Follow Me Series

Jesus’ Two (2) Word Message — “FOLLOW ME”

Text: Matthew 4:17-25; Mark 1:16--20; Mark 3:12-19; Mark 6:7-12;

Key Verse: (John 6:38) For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Left their Profession

Left their Parents--personal life

(Mat 12:50) For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Left their Priorities / purpose --in exchange for Christ’s

Left their Prosperity

Luke 3:23 “...And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age,...” (Just after His baptism)

“Cannot be my disciple”

(Luke 14:26) If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (:27) And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. (:33) So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

*not--cannot be saved

*not--cannot be forgiven

*not--cannot go to heaven

*not --cannot get answered prayers

“cannot be my disciple”

Define: disciple--a learner, pupil

Jesus called the twelve: Some the sessions for learning

*to send them forth by two’s --Mark 6:7-13;

*the feeding of 4,000 — Mark 8:1-9

*the disciples disputed who would be greatest in the kingdom--Mark 9:33-37

*the widow’s mite --Mark 12:41-44

*the disciples forbade infants to be brought to Jesus --Luke 18:15--17

WHY SOME FOLLOWED JESUS: (5 less than stellar reasons)

1) He made quite an exhibition / stir “Shew us a sign” or “We would see a sign”

Matthew 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Matthew 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

2) Others were following the rest: – “great multitudes”

Matthew 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7 And he arose, and departed to his house. 8 But when the multitude saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

Matthew 13:13:1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

3) What they might benefit from Him– a meal, a healing

Matthew 9:20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

4) To find a fault in Him–

Matthew 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

5) When it was convenient–

John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

DETERMINING FACTOR: (distinction) to being a disciple: “take up his cross daily”

Key: “follow” — Matthew 8:19-23; 9:9; 16:24,25; 19:21-26; Mk. 2:14; 8:34