We are just coming off the back of Stranger Things season 5, and whether you are waiting for the “real ending” to come out or trying to cope with the fact that it is just over, I want to address a scene in this finale. (Warning ahead, there are mild spoilers and content from Season 5, so fair warning if you are trying to avoid that.)
“You die, I die”
The relationship between Steve Harringinton and Dustin Henderson in Stranger Things has always been one of my favorite things in the show. We see Steve stepping up in season 2 to take care of and protect Dustin and his friends, to becoming Dustin’s best friend as the seasons progress.
In Stranger Things Season 3, there’s a moment that feels small but sticks with you. Steve opens up what they think may be a bomb and tell everyone to back up. However Dustin, wide-eyed and loyal to the core, looks at Steve and says, “You die, I die.” It’s half dramatic, half humorous—but heartfelt. Dustin isn’t posturing. He’s declaring allegiance. Wherever you go, I go. Whatever happens to you, happens to me.
Then in Season 5, years later and after everything they’ve been through, while they are reconciling and preparing to go into the final fight, Steve recalls that moment and says it back to Dustin.
“You die, I die.”
Same words. Deeper meaning. Tested loyalty.
It’s no longer a joke. It’s a covenant. They have lived life together, seen horrible things, laughed, lost, and cried together. They have fought and argued with each other. This is friendship.
And every time I hear it, I can’t help but think about Jesus and our call to die to ourselves for Him as He has died for us.
(This clip has spoilers from season 5 of Stranger Things, and some language that may be slightly offensive. The video is to capture the moments of their relationship, but not necessary need to watch it for the rest of this blog.)
The Call to Die
Jesus never hid the cost of following Him. He didn’t sell a comfortable life, a safer path, or a faith that fits neatly into our schedules. Instead, He said something jarring:
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
— Luke 9:23
That’s not metaphorical fluff. In Jesus’ time, everyone knew what a cross meant. It meant death. Shame. The end of your old life.
To follow Jesus is to say, in a very real way, “You die, I die.”
Where You lead, I follow.
If You suffer, I suffer.
If You die to Yourself, I die to myself too.
Dying to Ourselves Isn’t Popular—But It’s Necessary
Our culture is obsessed with self-preservation:
- Protect your brand
- Guard your comfort
- Curate your image
- Do what makes you happy
But discipleship runs in the opposite direction.
Dying to ourselves means:
- Letting go of pride
- Releasing control
- Saying no to sin even when it feels justified
- Choosing obedience when it costs us something
Paul understood this deeply when he wrote:
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”
— Galatians 2:20
That’s not poetic language—it’s identity. The old Paul died. A new life began.
Discipleship Is Shared Death—and Shared Life
One of the most beautiful parts of that Stranger Things moment isn’t just the words—it’s who says them. Dustin and Steve don’t survive alone. They grow together. They fail together. They keep showing up for each other.
That’s discipleship.
Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo journey. We are called to walk with others who are also learning how to die to themselves and live for Christ. People who can look at each other in moments of fear, temptation, or suffering and say, “I’m still with you.”
Not because it’s easy—but because it’s worth it.
Jesus Said It First
Before Dustin ever said it to Steve, before Steve ever said it back, Jesus lived it out for us.
Jesus didn’t say, “You die, I die.”
He said, “I’ll die so you can live.”
He took up His cross. He laid down His life. And then He invited us into that same pattern of death and resurrection.
Dying to ourselves isn’t the end of the story—it’s the beginning of real life.
“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”
— Luke 9:24
So What Does That Mean for Us?
It means following Jesus will cost us something.
It means discipleship is more than belief—it’s surrender.
It means we don’t just admire Jesus; we imitate Him.
Every day, in small unseen ways, we choose:
- The cross over comfort
- Obedience over applause
- Faithfulness over fear
And when we do, we echo the truest words of loyalty a disciple can say:
Jesus, You die… I die.
And somehow, in God’s upside-down kingdom, that’s where life truly begins.
Father God,
You did not call us to comfort, but to the cross.
You did not promise ease, but You promised life.
Today, we come before You acknowledging that we often cling to ourselves—
our pride, our plans, our need for control.
We confess that dying to ourselves is hard, and sometimes we resist it.
But You went first.
You carried the cross we deserved.
You laid down Your life so we could truly live.
So today we say it again, not lightly and not casually:
Where You go, we will go.
If You call us to die to ourselves, we will trust You with the outcome.
Teach us what it means to deny ourselves daily.
Help us lay down sin, fear, comfort, and distraction.
Form us into true disciples—not just hearers of Your Word,
but followers who live it out.
Surround us with people who walk this road with us,
who remind us of truth when we are weak,
and who point us back to You when we forget why we started.
Jesus, we want our lives to echo Yours.
Not our will, but Yours be done.
Not our lives, but Yours lived through us.
We trust You with our death—
and we trust You with the life that comes after.
In your son’s name, Jesus, we pray,
Amen.
John Johnson Does Stuff 