“The Way In, Is All In”
Matthew 8:18-22
QUESTION – who here in this room or watching online is ready to dive into some...
• ‘alive and active’
• ‘sharper than a double edge word’
• ‘judging the thoughts and attitudes of your heart and mine’
Word of God?
OKAY – let’s do this!
NOW - I want to start off this morning with a few passages of Scriptures that God breathed...
2 from the pen of Paul, and 1 one from the pen of Luke
BUT BEFORE – we read them I think it would be a good idea for us to pray... because today’s conversation just might be one of the most important one’s that we could ever have.
(palms open)
Prayer
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.– 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. – Galatians 2:20
Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.
And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. – Luke 14:25-33
May God bless and empower the reading of His Word!
AMEN.
SO – we are in a verse by verse study of the Gospel of Matthew (The King and His Kingdom)...
AND AGAIN – from the day we launched it, the goal of this study has been...
To gain a greater understanding of both who Jesus is, and of what it looks to live in the Kingdom that He established 2000 years ago. So that we would: know Jesus more clearly, love Him more dearly and follow Him more nearly... day by day.
NOW – if you remember... when Jesus finished the Sermon on The Mount, the crowds were amazed because Jesus
Spoke as one who had... ‘authority.’
AND THEN – right after that powerful sermon, Jesus came down from the mountain, and began to demonstrate that authority. AND MGCC – that is what Matthew chapters 8 and 9 are all about...
JESUS – demonstrating His authority over all things: over nature, over sickness, over demons, over sin, over death, over the grave and over how we must live out our lives if we choose to follow after Him. Requires
AND AGAIN... Here’s the deal... here’s the point that God is making through Matthew in these two chapters...
Since Jesus possess absolute authority in the world, He therefore warrants/demands/requires... absolute allegiance from the world.
From: you/me/right and left
Get It?
AND LISTEN – here’s the deal...
Everyone walking on this planet right now, whether or not they acknowledge or submit to His authority...
NEVERTHELESS – is still under that authority.
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me’
–Matthew 28:18
MGCC – it’s May 21st 2023... and we will be unpacking Matthew 8:18-22, in a conversation that I am calling,
‘The Way In, Is All In’
A conversation where Jesus will demonstrate that He has absolute authority to tell us how we must live, if we choose to follow after Him.
UNDERSTAND B/S – Jesus is the one who determines what following Him involves and requires, not us.
Get It?
When Jesus saw the crowd around him, He gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to Him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” Another disciple said to Him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” - Matthew 8:18-22
HEY – checkout what J.C. Ryle (the Bishop of Liverpool) wrote about this passage in his commentary on Matthew in 1856.
There is something deeply impressive in both of these sayings...Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head. Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.
They ought to be well weighed by all professing Christians. They teach us plainly that people who show a desire to come forward and profess themselves to be true disciples of Christ should be warned plainly to ‘count the cost’ before they begin.
Are they prepared to endure hardship? Are they ready to carry the cross? If not they are not fit to begin. They teach us plainly that there are times when a Christian must literally give up all for Christ’s sake...
It would be well for the churches of Christ, if these sayings of our Lord were more remembered than they are. It may well be feared that the lesson they contain is too often overlooked by the ministers of the Gospel, and that thousands are admitted to full communion, who are never warned to "count the cost."
Nothing, in fact, has done more harm to Christianity than the practice of filling the ranks of Christ's army with every volunteer who is willing to make a little profession, and talk fluently of his experience.
It has been painfully forgotten that numbers alone do not make strength, and that there may be a great quantity of mere outward religion, while there is very little of real grace.
Let us all remember this. Let us keep back nothing from young professors and inquirers after Christ. Let us not enlist them on false pretenses. Let us tell them plainly that there is a crown of glory at the end. But let us tell them no less plainly, that there is a daily cross in the way.
(J.C. Ryle Bishop of Liverpool 1856)
OKAY – here is how I want to attack our text this morning, by unpacking 4 statements...
1. Crowds don’t impress Jesus
2. Jesus is looking for followers, not fans
3. Jesus is more interested in our lives than our words
4. Jesus is looking for commitment not excuses
BUT BEFORE – we dive in let’s take two
I. Crowds don’t Impress Jesus
When Jesus saw the crowd around Him,
Crowd – Okhlos... basically means a large gathering of people, Ochlocratic – government by the masses or mob rule.
NOW – this is the 5th time that Matthew uses this word in his gospel to describe the crowds that were gathering around Jesus...
