Why Are You Following Jesus?
Text: Matt. 4:23-24 "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, healing all manner of sickness among the people ...
"And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan."
The Bible says that multitudes followed Jesus.
People followed Jesus for different reasons.
The same is true today. Jesus has called us to preach salvation & healing in his name!
We need to ask ourselves the question:
Why are we following Jesus?
There are four groups of people that follow Jesus
1. Some followed Him for the Miracles-
John 6:26 "Ye did seek me ... because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled."
Vs. 66 "From that time may of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him."
These were those who followed Him for the excitement-
They were following Jesus for what they get from him.
It’s the same today!!!!
Many follow Him for miracles and the blessings!!! For the Crowds!!!!!! If you are following Jesus for the miracles you are following him for the wrong reason!
2. Others followed Him out of Curiosity-
In the time that Jesus lived, there was no T.V., radio, or the internet. News traveled quickly and many came to hear Jesus simply out of curiosity.
They had heard the stories of Jesus healing the sick and raising the dead and they came to see for themselves.
The curious don’t want to commit themselves ... they just want to see what is going on! The Curious follow Jesus to satisfy their curiosity!
3. Still Others followed Him, not because of Curiosity, But Because they Hated Him-
There were many of the Pharisees in Jesus’ day that hated Him.
The Bible says in Mark 12:12-13
"And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people, for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them; and they left him, and went their way.
"And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words."
Not everyone that heard Jesus - received his Word
Woman - sat in back of church - took notes - I thought she was really receiving the Word - I was wrong. She came to me after the service found fault with everything.
4. Finally, There were those who Followed Jesus because they Loved Him-
Is that why you and I follow the Lord?
If you are following the Lord because you love him, you won’t be defeated. Because you know who Jesus really is!
I don’t follow Jesus just because he blesses me - I follow him because I love Him.
John 6:66-69
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
“Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
“And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”
We should follow Jesus because of who He is-
Why are you following Jesus?
Which group do you belong to?
