WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF CHRIST

Text: 1 John 2:7; 1 John 1:7; John 13:15; 1 Cor. 11:1; Eph. 5:2; 1 Pet. 2:21; Phil. 2:5-11

In biblical contexts, "walk" often refers to how a person lives their life, their daily conduct, choices, values, and behavior. To walk in Christ's footsteps means to strive to live the way Jesus lived with love, humility, compassion, obedience to God, and to be selfless [Phil. 2:5-11]; Such must be full of power and glory, and live a godly lifestyle in holiness and walking in righteousness.

When compounded into one word as they are in this verse, “walk in the footstep”, the new word means to carefully follow after Jesus Christ and to replicate what and how he did it. It depicts a person so committed to imitating another person that he is willing to follow him exactly and to do whatever he does. This is a picture of true discipleship. The word “walk” could only describe a person who is very serious about replicating someone else’s life as his own. Although everyone will not heed it, this call to replicate the life of Jesus is a call that God has given to every child of God. In simple terms, it means to walk like Jesus walked. Jesus gave us a perfect revelation of God, and we should model our lives after His. 

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” 1 Peter 2:21

But as Peter continued, he used a word to explicitly show how closely we are to imitate the life of Jesus in our own lives. Peter went on to say that we should follow in his steps. The word “step” is the Greek word “ichnos”, meaning footprints, precisely like the footprints we left in the sand at the beach. It is the picture of us putting our feet exactly where Jesus first placed His feet, stepping in His very footprints and following His actions in every circumstance we face. Love when we ought to love like Him, and pray to the Father when we ought to pray as He did. The verse could therefore read, “We must ardently follow Jesus' lifestyle, to replicate His life in ours. Yes, we must be so committed to follow Him that we step in His very footprints.” We must do as He has done, live as He had lived

“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you,” John 13:15 

This means we must learn to walk in Jesus’ steps, even if it seems His pace, His standard, His example, His way of living and loving, and forgiving seem much bigger than the level we are used to “walking in” right now. We must be committed to leap from one footprint of the Master to the next until we have learned to easily match His stride and keep the pace He set while He walked the earth. When the religious elders saw the boldness of Peter, they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. 

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvel; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Act 4:13 

To "walk in the footsteps of Jesus" means to live a life that reflects his teachings, values, and actions. It involves imitating his example of love, compassion, humility, obedience, purpose, and devotion to God, while giving priority to his commands and embracing a life of service and sacrifice. Essentially, it's about embodying the spirit of Jesus in all aspects of our lives.

Jesus walked in holiness, righteousness, and submission to the Will, Way, and Word of the Father; we too must walk that way. He did the Father’s will, so must we do also!

For emphasis's sake, Jesus showed deep compassion, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, delivering the oppressed, and welcoming the outcasts like the lepers [Matt. 9:36; John 8:1-11]. He taught with divine authority, never compromising the truth [Matt. 7:28-29]. Jesus walked in perfect obedience to the Father, doing nothing apart from God’s will [John 5:19; Phil. 2:8]. He embodied perfect love for God and His people and even His enemies [John 13:34-35; Matt. 5:44]; and though He was fully human, Jesus lived a sinless life [Heb. 4:15].

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin” 1 John 1:7

Walking in the light like Jesus means living in truth, purity, and being in close fellowship with God, just as Jesus did. It is about honesty with God and others, obedience to God’s commands, rejecting sin and all things about darkness, and allowing God’s truth to guide our actions. This was how Jesus Christ walked with the Father, for He was sinless, pure, holy, and in full fellowship with the Father. We are called to model our lives after His life. We are to strive to live in a way that reflects His character; we must be renewed in our mind and be transformed into His image [Romans 12:2; 2 Cor 3:18].