• After teaching in the synagogues the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease among the people... ‘Large crowds’ from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him. Matthew 4:25
• In Matthew 5:1, when Jesus ‘saw the crowds’ He went up on the mountain side, sat down and began to teach.
• In Matthew 7:28, when Jesus finished giving the SM ‘the crowds’ were amazed.
• In Matthew 8:1 when Jesus came down from the mountain large crowds followed Him
The crowds, the crowds, the crowds...
AND THEN – here is verse 18...
Jesus after healing the leper, the centurions servant, Peter’s mother in-law, and then throughout the night (outside of Peter’s home) casting out demons and healing nearly every sickness and disease in Capernaum...
JESUS SEES – another large crowd, AND Matthew writes...
When Jesus saw the crowd around Him, He gave orders to His disciples to gather more people to the show...
NO – that’s not what Matthew says.
INSTEAD – he says...
When Jesus saw the crowd around Him, He gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.
Jesus what are you doing?
Do you see all these people around you?
I MEAN – things are really beginning to look really good
for you, for us... BUT – understand MGCC...
Crowds don’t impress Jesus
NOW SURE – they impress us. I mean, gathering large crowds is what it is all about, right?
BUT AGAIN – unlike us, Jesus was not all that impressed by large crowds. NOR – was He interested in drawing a crowd or being a celebrity.
NOW – I really like what Charles Swindoll said about crowds in his commentary on Matthew...
In my experience, crowds are sort of self-perpetuating. When they get large enough and reach critical mass, they develop their own gravitational pull. People first gather around some person or event, but then others gather simply because a lot of people are gathered. Sometimes people just want to be part of the action and experience the excitement of being in a large crowd, they aren’t necessarily convinced of the cause...The principle here is simple: don’t follow Jesus because of the size of the crowd. Guard against becoming a ‘groupie’ of a church, a ministry or a celebrity preacher or teacher.
Steer clear of becoming a fan.
END Q
NOW – it’s not that Jesus was against crowds...
BUT – He wasn’t content to just sort of mark them down as part of a new attendance record.
UNDERSTAND – Jesus was not interested in followers for followers sake. INSTEAD – He wanted to make disciples for the Kingdom of God.
AND MGCC – when Jesus saw the large crowd gathered around Him, He knew that most were not committed dedicated followers, but rather, riled up fans who were there for the show and excitement.
AND – believe me when I tell you there was certainly a lot of excitement around Jesus when He wore flesh and walked this planet.
BUT LISTEN
RATHER THAN – finding another high place from which to preach to the crowd or a way of organizing them to grow even more, Jesus did what seems unthinkable in our modern Western mind-set: He gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.
SO THAT – in order to follow Him they would have to leave.
AND NOW – to hear Him, and see Him, they would actually have to do something.
UNDERSTAND – throughout the Gospels we see Jesus sifting and thinning out a crowd again and again...
Either by something He says or does.
LIKE – in the passage from Luke that we read when we kick off our conversation...
Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.
WELL - that will thin the crowd out, right?
I MEAN - that’s one way to figure out who’s just one of the crowd, and who’s actually following after you.
If you want to come after me, you’ve got to hate your family.
AGAIN - it doesn’t seem like a great membership recruitment approach.
We see Jesus doing the same thing in John chapter 6...
After feeding 5000+ people a few fish and a few loaves of bread. The crowds of people were ready to take Him by force then and there, and make Him their king (John 6:15).
BUT – left the crowd and withdrew to a mountain by Himself.
LATER - when the crowd found Him, He told them,
Truly truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. – John 6:26
AND THEN – just a little later we find Jesus teaching this large crowd some stuff that offended them.
And when they heard these 'hard teachings' of Jesus,
The crowds left Him... and Jesus turned to the 12
“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” – John 6:67-69
AGAIN – it is not that Jesus was against crowds in and of themselves it’s just that He was looking for followers and not fans.
II. Jesus is looking for followers not fans
AND MGCC – there is a huge difference between the two.
OKAY – here is the most basic definition of ‘fan’...
‘An enthusiastic admirer”
IT’S - the guy who goes to the football game with no shirt and a painted chest. He sits in the stands and cheers for his team. He’s got a signed jersey hanging on his wall at home and bumper stickers and flags on his car.
BUT – he’s never in a game. HE - never breaks a sweat or takes a hard hit in the open field.
SURE HE - knows all about the players and can rattle off their latest stats, BUT HE - doesn’t know the players.
