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
(Mat 8:19-23) And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. :20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. :21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. :22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. :23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
(Mat 9:9) And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
(Mat 16:24) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. :25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
(Mark 2:14) And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
(Mark 8:34) And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Matthew 10:24-25 disciple is not above his master
(:24) The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. (:25) It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
DEFINING DECISION:
Read it! —} Mark 10:17-22
(Mark 10:17–22) And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? :18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. :19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. :20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. :21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. :22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
Matthew’s Account:
(Mat 19:21) Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
John 15:11-17 Jesus calls us no more servants, but friends — we are commanded to love
Key verses: 15-17 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
John 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
John 21:15-19 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. :16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. :17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. :18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. :19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
