Fan or Follower
Luke 9:23, John 3
January 15, 2023
We’re in the second week of our series called Fan or Follower. It’s based on the book called NOT A FAN, by Kyle Idelman.
Very simply, I’m asking the question, are you a fan or a follower of Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Are you an enthusiastic admirer or a devoted follower? How do you define your relationship with Jesus?
Recently I was helping Joshua look for new car insurance. He needs to have Texas car insurance. And I have to tell you Texas is bigger and more expensive. So, as we searched we found some companies that had great insurance for only $50 per month and it was for anyone. But when we looked at it, it was bare boned insurance. It really wasn’t for anyone, because there were a lot of caveats. You had to read the small print to know if you really were eligible.
Have you ever experienced that with something? Maybe you walked into a store that advertised a certain product at an unbelievable price, and of course they were out of stock. Or that deal only applied to certain people. Or it only occurred when Mars was lined up with Neptune and Mercury.
It seems like there’s always a catch. Not everything is open and available to anyone and everyone. That’s why they say IF IT’S TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, THEN IT IS!!
It’s interesting that in Luke 9:23, Jesus stated - - - -
23 If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. - Luke 9:23
It’s a hard invitation, because Jesus doesn’t want fans or crazed admirers. He wants followers. When He made the invitation, Jesus invited anyone and everyone. There’s no strings attached.
But we’re in a pretty cynical world. We were talking about that at Bible Study this week. We tend to doubt the offer. We believe there must be strings attached. It’s really not open to anyone, because if you really knew me, then, I wouldn’t be accepted in the kingdom.
Yet, there’s no catch. There’s no small print, no hidden fees. Jesus lays it out there for all of us. Salvation is open to “anyone.” And when Jesus said “anyone,” the crowds would have looked at His disciples and known that He meant it.
In Jesus’ day, rabbi’s were held in very high esteem by the Jewish people. And since they didn’t have books to read, everything was studied and memorized. The rabbis knew the OT. They knew the first 5 books by memory.
Rabbis also had a group of “talmids.” The word talmid means a disciple or student. This would be an exclusive group of students.
If you wanted to be a talmid, you had to go through an application process. You had to conquer the prerequisites before being considered to become a talmid.
They would be quizzed to recite a book of the Bible, or an entire chapter. What’s chapter 6 from Numbers or Leviticus? This was an intense process.
You see, the excellence of the student reflected the excellence of the teacher. If a rabbi’s group of talmid were especially brilliant, the rabbi would be more respected and admired.
Let me tell you how revered the rabbi was in this relationship. According to the Talmud, a student or talmid, was obligated to honor the rabbi over their parents. It was written: “One must recover a lost object belonging to his teacher ahead of that of his father: whereas his father brought him into this world, his teacher, who has instructed him in wisdom, brings him to the World to Come.”
So when word gets out about a new rabbi who's picking out followers seemingly at random, people started to wonder what’s going on. They heard amazing words from Jesus, but then they looked at His talmid, and must have been confused. There were fisherman, nobodies and even a tax collector!”
But look at Jesus. He didn’t turn people away. He didn’t give you a Bible IQ test. He made the offer anyone who wanted to walk with Him, was invited.
So Jesus does away with the qualifications to be His follower. He got rid of the long list of prerequisites; He did away with the standard application process. He opened the door for all people to come to Him and find life. Look at all the people Jesus healed, the people He touched, even the dead. He totally changed who was able to come to Him.
What’s cool in what Jesus did, is the fact that in getting rid of all the qualifications, He got rid of all of our excuses. Remember, we’re talking about being a fan or a follower of Jesus. Fans have lots of excuses. Followers don’t get those excuses.
Remember last week, I told you I wanted the Bears and Colts to lose. Those are my two teams, yet I was rooting against them. That’s not a real follower, that’s simply being a fan. We’re called to be talmids of Jesus.
Nobody had an excuse not to follow Jesus. The tradesman had no excuse. Now the drop-out student couldn’t complain about his past. Now the mother couldn’t say she never got a chance to learn from a rabbi.
So, as you think about your life and your story, what excuses do you use to stay a fan, and not be a follower of Jesus? Maybe you can’t answer that question right now, maybe you need time to think about your answer. Maybe you’re still wondering if you’re a fan or really are a follower. That’s fine! I hope you’re wrestling a little.
We can come up with all types of excuses. We’re too busy, we don’t like to read, it’s my money, my sins are small compared to that other person. I’m a good person, God can’t love me, I’ve done too many terrible things. Work is demanding. Or the kids need my attention. We can all come up with excuses. Those are easy.
Some believe their past sins disqualify them from a relationship with Jesus. Well, look at that person, I’m not good like them, so I can’t get in. You bring baggage with you. Whatever it is, addictions, money issues, anger, loneliness, doubt, self esteem, abuse. Nobody’s going to argue with you, but Jesus gets rid of all the excuses when He invites “anyone.”
Anyone is welcome - - - in fact, invited to have a relationship with Jesus. Anyone.
Sexual past? Ex-con? Divorced?
Gossiper? Legalist? Liberal?
Alcoholic? Addict? Slanderer?
Hypocrite? Slothful? Unforgiveness?
All are invited and welcomed into the kingdom.
When Jesus makes the invitation, He says, “Anyone.” So some of the people who respond to that invitation will have a past and a present. But we’re no different than the disciples. We’re all sinners in need of Christ. And the invitation is for all people, not just the one’s we think are like us. Because in reality, we’re all sinners in need of the grace of Christ.