HE – just yells and cheers,
BUT nothing is really required of him.
There is no sacrifice he has to make.
Jesus was never interested in having fans. When he defines what kind of relationship He wants, “Enthusiastic Admirer’ isn’t an option. My concern is that many of our churches in America have gone from being sanctuaries to becoming stadiums. And every week all the fans come to the stadium where they cheer for Jesus but have no interest in truly following Him. The biggest threat to the church today is fans who call themselves Christians but aren’t actually interested in following Christ.
They want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but no so close that it requires anything from them. - Kyle Idleman (Not A Fan)
UNDERSTAND – a fan is someone who can and will take off his or her ‘Jesus Jersey,’ depending on the situation…
YOU SEE FANS - try to negotiate or re-negotiate the terms of the deal… “SURE I follow Jesus, but…
• I am not going to sell any of my stuff and give to the poor. (and off comes the Jersey)
• Don’t ask me to forgive people who hurt me, they don’t deserve that
• Don’t ask me to save sex for marriage, I can’t help my desires
• Don’t ask me to regularly give 10% percentage of my money to His church, I work hard for my money
• Don’t expect me to go to church regularly or to serve in a ministry while I am there
NOW – those are things that fans ‘can’ do…
BUT - followers cannot.
GET IT?
UNDERSTAND – Jesus never left open the option of selective commitment or partial surrender.
LIKE – there is no such thing as an ‘associate disciple’
the way in, is all in.
BOTTOM LINE – essentially what a fan says to Jesus is, “Jesus I love you. I am committed to you.
BUT let’s not make this thing exclusive.”
YOU SEE…
• FANS don’t mind Jesus making some minor changes in their lives BUT JESUS wants to turn their lives upside down.
• FANS don’t mind a little touch up work, BUT JESUS wants a complete renovation.
• FANS come to Jesus thinking tune up, BUT JESUS is thinking overhaul.
• FANS think that a little make up is fine, BUT JESUS is thinking makeover…
• FANS want Jesus to inspire them, BUT JESUS wants to interfere with their lives.
Get it?
NOW – before we move on... I think there is a very important question that we need to answer, and that is...
Why Do People Think Being A Fan Is Even An Option?
NOW – I reflected a lot on this question…
AND - in that reflection I came up with at least 4 reasons why we would think that being fan, that being an enthusiastic admirer of Jesus is an option.
#1 Preachers, Teachers and Church Leaders
NOW - this one, hits close to home,
BECAUSE – every one of those words describe me.
AND – the truth is that I can relate to the following words that Idleman wrote in the prologue to ‘Not a Fan’…
Too often in my preaching I have tried to talk people into following Jesus. I wanted to make following Him as appealing, comfortable and convenient as possible. – Kyle Idleman
QUESTION…
WHY – would church leaders do this… make following Jesus easy, as appealing, comfortable and convenient as possible…
A DEAL- where Jesus does everything for us and expects little if anything from us?
ANSWER…
• To not offend people and have them get uncomfortable and walk out of the door
• To have a larger church
And listen, sometimes the goals may seem noble, like - we really do want people saved, and we do not want to scare them off, and a large church is a good thing.
SO - we try to ‘sell them on Jesus.’
AS IF – we could somehow make Jesus more appealing than he already is.
I MEAN – it’s like we think that if we show people who Jesus really is and tell them upfront what He demands, they will not want Him.
#2 American Culture
MGCC - our culture is a consumer driven culture, would you agree?… AND – would you also agree that we tend to bring that mindset into the churches that we choose to attend…
I MEAN – far too many come to church or choose a church to attend by asking the question…
“What can this church do for me?”
RATHER THAN – asking...
How can I use my gifts, talents, resources and abilities to help this church become all that God wants her to become.
AND – over the years, I have seen many people choose to leave a church and go to another church...
Not because – they found a place that really needs their help
But because – they found a place that meets their needs and can serve them better.
#3 The Company We Keep
UNDERSTAND – if everyone around us is a fan… we can actually convince ourselves that we are all followers of Christ, when in reality we are still just fans.
There’s a book out by a guy named David Platt called (RADICAL, taking back your FAITH from the American Dream) maybe you have read or heard about it.
Great book. But I think the title shows just how much the concept of following Jesus has been watered down.
I MEAN – in reality the book should simply be called normal.
Because a follower of Christ is by definition ‘radical.’
