Become a Committed Follower of Jesus
Hebrews 12:1-2
Philippians 3:12-14
As we “Go for the gold” in our Christian life our goal is Christ-likeness. The Hebrew writer challenges us to keep the goal before us and not forget it. “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.” (Hebrews 12:2 NLT.)
The Apostle Paul agrees with the Hebrew writer when he encourages the Christians in Philippi by giving his testimony: “Not that I have already obtained all this (Christ-likeness) or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I Press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14)
Our lifelong goal is to become more and more like Jesus. Last week I closed the message with the challenge given by Charles Sheldon in his classic book, “In His Steps.” In everything you say and do ask: “What would Jesus have me to say or do?” (WWJD) We handed out cards as reminders. How did you do last week? Our race in life is a daily commitment. It is a life-long commitment. To keep our eyes focused on Jesus.
James Allen Francis wrote about the life of Jesus in “One Solitary Life.”
He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in still another village where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty. Then for three years he was an itinerant preacher. He never had a family or owned a home. He never traveled 200 miles from the place he was born. He never set foot inside a big city. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never went to college. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself. While he was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends deserted him. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned put together have not affected the life of man on earth as much as that one solitary life.
Jesus calls you to follow in His steps. He calls you to a life of adventure of faith. Jesus calls people in all walks of life to follow Him. Just as Jesus called his first disciples to follow him he calls us today to follow him.
In many ways the first disciples were a motley group, but they became united, except for one, in carrying out the mission of their Master.
In the first disciples we find many of our own characteristics:
Peter was bold, brash, and impulsive. He acted and then thought later. He was willing to take on the Roman Army and make heads roll.
John was shy and quiet. He was so humble he didn’t mention his name in the Gospel of John he wrote about the life and ministry of Jesus. Yet from John’s life we know that he loved Jesus with all his heart.
Matthew was a tax collector. A man of wealth despised by all. Before Christ, Matthew was out to take advantage of people and gain a world of wealth for himself. His philosophy was the world view that “there is only one person that counts and that person is me.” Yet he became an obedient follower of Jesus.
All the disciples of Jesus except Judas made following Jesus a priority for their lives. The disciples had their daily “to be” list rather than a “to do” list.
To each of the early disciples Jesus gave the invitation: “Come follow me.” Today Jesus makes the same invitation to people of all walks of life and all nations: “Come Follow Me.” In both the Gospels and today we find three levels of responses of people who follow Jesus.
I. The Curious Followed Jesus
Crowds of people followed Jesus out of curiosity and for what they could get from Jesus.
John 6:1-2 “Sometime after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. Great crowds followed Jesus because they were looking for a great show. They wanted to see more miraculous signs.
The Curious crowds followed Jesus and when they got hungry Jesus had compassion on them and provided a great banquet of all the fish and chips they could eat. The free lunch came from the multiplication of a boys lunch of 5 barley loaves of bread and 2 small fish. 5,000 men were fed plus women and children.
Jesus revealed the true motives of the crowd: John 6:26-27, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and fishes and had your fill.”
For the curious seeing is not believing. They refuse to accept the teachings of Jesus. Their eyes were blind to truth. Curious followers of Jesus may call themselves Christian, but they are Christian in name only looking for personal gain. Take away the benefits and all you see is the dust left from their quick get away.
Scribes and Pharisees were in the crowd of curious followers of Jesus. They followed Jesus primarily to find fault with his teachings and criticize his life-style. According to their traditions, Jesus did not dress right or associate with the right people. Jesus associated with the Samaritans, poor people and talked to immoral men and women.
Curious followers will follow Jesus as long as it doesn’t interrupt their life-style. Curious followers will not finish the race the Hebrew writer is talking about in Hebrews 12: 1-2.
There is a second response to the call of Jesus to follow Him.