Fans don’t know how to handle new people like that. They prefer not to know them and to keep their distance. Fans prefer things to be shallow and comfortable. But followers are willing to listen, willing to hear stories of brokenness and sin and still welcome that person with open arms.
When Jesus makes His invitation, He welcomes anyone who would come after Him. But He also makes clear that when you choose to follow Him, you're giving up everything.
Listen carefully, because everyone and anyone is invited, but it’s going to cost you everything. That’s if you’re a follower.
When a talmid was finally accepted into a rabbi’s school, they would leave their homes, their jobs, everything - - - and they would go and follow the rabbi. Literally, they would follow the rabbi wherever he went.
So if the rabbi went to the market, to another town, to visit the sick, to study, to pray . . . his students would follow.
Now, to follow the rabbi named Jesus, this would cost even more. Because if the rabbi decided to live without a home, his students would follow. And if Jesus the rabbi decided to be among the sinners and the shameful, His students would follow. And if Jesus the rabbi decided not to flee from persecution, His students would follow.
Before we end, I want to give you an example of someone who moved from fan to follower that occurs in the Bible. In John 3 we read about a fan named Nicodemus. He wasn't just any fan. He was a well known and Jewish leader. He was a member of the Sanhedrin, an elite group of Jewish religious leaders.
Nicodemus was an admirer of Jesus. He was inspired, but he was still just an enthusiastic admirer. There would be much to lose if Nicodemus went public as a follower of Jesus. What would people think if they found out he was a follower of this homeless carpenter turned rabbi from a nothing town called Nazareth?
Remember last week, I spoke about how we define our relationship with Jesus. It was time for Nicodemus to define his relationship with Jesus.
In John 3, we read - - -
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night . . . - 3:1-2
Look at when Nicodemus came to Jesus. It wasn’t during the day, it was at night when nobody else would see him. At night he would avoid awkward questions from the other religious leaders. At night he could spend time with Jesus without anyone knowing.
If he could speak with Jesus at night when no one was around, maybe he could begin a relationship with Jesus without having to make any real changes.
Have you ever been there like Nicodemus? I have. When I said yes to Jesus nobody knew. Just a couple of people from church. I didn’t tell my parents, my coworkers, nobody. It was as if I simply wanted to fit in and not make any real changes in my life, but that’s more of a fan that a follower. That’s where Nicodemus was.
And I don’t want to skip what Jesus does. He said in verse 3 - - -
3 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” - John 3:3
Jesus doesn’t mince His words. Nicodemus is confused and Jesus explains what it means and ultimately brings it home in verse 14-15 saying - - -
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life. - 3:14-15
Nicodemus has his answer. And the story moves on and we lose sight of Nicodemus for awhile, but we see him again in John 7. Something’s changed. In John 7-8, Jesus is powerfully proclaiming to be the Christ. Some of the people get it and believe in Jesus, many others don’t and the Pharisees want Him arrested.
But the officers don’t arrest Jesus because they’ve never heard anyone speak like Him. The Pharisees are angry and say - - -
47 Have you also been deceived?
48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in Him?
Do you see that 2nd question? No other Pharisees believe in Him, none of the authorities believe in Him, so you shouldn’t as well. We’re not that gullible. We don’t buy what He’s selling. And then John tells us - - -
50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, said to them,
51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?”
Great question! Nicodemus wants to make sure whatever happens is done fairly. He wanted to push his people to make a decision about Jesus. It’s like he was asking ‘how do you define the relationship?’ He’s kind of advocating a little for Jesus. And listen to their reply --
52 “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
The answer to his question is answered with another question. Hey Nicodemus, are you like Him, from Galilee? Because nothing good comes from Galilee. We know He’s not the Messiah, because we know where He’s from. Are you sympathetic towards Him? Are you defending Him? Whose side are you on? Nicodemus are you a follower?
Nicodemus is turning into a follower. Finally in John 19, after Jesus is crucified, we read - - -
38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews,
asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away His body
39 Nicodemus also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about 75 pounds in weight.
40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
Joseph and Nicodemus, who were sitting on the fence, are now out in public taking care of the body of Jesus. Do you see what’s happened to Nicodemus?
Initially, he came to Jesus at night, now he comes during the day to take the body of Jesus to give Him a proper burial. You don’t do that if you’re still a fan. If you’re a fan, you stay in the background so that others don’t think you’re associated with Him. It’s what Peter did when he denied Jesus after Jesus was arrested.
Nicodemus has come full circle - - - from fan to follower!
Most of us don't mind Jesus making some minor changes in our lives, but Jesus wants to turn our lives upside down.
Fans don't mind Him doing a little touch up work, but Jesus wants complete renovation.
Fans come to Jesus thinking tune up, but Jesus is thinking overhaul.
Fans think a little makeup is fine, but Jesus is thinking makeover.
Fans think a little decorating is required, but Jesus wants a complete remodel.
Fans want Jesus to inspire them, but Jesus wants to interfere with their lives.
And that’s what Jesus offers. The greatest teacher who ever lived offers you the chance to become one of His students. And when He says anyone, He means everyone. And with no qualifications, you’ve got no excuse. But even though He makes His invitation to anyone, He also guarantees that it will cost you everything. Are you ready? Are you willing to follow the rabbi Jesus? To be His follower, His talmid!
