Sermon - Mark 1-2 - Jesus Said, 'Follow Me' - Littleby Baptist Church - March 17, 2019

Last week, after several interruptions, we wrapped up the temptation section of our Life and Ministry of Jesus series. Great reminders about spending time with our Bibles to learn and grow in our faith and in our ability to resist the devil’s attempt at tempting us. As part of growing in our knowledge of God’s Word lets look at what God has given us for today.

Mark 1:16-20

“¹⁶ As he passed alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Follow me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people.” ¹⁸ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹ Going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat putting their nets in order. ²⁰ Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.”

Simon and Andrew were fishing, and Jesus said, ‘Follow me’ and they did. James and John likewise followed Jesus when he called out to them.

‘Follow me’. Two simple words that we will say to our young children when we are showing them something or to the new person at work as we give them the lay of the land. Following someone can be as simple as learning where the copier is or as serious as marching into battle knowing that your life may be forfeit for something you believe in.

Normally if we are choosing to follow someone there is a reason for it. They have either inspired us enough to risk it all or they have some knowledge we need to learn.

When Jesus said ‘Follow Me’ to the earliest of His disciples do you think He was looking to show someone around the countryside or was He expecting them to risk everything as they head into battle?

If we look at Matthew and Mark’s telling of the calling of the first disciples, we don’t see much that would inspire anyone to follow Jesus. He walked by and said ‘Follow me.’ If some stranger walked by and said that I don’t know if I would pay attention.

Luke gives us a little more information.

Luke 5:1-11

“5 As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word, he was standing by Lake Gennesaret. ² He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. ³ He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then he sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat. ⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” ⁵ “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.” ⁶ When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. ⁷ So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. ⁸ When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” ⁹ For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰ and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners. “Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people.” ¹¹ Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him.”

A little more information in Luke.  The first disciples had heard Jesus teach the people and then were the recipient of a miracle. Fills in the gaps on why they would follow this man who said ‘follow me.’ They walked away from everything they had, their boats, nets, livelihood, and even their father. They did not debate it, they did not question it, they immediately left all they had to follow Jesus.

They were not looking for the nearest bathroom, they saw something that inspired them, they were bought in, they did not know it yet, but they were preparing to march into battle. A long drawn out battle that would cost most of them their lives.

Mark 2:13-17

“¹³ Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. ¹⁴ Then, passing by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the toll booth, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him. ¹⁵ While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him. ¹⁶ When the scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹⁷ When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”’

Levi, aka Matthew, was a tax collector. Tax collectors were ruthless people who took advantage of others. They were seen as traitors who served Rome over their own people. In these verses the Pharisees made their opinion pretty clear of what they thought about tax collectors. They lumped them together with sinners. To you and I, being called a sinner is not that big of a deal. I know for a fact that I am a sinner and have fallen short in more ways that I could ever count. I have to say, I am also pretty sure I am not the only one here who can say that.  

To the Pharisees, calling someone a sinner was a horrible accusation. To be classified as a sinner, meant that you were a Jew who did not follow the Law. A sinner was not welcome at the Synagogue. A sinner, a Gentile, and a tax collector were all pretty much lumped together. They were outsiders, they were the lowest of the low, and the Pharisees would say they needed serious help. When Jesus looked at Levi, He saw potential.

Jesus said to Levi, ‘Follow me’ and he followed Him. Jesus did not care about Levi’s past and He did not care what others thought about him. Jesus was looking for those who would respond and truly follow Him.

I for one am thankful that Jesus accepts all kinds. If I look back on my life there are things I have done that could easily leave me sitting on the outside looking in. If Jesus looked at me the way the Pharisees looked at Levi, I would have no hope. No matter what we have done, we are all sinners, but the moment we choose to Follow Jesus that is all wiped away. It does not matter if you sins can fit on a sheet of paper or a stack of books that fill this room. With Jesus all of that is erased as your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

The past is the past, all that matters is the choice to Follow Jesus.

Andrew and another disciple, likely John, were there when John the Baptist said that Jesus was ‘the Lamb of God!’ and that began their journey in following Him. Jesus called out to Philip and said ‘follow me’, and he did. Andrew introduced Simon Peter to Jesus and Philip introduced Nathanael to Him. All of them began following Him.

During His earthly ministry Jesus called people to follow Him, and even today He continues to call out to us to follow Him. We need to listen for that call.

The examples we have looked at show us that when Jesus calls, people respond. They did not take days, weeks, months, or even years to decide if they wanted to follow Jesus. They heard the call and responded immediately. When the Holy Spirit pulls at our heart, moving us to accept Jesus as Lord, we need to respond. When He is calling us to do something, we need to listen and do it.

John 12:26

“²⁶ If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”

I know it is not as easy as it sounds. It is hard to risk getting laughed at, attacked, and hurt. It is hard to put yourself out there when last time you did you got stomped on. It can be really hard to respond immediately when Jesus calls. He never says it will be easy, but we are to act in faith.

We are commanded to be witnesses, to go and make disciples, to Love God with all that we are, and to Love Others as we love ourselves.

If we are serving our Lord, if we are Following Him, we need to do as He has commanded. Jesus is the one who told us to be witnesses, to make disciples, to Love God, and to Love others. If we are following Jesus, we need to follow His commands.

Ephesians 6:12

“¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.”

Our battle is against the devil, and it is not something we can overcome on our own strength. It is a battle that can only be won by following Jesus. We are fighting a battle for the eternal lives of our friends and loved ones that are not following Jesus. This is not a battle that we will win with our own logic and reasoning. It is a battle that can only be won by truly following Jesus.

Luke 9:23

“²³ Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

We need to deny ourselves. We need to not worry about what we want and be that witness that Jesus has commanded us to be. Everywhere we go, every day, we need to put ourselves out there. People need to see a difference in the way we live our lives. As it has been said before, people need to read the Bible in how we live our lives.

We need to take up His cross daily, showing the world that Jesus is the one and only way to eternity with the Father. If we are taking up our crosses, we are showing the world that we believe in Jesus, we believe that He is our Savior, and we are not going to be bashful about it. When something good happens, say Amen or Praise God. Thank Jesus out loud when you get good news, pray in public, carry your Bibles with you, offer to show people scripture, whatever it takes to show people Jesus in your life. Take up your cross and display your faith to the world.

John 8:12

“¹² Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

Jesus never tells us it will be easy, but He does tell us that if we follow Him we will never walk alone and in the darkness. We will never have to answer for our sins. We will never have to pay the price of redemption. We will not face death. Jesus has already paid the price and will always be with us, if we follow Him.

Jesus has called out to you and asked you to follow Him. How are you going to respond?

The King of Kings is leading us into a battle. He does not care what is in your past, only that you respond when He calls. Pick up your cross and follow Him as only He deserves. His light will shine through you into the world around us. It is only through following Jesus that we can truly be witnesses, making disciples, loving God, and loving others.

Jesus said, ‘follow me’.

God Bless,

Robert