Start With Yes: Living a Life That Looks Like Jesus

There's a simple yet profound sign that captures the heart of what it means to follow Jesus: Start with yes.

This isn't just a motivational slogan or trendy catchphrase. It's the foundational posture for anyone who wants to experience the fullness of life in Christ. Start with yes to being with Him. Start with yes to being transformed by Him. Start with yes to doing the things He did.



But what does it actually mean to do what Jesus did? And is it even possible for ordinary people like us?

The Pattern of Apprenticeship

When Jesus first called His disciples, He wasn't recruiting volunteers for a religious program. He was inviting fishermen into a radical apprenticeship. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus tells Simon Peter and Andrew, "Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people."

This wasn't just a clever metaphor. In first-century Hebrew culture, "fisher of men" was an idiom for a great teacher—someone who could capture minds and imaginations. Jesus was essentially saying, "I'm a great teacher. Follow me, become my disciple, and I'll make you into a great teacher too."

What's astonishing is that Jesus did everything—all the teaching, healing, and demon-casting—with a cohort of apprentices who would be with Him, become like Him, and eventually do the same work in their world.

Throughout the Gospel of Matthew, we see this pattern unfold:

• Matthew 9:35 - Jesus teaches, preaches, and heals
• Matthew 10 - Jesus sends out the twelve with authority to do the same
• Matthew 28 - The Great Commission: "Go and make disciples of all nations"

Jesus followed what we might call the four stages of apprenticeship:

1. I do, you watch (Jesus preaching while disciples observe)
2. I do, you help (feeding the 5,000 with the disciples' assistance)
3. You do, I help (sending out the seventy with coaching)
4. You do, I watch (the Great Commission—go with my presence)

The end goal of apprenticeship to Jesus is clear: to do what He did until He returns.

What Exactly Did Jesus Do?

Jesus came to usher in the kingdom of God—not just in words, but in action. His work included:

• Preaching the gospel
• Teaching the way
• Healing the sick
• Casting out demons
• Being with the poor
• Eating and drinking with people far from God
• Doing justice
• Peacemaking
• Fasting and praying
• Prophesying
• Non-retaliatory enemy love
• Standing up against religious and political corruption

That's quite a list. And if you're feeling overwhelmed, you're not alone. But here's the beautiful truth: proximity to Jesus leads to lives that look like Him. Apprenticeship takes time.

The "But He Was God" Objection

Whenever we talk about doing what Jesus did, there's a common objection: "Well, of course He could do all that—He was God! I'm not God, so how can I possibly heal the sick or cast out demons?"

This objection, while understandable, misses something crucial about how Jesus lived on earth.

Yes, Jesus never stopped being 100% God. But when He became human, it's as though He set aside His "exclusive God perks." He lived as a fully human being, empowered by the Holy Spirit, as an example for us to follow.

Everything Jesus did, He did as a perfectly sinless, Spirit-filled human being. And then His disciples did what they did by the same power—the Holy Spirit. The early church continued this pattern. And we have access to that same Holy Spirit today.

Acts 4:13 gives us this remarkable observation: "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."

They took note.

Don't you want a life that people take note of? Where someone might say, "There's something different about them—they've been with Jesus"?

The Holy Spirit isn't looking for extraordinary people. He's looking for anyone who will say yes.

Four Practical Thoughts

1. Know your stage of discipleship and season of life

Being with Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and doing what Jesus did aren't three levels in a video game. All three are essential to life in God all the time. But the Holy Spirit may be inviting you to focus on one area in your current season.

Are you just starting to take on the practices of Jesus? Are you doing deep work of transformation? Are you feeling called to step into more kingdom ministry?

Jesus lived in obscurity for three decades before three years of intense ministry. Even in those three years, there were seasons of fasting in the desert and seasons of teaching in the city. What season are you in?

2. Don't underestimate the power of practicing the way of Jesus in community

First Peter 2:12 says, "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."

Dallas Willard wrote: "If those in churches really are enjoying fullness of life, evangelism will be unstoppable and largely automatic."

What if people knew Christians as those who practice Sabbath, who aren't digitally addicted, who practice hospitality, who are dealing with their pain, who know joy and peace, who stay married through deep valleys? Lives that make people curious about Jesus naturally open doors for conversations about faith.

3. Start with the basics: Eat with people far from God

If the list feels overwhelming, start here. Luke 19:10 tells us, "The Son of Man came eating and drinking... to seek and save the lost."

Jesus' strategy for reaching the world? Sharing meals. He was constantly on His way to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal. When He encountered Zacchaeus, His first move was, "Let's have dinner at your house tonight."

Mission doesn't need to be complex. Share a meal. Invite a neighbor over for pizza. Go to lunch with a coworker. Host a Saturday brunch. It doesn't have to be Instagram-worthy—just personal and welcoming.

4. Live in the moment

Most of Jesus' miracles were interruptions to daily life. He was on a road somewhere, doing something, and the real beautiful stuff happened in the interruption.

The Great Commission's "go" can also be translated "as you are going." As you're walking to work, sitting at the soccer game, running errands—in those ordinary moments, can you be interruptible?

Try this prayer: "God, help me live in the moment. Give me eyes to see what You're doing and to join in. Holy Spirit, fill me and lead me today."

The Invitation

The same Spirit that empowered Jesus is available to you. Wherever Jesus went, the kingdom went. And wherever you go, the kingdom goes.

This isn't a gigantic theological puzzle. We get to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what He did. Not perfectly. Not all at once. But as we go, in our ordinary moments, filled with the Holy Spirit.



Start with yes.

Simple Ways to Begin Living Like Jesus

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