“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us” Eph. 5:2 

Of all the good ways that Jesus walked, the way He expressed the love of God in whatever He did and wherever He went was the most important. He walked in “agape and not in phileo” love. So are we to walk also? This means we must love with “selfless and sacrificial” love that reflects the heart of God by putting others first [Phil. 2:3], love without conditions [Luke 6:35], serve and sacrifice [John 15:13], forgive freely [Col. 3:13], live by the spirit and speak [Gal. 5:22], and act in truth [Eph. 5:2].

To go deeper in following Christ, we must …

Follow His Teachings

This involves studying and living according to scriptures, understanding Jesus's message of love, forgiveness, and grace, and we have to apply those principles in our lives daily. It is called living by the word of God.

Emulating His Actions

This means being compassionate, kind, and helpful to others, just as Jesus was. It also involves showing grace and forgiveness, even when we were wronged.

Prioritizing God's Will

Walking in the footsteps of Jesus requires making decisions that align with God's will, even when they are difficult or unpopular.

Living a Life of Service

This involves using one's talents and divine abilities to serve others and to advance God's kingdom.

We must be humble and obedient

It means recognizing one's dependence on God and submitting to his authority.

Experiencing Transformation

As one follows Jesus, we should experience a growing sense of transformation, as God works in our lives, to make us more like Christ [2 Cor. 3:18].

Here’s how someone can do that

Study His life and teachings by reading the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) to understand Jesus’ actions, words, and heart; and emulating it. We must pay attention to how He treated people, especially the poor, the sick, the sinners, and the outcast.

Love Others Deeply

Jesus said the greatest commandments are to love God and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37–39). Forgive, show kindness, and help those in need.

Practice Humility and Service

Jesus washed His disciples’ feet to show that true greatness is found in serving others (John 13:12–17). Do not lord over the flock of God you are just their shepherd not their lord or master.

Walking like Christ means putting others before yourself.

Live with Integrity and Faith

Jesus always aligned His actions with God’s will. Be honest, faithful, and seek to live according to God’s truth.

Pray and Stay Connected to God

Jesus often prayed alone to stay connected to His Father [Mark 1:35]. Make prayer and spiritual reflection a regular part of your life.

Carry Your Cross

Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

It means being willing to endure difficulty for the sake of love, truth, and faith.

Walking in Jesus' Footsteps also involves…

1. We should imitate Jesus' love by showing kindness, empathy, and compassion to those around us.

2. We should serve others in practical ways, such as volunteering, helping those in need, and being a good neighbor.

3. We should seek God's will for our lives, striving to obey Him and follow His guidance.

Challenges and Opportunities

1. Following Jesus requires self-denial, which can be challenging but ultimately freeing from a carnal lifestyle. 

2. We may face obstacles and challenges, but perseverance and faith can help us overcome them.

3. As we walk in Jesus' footsteps, we can experience growth and transformation, becoming more like Him.

The call to supernatural life and ministry

There is an important side to how Jesus Christ walked and worked that we ought to walk in which the Church has often ignored. That has to do with the fact that He walked with the fact that all the AUTHORITY in heaven and on earth has been given to Him by the Father, and He walked appropriating and manifesting that authority that the Father gave Him by healing the sick, delivering the oppressed and the harassed, raising the dead and setting the captives free.  

“Then Jesus came close to them and said, “All the AUTHORITY of the universe has been given to me. Now go in my AUTHORITY and make disciples of all nations…” Matt. 28:18-19 TPT

Jesus now gave us the authority and the glory that the Father gave Him to do the same works, and to walk the same walk in life and ministry [John 17:21]. Unfortunately, most of us do not “go in His authority” to do as commanded or to walk and work as Jesus did!

Please let us use another scripture to understand this better…

“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” Mark 16:17-18 [See verse 20]

As many as understand the fact that Jesus worked miracles, signs, and wonders, and has given them the same grace to work and walk with the same grace, should be able to do the same works that He did.

The heart of Christianity is a call to supernatural life, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to manifest God's kingdom on earth. As believers, we are consecrated to follow in Jesus' footsteps, extending His saving work and demonstrating His power through the grace gifts of the Spirit [healing, miracles, signs, and wonders inclusive].

