consider that foxes have homes, but Jesus had nowhere to lay His head.
Consider that you must hate your own life and live for Him.

In contrast, He never asked us to count the cost of salvation because He paid the full price. Therefore, He invites everyone to believe.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).