LIVING AS CHRIST'S FOLLOWERS

LIVING AS CHRIST’S FOLLOWERS

 

Matthew 4:18-22

 

Matthew 4:18-22 18) As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee , he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.

19) "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

20) At once they left their nets and followed him.

21) Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them,

22) and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

            Who are you following? Whether we know it or not, we are a follower of someone or something? From the time we were kids, we have had different influences like our parents, peers, teachers  or media telling us to do this and to do that, or telling us to be this and that. Often, we find ourselves confused because of the conflicting standards and directions we have received.

            Now, if someone were to look at your life this morning, would that person be convinced that you are a follower of Jesus Christ? Is He the strongest influence in your life? During this month, since we are celebrating the life and work of Jesus Christ, I would like to speak about FOLLOWING CHRIST.   

            If you examine the life of Jesus Christ, it is evident that He poured His life and energies in building the lives of His disciples, His followers. They were individuals who had the privilege of living with Jesus day in and day out. For them, it was an awesome experience. They have learned life-changing truths from the master-teacher, they saw the power of God worked through Jesus Christ, and they experienced seeing many lives changed because of Him. Eventually, these were the same men who will later be given the command to carry out Christ program of making disciples of all nations:

Matthew 28:19-20

19) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

            The truth of the matter is, based from the Great Commission, Christianity means living as Christ’s disciples or Christ’s followers.      

Do we really understand what this means? Or have you ever considered what the implications are, if you would live as Christ’s follower? For so many people today, to wear the tag Christian often simply means they are not Muslim, Hindu, or Atheist. But, there is more in being a Christian. Literally, it’s being a true follower of Jesus Christ. Let’s begin discovering together the real meaning of this concept:

I           THE CALL IN FOLLOWING CHRIST: (v.19)

            Our main text this morning provides us the account for the calling of Peter, Andrew, James and John. While these men were busy in their normal pursuits of life, Jesus came along and invited them to Follow Him.

            When Jesus said, Come follow me, His words basically mean they were to come after Him. According to linguistic scholars, this invitation provides two implications:

            A. Relationship – The follower will have a growing and deepening relationship to the one they were following. A New Testament scholar, C. Blendinger, comments on the word “following:”

The word describes the relationship of a pupil to a teacher of the Torah (Law).  The pupil who chooses to subordinate himself to a Rabbi follows him everywhere he goes, learning from him and above all serving him. The pupil’s obligation to serve is an essential part of learning the Law. The goal of all his learning and training is a complete knowledge of the Torah, and the ability to practice it in every situation.

            Jesus Christ is the Rabbi of our souls. He has initiated a relationship with us by paying the price of His own life on the cross. He desires that we establish a growing and deepening relationship with Him. He desires intimacy with us. I hope we will respond by having the deep longing to know Him more. Just like the psalmist,  we should be able to say:

Psalm 42:1-2

1) As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.

2) My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

            B.  Reformation – The true follower is in the process of a radical transformation because of the influence of the leader on his life. The true follower of Christ does not remain the same once they start following Him. Following involves imitating the one you are following:

Luke 6:40

40) A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

            Mahatma Gandhi was asked by a close friend, If you admire Christ so much, why don’t you become a Christian?  Gandhi reportedly replied, “When I meet a Christian who is a follower of Christ, I may consider it.”

            The invitation of Jesus to follow Him is also extended to each one of us. Becoming a Christian is more than having the assurance that we are going to heaven when we die. Becoming a Christian involves having a growing and deepening relationship with Him and experiencing a radical reformation wherein our character and conduct reflects that of Jesus Christ.

II         THE COST IN FOLLOWING CHRIST: (vv. 20, 22)

            For Peter, Andrew, James, and John, following Jesus carried with it a cost. What’s the price they had to pay?

            A. They left their profession – The four men were all fishermen when Jesus called them. For them to physically follow Jesus, they had to leave their careers, which is their main source of living, and entrust themselves to the one who was calling them. What is even interesting is their willingness to do this without any hesitation. The words at once in verse 20, and then immediately in verse 22 suggest this truth.

            B. They left their possessions - For Peter and Andrew, they left their nets; while for James and John, their boat. Obviously, these possessions were attached to their careers. If they have valued their possessions more than the prospect of experiencing life with Jesus, they could have declined the invitation. Remember the rich young ruler who came to Jesus seeking the way to gain eternal life. Jesus told him:

Luke 18:22

22) When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

            After hearing these words, the young man walked away. He was not willing to trade the riches of this world for eternal life.

            C. They left their parents – Verse 22 also says, they left . . . father. James and John were not willing to allow their earthly relationship to keep them from following Jesus.  Compared to our relationship with Christ, all other relationships become secondary. Jesus clearly taught:

Luke 14:26

26) "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple.

            What is the meaning of these words? Bible Knowledge Commentary provides this explanation:

To emphasize that discipleship is difficult, Jesus said that one must hate his own family and even his own life in order to be His disciple. Literally hating one’s family would have been a violation of the Law. Since Jesus on several occasions admonished others to fulfill the Law, He must not have meant here that one should literally hate his family. The stress here is on the priority of love (cf. Matt. 10:37). One’s loyalty to Jesus must come before his loyalty to his family or even to life itself. Indeed, those who did follow Jesus against their families’ desires were probably thought of as hating their families.   

            You see, when we decide to follow Jesus we must count the cost for it. Just like the early disciples, they left profession, possession, and even parents because these were the ones that would prohibit them to commit their lives in following Jesus. How about us? What sacrifice are we willing to make to follow Jesus? Great men of God understood the need to make the sacrifice.

·         Adoniram Judson

"There is no success without sacrifice. If you succeed without sacrifice it is because someone has suffered before you. If you sacrifice without success it is because someone will succeed after."

·         Billy Graham

“Salvation is free, but discipleship costs everything we have.”

III        THE CROWN IN FOLLOWING CHRIST: (v. 19)

            The Lord Jesus made it very clear to Peter, Andrew, James, and John that following Him will lead to a higher direction and purpose in life – from being fishers of fishes, they will become fishers of men.

            Jesus has always been passionate about people. Being God himself and the creator of everything, He understood that the only entity of true value and worth is people. They are the only creatures who are designed to last for eternity. Everything else will die and stop existing. No wonder Jesus desires to have a relationship with people and secure their eternal destiny. True followers of Jesus Christ must never lose sight of their purpose. Just like Jesus, they must focus their attention in helping people establish a relationship with God and secure their eternal destiny. This is a greater pursuit in life.

            It is also worth emphasizing the willingness of Jesus to include in His program of reaching the world, people like Peter, Andrew, James, and John. They were men whom you will not consider as extraordinary, neither were they perfect. In fact, they were the opposite. They were uneducated and feeble men. Yet their availability was more important to Jesus than their abilities. When you examine the qualifications of all the disciples, you will be reminded of what the apostle Paul has said:

1 Corinthians 1:26-29

26) Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.

27) But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

28) He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are,

29) so that no one may boast before him.

            When you think about this, it is important to establish that following Jesus demands some sacrifices, but every sacrifice is compensated by being involved in a great cause where Jesus himself was willing to lay everything that He has. You’re never on a losing end when you follow Jesus. He has helped Peter understand this truth:

Matthew 19:27-29

27) Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"

28) Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel . 29) And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

            So, do you consider yourself a follower of Jesus? If you have a relationship with Him, you must consider following Him wholeheartedly.