"For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. " Romans 8:19

Both ministers and the congregation of the New Testament Church must arise and manifest Christ's glory, love, and power in our lives and to a dying world, testifying [Witnesses Acts 1:8] to God's goodness and majesty; we have been made kings and priests unto our God and also sons of the heavenly Father who manifests the works of Christ on earth. Walking an+-+++d working like He did.

We must embrace our divine calling, yield to the Holy Spirit's guidance, and walk in the supernatural life that Christ has won for us. Our lives must be a testament to the transformative power of the gospel, and God's kingdom must come on earth as it is in heaven! (Matthew 6:10). For emphasis’s sake, we must crucially hook up with the power of the Holy Spirit and access miracles, signs and wonders for ourselves and those we minister to.

The Lord Jesus Christ could do nothing until He was full of the Holy Spirit and with power of the Spirit [Luke 3:23, Luke 4:1, 14, 28] and He categorically stated that we must tarry until we are endued with power from on high [Luke 24:49]. The Holy Spirit is the power source for effective ministry and living a supernatural life. Jesus Himself said, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you" (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit is the One who empowers us to witness (Acts 1:8), gives us spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-11), works miracles, signs, and wonders (Acts 2:22, Hebrews 2:4), guides us into truth (John 16:13) and fills us with God's love and grace (Romans 5:5, Ephesians 3:19).

Believers must earnestly seek the Holy Spirit's power and presence, be yielded to His guidance, leading and directing; and filled with His grace. As we do so, we'll experience the supernatural life God intended for us to live and manifest His glory to a world in need! (Matthew 3:11.). We must not grieve the Holy Spirit by who we are sealed until the day of redemption.

However, we are consecrated as saviors [Obad. 1:21], just like Christ was [John 17:19, 17]; we must follow in the footsteps of Jesus, our ultimate Savior. We are called to continue His redemptive work, extending His love, grace, and salvation to a world in need, and consecrated by God to be agents of salvation, reconciliation, and healing in our spheres of influence. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill this divine mandate, being used by God to bring hope, light, and life to those around us.

We must embrace this high calling, humbly acknowledging our role as saviors after the order of Christ, and our lives must be a reflection of His love, compassion, and saving grace. [2 Cor. 5:18-20]

Believers must arise as sons of God and manifest Christ in their lives, reflecting and demonstrating His glory, love, character, and power to a world in need. We must arise and show the world what it means to be sons of God, living like Jesus lived, loving like He loved, and demonstrating His kingdom's power and grace like He did.

As we arise, we must embrace our true identity as sons of God, extend His kingdom on earth, and bring hope and light to a world in need. It is time to reveal the glory of God Jesus gave to the Church [John 17:22] and reveal it to a world waiting to see His splendor! (Psalm 82:6)

Manifesting sonship

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” Rom. 8:17 KJV

“And since we are his true children, we qualify to share all his treasures, for indeed, we are heirs of God himself. And since we are joined to Christ, we also inherit all that he is and all that he has. We will experience being co-glorified with him, provided that we accept his sufferings as our own” Rom 8:17 TPT

Jesus Christ walked with the consciousness of who He is in God. The day I saw a governor at the airport, he walked as one who carries power with a bodyguard and police men all around him. Jesus walked with the knowledge of the only begotten son of the Father with great pomp, we too ought to walk with the consciousness of who we are …sons of God and be aware that we carry ballistic missiles of heavenly power and glory; and the host of angels all around us daily.

“Elijah was just as human as we are, and for three and a half years his prayers kept the rain from falling. But when he did pray for rain, it fell from the skies and made the crops grow” James 5:17-18 CEV

The Holy Spirit came upon Elijah, and he decreed no rain for three and a half years, and it was so. Scriptures declared that he is just as human as we. We even stand in a better position than Elijah to do these works. The Holy Spirit only came upon him in the Old Testament whenever God wanted to use Him, but the Holy Spirit lives in us.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” 2 Cor. 4:7