By: Lorraine Eastman, Legacy Pastor
Over the last decade, the Las Vegas Valley has become a major league sports city. We’ve embraced the Golden Knights, an ice hockey team thriving in the desert where summer temperatures can soar past 120 degrees. Then came the Raiders. And now, even major league baseball is on the horizon with the Athletics.
So let me ask you: Are you a fan or a follower? Believe it or not, there’s a difference. Now, what if we took that same question and applied it to our relationship with Jesus? Are you a fan or a follower?
A fan sticks around when it’s comfortable, convenient, and it doesn’t cost too much.
A follower is willing to get uncomfortable. They don’t prioritize convenience or count the cost. They are captivated by the call of Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit. They don’t just watch, they step in, eager to be a part of what God is doing.
Jesus had a lot of fans throughout his ministry. There was a rich, young ruler who asked about eternal life. Jesus then told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21, NLT). The cost was too great, and he walked away as a fan.
After Jesus miraculously fed more than 5,000 with a young boy’s lunch of a few loaves and fishes, he pulled away by himself to pray. “When they found him back across the sea, they said, ‘Rabbi, when did you get here?’ Jesus answered, ‘You’ve come looking for me not because you saw God in my actions but because I fed you, filled your stomachs—and for free’” (John 6:26, MSG). They wanted what He could give, not to follow who He was.
Later, in Capernaum, Jesus shared: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you” (John 6:53, NLT). Jesus, realizing that many of his fans were offended by his words, shared with them: “‘Some of you do not believe me.’ (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him) . . . At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him” (John 6:64,66, NLT). Jesus sees our hearts. He knows who is a fan and who is a follower.
Even on Palm Sunday, crowds shouted “Hosanna!” as Jesus entered Jerusalem. Just a few days later, many of those same voices cried out for his crucifixion. When following became costly, the fans disappeared. The closer Jesus was to the cross, the more fans slipped away until only true followers remained.
Paul understood this transformation from fan to follower. He wrote, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20, NLT). That’s not casual admiration; that’s complete surrender, showing us how to move from fans to followers and find a life worth living.
So again: Are you a fan or a follower? Fans want a front-row seat to watch the action; followers want to be in the game. For followers, the Gospel changes us — it stretches us, challenges us, and it comes at a cost. Following Jesus isn’t easy; it will cost you everything. However, what you gain will be far greater: A life of purpose, transformation, and eternal impact.
Being a follower means giving up free time and using that to dive into His word. It means developing a personal relationship with Jesus. It means learning to love others sacrificially. It means surrendering your will to Him. We transition from fan to follower by giving up to grow up. And when we choose to follow Jesus, the journey doesn’t stop there. We become disciples and then disciple-makers.
Jesus said: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19, NLT). That’s the calling Jesus has placed on our lives. Most of us started as fans, then we became followers, then disciples and, ultimately, disciple-makers.
So the question is: Are you ready to step into that calling? Let’s go!