The Cost Of Following Jesus Series

I can almost imagine the scene:

Jesus teaching.

More and more people begin to gather around, and so he backs up.

Eventually he backs up all the way to the sea.

And so, in order to get a little space (because for him to teach people far away, he would need to speak at a volume that would be uncomfortable for those closest to him) He steps into a boat (we assume, with permission) and asks Simon to push out a bit.

Some have suggested that the acoustics of the water would have also helped to project His voice.

Simon, while he had likely gone to shore to mend his nets, returned to the boat to take it out to see. Maybe he was a bit like some of us, being kinesthetic learners - needing to fidget while he was listening - so he’s there, on his boat, cleaning and mending his nets while Jesus is teaching. He likely could not help but listen.

Unfortunately, we don’t get to hear what Jesus taught, but Simon did.

For you and me, we have to understand that when we come to faith - just like Simon, it’s not based on a blind leap of faith or a wishful hope - but rather based on His teaching, based on His Word. I think get to see this in a couple of ways.

scripture - we are so blessed to have the written word of God, in our language, and even in a vernacular that is easy for us to understand. I typically use the ESV because it’s among the most accurate (along with the NASB, NKJV, LSB). But there are others that may be a little easier to read - NLT, NIV, CSB - beloved - don’t take this for granted. We have the Word of God as a tool for us to understand a bit more of Who God is and how He works. He has reveled himself to us in some very specific and clear ways. Let’s not take that for granted.

The Nepali people (and many others around the world) have a translation from English into their language. It’s still the Word of God, but may not be as accurate as it could if it had been translated from the original language.

Others, don’t yet have the Bible in their language. We need to be praying that God would raise up linguists who know Greek and Hebrew who could then translate the scriptures into these other languages.

God’s Word is truly the best and most accurate way for us to gain an understanding of the life that Jesus calls us into, but we also have…

testimony of others - Here at church and as we interact with other believers.

1 John 1:3 ESV

that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

As followers of Christ, we get the joy of sharing what we have seen and heard with others. If you’re investigating life with Christ, you get the honor of talking with people who have lived it out - some for just a short time, others for decades.

In my own life, I came to faith by being exposed to the Word of God at church and the testimony of the teachers and my own father’s explanation.

I share all of that to remind us that when Jesus invites us to follow him, He does not ask us to take a blind leap of faith, but rather gives us His word to reveal things in order to help us understand more clearly how this faith is lived out.