If you need proof, read the book of Acts
#4 Us (Me, You)
AND – the final reason why we think being a fan is even an option is us… Is you. Is me. I MEAN – we have God’s Word…
AND EITHER – we have chosen not to read it…
OR – we have chosen to ignore what it says or at least ignore the parts that we don’t like or that make us uncomfortable…
QUESTION – is this conversation, making anyone else as uncomfortable, as it is making me?
GOOD… BECAUSE…
WHAT IF - all of life comes down to this one question, “am I a follower of Christ?” I MEAN –
What if there really is a heaven and a hell and where we will spend eternity comes down to this one question, “Am I a follower of Christ?”
Not, am I a fan of Christ.
Not, am I a church attender
Not, am I an enthusiastic admirer
But am I a follower (a disciple) of Jesus
UNDERSTAND – being a follower of Jesus causes me, forces me... TO – look at life differently, TO – live life differently
You do something to hurt me…
How do I respond?
(well, it depends on whether I am a follower or a fan)
My flesh wants me to do something I know is wrong ‘Steve, let’s do this, it’s no big deal.’
Yes it is a big deal, that is if I am a follower of Jesus.
YOU KNOW
ONE - of the most sobering and terrifying passages in Scripture is found in Matthew 7…
JESUS TELLS - of a future day that is coming when many people who consider themselves followers of Jesus will be stunned to find out that He does not even know them…
And that they had only been fans and enthusiastic admirers all along.
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only He who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name, and in Your Name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!’ - Matthew 7:21-23
Do those words of Jesus, scare you a little?
III. Jesus is more interested in our lives than in our words
Then a teacher of the law came to Him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” – Matthew 8:19,20
OKAY – so here is this guy of position and influence, skilled in studying and teaching the OT law.
LIKE – what a great guy to have join the team.
A scholar like this would give credibility to this movement.
I MEAN - the disciples are like ‘make sure you fill out a connection card.’
This Scribe, this teacher of the law calls Jesus ‘teacher...’
Which pretty remarkable in and of itself and then he makes and even more remarkable declaration...
‘I will follow you wherever you go.’
NOW – we don’t know the motives and meaning behind this scribe’s words. BUT – Jesus did. AND - He was not impressed with this man’s offer at all. AND SO - He says, following Me and being on my team is not at all what you think it is...
Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man
A term used over 80 times in the Gospels,
It was a messianic title from Daniel chapter 7 where Scripture says that when the messiah establish a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man
has no place to lay His head. – Matthew 8:20
YES – I am the Messiah you have read about in the Scriptures YES - I have come to establish my kingdom.
AND YES – my teaching and these healings and miracles are a fulfillment of prophecy. HOWEVER – following me is not what you think it is. It is not some fast-track to power, glory, riches, fame and position on the earth.
IN FACT – I do not even have a place to lay my head.
UNDERSTAND – as this scribe heard Jesus speak and as He watched the countless miracles before His very eyes.
He knew Jesus was the Messiah.
BUT REMEMBER – the Jewish people in the time of Jesus thought that the Messiah when He came, would set up a new world-wide earthly Jewish Empire.
AND – this guy saw an opportunity to get in on the ground floor, to be an initial investor.
AND – Jesus sure you can follow, but I want you to know what you are getting into.
LIKE – there isn’t going to Penthouse apartment or a corner office with a window and great view in your future.
UNDDERSTAND - Jesus does want this guy and us (for that matter) to follow...
But He wants us to know that there will be a cost.
There will be sacrifice.
B/S - before you can follow you have to leave.
LIKE – it is great to say that you want to follow Me , but you need to understand what that really means and be prepared to pay the cost.
A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing. – Martin Luther
If you want to follow Jesus, you had better look good on wood. – Daniel Berrigan
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? - Luke 9:23-25
Following Jesus is an all-or-nothing deal.
There is no such thing as partial surrender. In order to follow Him, we must completely lay down our lives. We do not get to pick and choose what we hold onto and what we give up.
Total surrender is the only option.
Take a moment to examine your life.
Who is in charge? Who is calling the shots? Who is the director of your life? Is it you? Or Jesus?
It can’t be both. If you answer both you and Jesus, then total surrender has not occurred. Jesus will not stand for it. He will not share His throne. Call Him selfish if you like, but that’s just the way it is. Jesus desires you, and He is not willing to share you with anyone, including yourself.