II. The Convinced Followed Jesus
There were many who followed Jesus that were convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, but they refused to follow Jesus and obey His teachings. In John 6:35-36 Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. In verse 58 Jesus said, “Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.” Verses 60:61, “On hearing it, many of his disciples said: ‘this is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?’ Verse 66 “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.”
Convinced followers were following Jesus for the wrong reasons. They found the call of Jesus too demanding so they turned away from following Jesus.
Judas was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, but Judas wanted Jesus to lead and rule according to his plan. Judas wanted Jesus to set up an earthly kingdom and overthrow the Roman government. Judas refused to yield to God’s ultimate plan. Judas wanted his way or no way.
Judas chose to deny Jesus and turn him over to the authorities to be arrested, tried and crucified. He denied for Lord for 30 pieces of silver. Judas chose his own way and not to follow Jesus’ way. He paid the price and ended his own life in despair. The choices you make today will determine where you will be tomorrow. Today is the day to follow Jesus on the road that leads to eternal life.
Convinced followers believe that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God, but refuse to surrender their heart to Jesus to lead. It’s the view, “I’ll follow the Lord, if the Lord will go the way I want to go.”
Jesus calls us to “Follow Him” not as curious or convinced but as committed disciples.
III. The Committed Followers of Jesus
It takes commitment to keep your eyes on Jesus to finish the race. Hebrews 12:2
When Jesus watched the curious and convinced followers turn away; He asked the other disciples, “Will you also go away?” Peter answered for those who are committed disciples, (John 6:68) “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Committed disciples say from their heart, “If Jesus goes with me, I’ll go anywhere – I’ll do what He wants me to do. I’ll be what he wants me to be.” A true disciple is one who unconditionally accepts Jesus and His authority.
Committed disciples follow Jesus and turns from their own selfish ambitions and pride. A committed disciple lives according to WWJD – “What Would Jesus Do?”
A committed disciple is focused on Jesus. Hebrews 12:1b-2a “And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.” NLT
The word “focus” is an interesting word. Before electricity the focus of a home was the fireplace or “hearth.” Focus in Latin is “hearth.”
The use of the word “focus” was coined by the German Astronomer Johannes Kepler, (1571-1630). He used the word “focus” to describe the point at which a parabolic mirror concentrates light rays to cause burning.
A person running a race to win runs with a fire of passion. The Christian running to reach the goal of Christ-likeness also runs with passion. Paul declared in Philippians 3:13-14, “I am focusing all my energies and this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.”
Eric Liddell is a wonderful example of someone who patterned his life after Jesus. Eric was the son of a Scottish missionary to China, and sensed that he too had a call of God upon his life. Prior to the 1924 Olympics he had been one of the fastest men in the world in the 100 yard dash, and as a Scot, he was chosen to represent Great Britain in the Olympic Games in Paris France.
However when he arrived for the competition he learned that the day of the 100 – meter race had been changed to Sunday. Eric believed his speed in running was a gift of God and he could not dishonor the 2nd Commandment regarding keeping the Sabbath holy. He made a very difficult decision not to run.
In the film the Chariots of fire, Lord Andrew Lindsey, who had already won a silver medal in the hurdles, offered to let Eric take his place in the 400-meter race. Eric was a short distance sprinter and had never raced at the longer distance races. On the day of the race, just before the start, one of the runners from the United States, Jackson Schultz, handed him a note which read, God will honor those who honor Him.” Eric Liddell took his place and the gun sounded. (Show video clip)
The next year Eric Liddell returned to China and in 1932 was ordained as a minister. Eric Liddell is an example of a committed disciple of Jesus.
Our challenge this morning is to live our life focused on Jesus. Don’t be just a curious follower of Jesus. Don’t be just a convinced follower of Jesus. Become a committed follower of Jesus.
The following note was found tacked to the wall of the home of a young African Pastor.
I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of his. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I’m finished and have done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’ have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on his presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till he comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till he stops me. And when he comes for his own, he will have no problems recognizing me. My banner will be clear.
