Jesus / Why Should I Follow You?
John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
It's a hard pill to swallow that there is only one way that can take you to heaven, and that's Jesus. I don't have all the answers, but I do know that christianity is the only major religion where salvation is received not achieved...
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.
Many other religions teach versions of earning, striving, balancing good versus bad, to get to their god or heaven, but Jesus knew that we were flawed humans and no matter how much "good" things we did, we are still sinners. That is why He gave His life so that we could receive the free gift of salvation. This takes a lot of weight off our shoulders because it's no longer about what we do, but what Jesus did on the cross that saves us.
(this is not to say that our works are unimportant. Our works as believers, are reflections of the love we have for our Father.)
Philippians 2:5-8
...Jesus Chirst: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross.
What other religion can say that their "god" stepped down from their throne of perfection into a world full of imperfection, not only to save our souls, but to have a real and personal relationship with us. He did this knowing that He would experience rejection from His own people, hatred from all, and pain through the cross. Because He loves us.
John 1:9-11 *rejection
The one that is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world He created, but the world didn't recognize Him. He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him.
John 15:24-25 *hatred
"If I hadn't done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate Me and my Father. This fulfills what is written in their scriptures: 'They hated me without cause.'
Isaiah 53:3&5 *pain
He was despised and rejected - a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.
But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
Why did he endure so much pain and suffering? Because of the love He has for us. A love that we can't even comprehend. A love so strong that He willingly endured the cross so that we could be whole, healed, and saved. This is the God we praise.
Hebrews 4:15
Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet without sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Jesus is also a God who fully understands His people. Because He stepped down from His throne, He experienced every temptation and every test that we experience in our lives. We can find comfort in the fact that Jesus understands how difficult it is to fight our flesh. That is why He calls us to come to Him for grace and mercy when we are in need of help.
Read about Jesus being tempted: Matthew 4:1-11 & Luke 4:1-13
Matthew 4:19
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon (Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea for they were fishermen. And He said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."