Total surrender is an outlandish extreme that justifiably produces discomfort in most. We may believe or accept the concept on a cognitive level, but in our hearts, most of us are holding onto hope that there will be a little “wiggle room” on the deal. We may desire the appearance of surrender, but we clearly know who is in control. This is not one of those fuzzy, hard to interpret theological ideals. It is clear cut. Total surrender and nothing less is required. Nowhere in Scripture do we see Jesus backing off of this. ..
Jesus wants all of you. He wants your hopes, dreams, goals, plans, agendas, lifestyles, families, relationships, jobs, service, hobbies, gifts, talents, money, abilities, passions, the lists goes on… He purchased you, and the price was significant.
Jesus is not negotiating this deal with you. His final offer is on the table. – Bo Chancy
YES – Jesus wants His followers to know that there is always a cost to following Him and being His disciple...
What our Lord said about cross-bearing and obedience is not in fine type. It is in bold print on the face of the contract.
Vance Havnar
Jesus is like,
Yes I want you to follow me, but I want to let you know upfront that there is a cost to pay in order to be one of my disciples.
MGCC – it might be...
A financial cost
Relational cost
Vocational cost
Physical cost
(Bangladesh example)
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. – Matthew 5:11,12
There will be a lifestyle cost for all of us
Like we are going to have to live differently than we did before.
Because, we now how a different first, before all other things priority, Jesus and His kingdom (church), His will, His word, His ways.
It might mean...
• Forgiving the person who hurt without getting even or expecting anything in return
• Loving someone who has been unkind and hateful to you
• Taking a risk by working Jesus into a conversation with a friend or co-worker
• Reworking your budget so that Christ and His church get the first fruits
• Reworking your schedule so you have time to serve the Lord and Hus church
• Walking by that empty room in your house and asking God if there is an orphan foster child that should be sleeping in that bed
• Breaking off a relationship that is not God-honoring
In my studies this week I came across the story of a guy named, Becket Cook...
• He was a gay man in Hollywood who had achieved great success as set designer in the fashion industry
• He worked with stars and supermodels
• Traveled the world to design photoshoots for the likes of Vogue and Harpers Bazaar.
• He attended parties at the homes of Paris Hilton and Prince
• Spent his summers swimming in Drew Barrymore’s pool
• But about 12 or so years ago he encountered the Gospel and surrendered his life to Jesus
• He pursued and received a degree in theology
• He wrote a book about his conversion entitled, ‘A Change Of Affection: A Gay Man’s Incredible Story Of Redemption...
MGCC.... the way in, is all in
• Crowds don’t impress Jesus
• Jesus is looking for followers not fans
• Jesus is more interested in our lives than our words
‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. – Matthew 15:8
IV Jesus is looking for commitment, not excuses
Another disciple said to Him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” - Matthew 8:18-22
NOW NOTICE – that this guy is referred as another disciple, SO - apparently he had already made a commitment in the past to follow Jesus, he does not call him teacher, but Lord
HOWEVER - when he hears Jesus’ order to go to the other side of the lake. He says,
“Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
OKAY – that seems reasonable, right?
LIKE – way is Jesus being so mean and insensitive?
Now, there is a lot of debate among commentators, over what this man's comment means. Some say...
• It meant that his father had just died; and that he needed to go and attend to his burial.
• Others have suggested that his father was sick and was in the process of dying; and that he needed to stay at hand and attend to him until the time that his process of dying was completed.
• Others (the majority) suggest that that the guys dad was not even sick at all, but this guy just wanted to stay around and fulfill his responsibility until his father did die, and then, of course receive his inheritance
NOW – I do not think it really matters which option you choose, because the point is the same...
AND - it is very poignant and piercing...
To follow Jesus means that Jesus comes first, before all things.
Even before our family.
Jesus is looking for commitment, not excuses
NOT, LORD...
I want to follow you,
I want to do what you say,
I want to live how you called me to live,
I want to act on what I hear you calling me to do
but first let me...
QUESTION...
Got any ‘but first let me’ in your life?
MGCC – Jesus is looking for commitment, not excuses...
In Luke 14 Jesus is having a meal with a bunch of people and He is talking to them about what the kingdom is like...
And some dude, goes ‘blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.’
Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
“The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”
Luke 14:16-23
Jesus was never interested in drawing a crowd
• Crowds don’t impress Jesus
• Jesus is looking for followers not fans
• Jesus is more interested in our lives than our words
• Jesus is looking for commitment, not excuses
When Jesus saw the crowd around him, He gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.
QUESTION
Have you ever wondered what is on the other side?
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. – Mark 10:29,30
