WCF Vision Month - Following the Way of Jesus!

Be with Jesus!

Mark 3:13–19 NIV84

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

A follower of Jesus is a disciple, but what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? Put simply it means to organize your life around three goals:

Be with Jesus Become like Jesus Do what Jesus did

This is an entire life’s pursuit.

It is not just an event on a Sunday, but a “way” of life in the community of Christians, gathered around the teachings of Jesus.

Jesus did not call us merely to join an institution or follow an ideology but to be WITH HIM; to LEARN FROM HIM and to be EMPOWERED BY HIM for Mission!

To live this way means we need to be transformed, from the inside out. It is a deep, authentic, radical change of character through teaching, practice, community, and the Holy Spirit, in the presence of, and imitating the way of and following the directions of Jesus.

A. JESUS WANTS US TO BE WITH HIM!

Notice in our Bible reading, before Jesus called His disciples to do anything, He called them to spend time with Him, as followers.

Jesus is going to teach them everything He knows and He is going to authorise and empower them to preach and drive out demons but it all begins WITH JESUS, in companionship.

To BE WITH someone is to be in companionship and ideally in intimacy! Notice in John chapter 1, the disciples came to Jesus and asked “Rabbi where are you staying?”(Jn 1:38) - It was more than a postal enquiry or a demographic enquiry, about where they might be invited to later so they need to prepare, it was about “staying with” Jesus, a living with Him and following in His footsteps, observing and imitating his lifestyle and learning His teaching!

This kind of discipleship, emerged from the Jewish culture of discipleship in which when a person joined a Rabbi and was adopted as his disciple, they literally lived with the Rabbi; abiding (Lit meno - remaining) with Him as Jesus said in John 15 to “abide in Christ”.

Discipleship in Jesus' day had 3 different levels:

(I). Bet Sefer which Jewish children entered from the age of six to memorise the Torah until the age of 12. Both boys and girls attended synagogue school and learned to read and write. The textbook was the Torah and the goal was not just to read but to memorize the sacred text. The synagogue leader, would greet you with a slate when starting and he would put a dollop of honey on the slate and then he would remove the ancient scroll of the Torah and you would taste the honey to remind you that the Torah is sweeter than the honeycomb (see Psalm 19:10).

(ii). Bet Midrash - was for boys from age 13 to 15, who were deemed worthy to continue their educational pursuits. These were the brightest and the best who attended the GRAMMAR SCHOOL so to speak to study, and memorize the entire Tanach, as well as learning the family trade. Very few were selected to do this, Jesus almost certainly was “is this not the carpenter’s son””(Matt 13:55) but his disciples almost certainly not!

(iii). Bet Talmud - only the best of the best were able to pursue the final educational leg, called Bet Talmud. It covered the longest time period from the age of 15 to 30. To participate, you must be invited by a Rabbi and begin a process that would lead to the potential of becoming a Rabbi at age 30. Those who were chosen were referred to as talmudim. They would literally follow in the dust of their rabbi - desiring to emulate him in all of his mannerisms. They would eat the same food in exactly the same way as their rabbi. They would go to sleep and awake the same way as their rabbi and, more importantly, they would learn to study Torah and understand God the exact same way as their rabbi. They left everything to follow their Rabbi!

We are called to the third level of discipleship - the “talmidim” of Jesus, following in the footsteps of Jesus, desiring to emulate him in all of his ways and learn from Him, leaving all to follow our Rabbi! - Come follow me!

B. JESUS WANTS US TO BE WITH HIM, TOGETHER!

It’s also important to notice that Jesus’ called His disciplies to be with Him in community together!

Contrary to much modern and Western thinking, you don’t have to be alone to enjoy intimacy with Jesus. Indeed this was not His normal way!

His calling was for individuals to join a group in order to belong together in a community because it has always been the divine idea that “it is not good for man to be alone” (Gen 2:18).

And note the imperfect nature of that community - “These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”

This was at best a mixed bunch of men who, though they all followed Jesus, had issues, Simon Peter was rash and impulsive; James and John had a fiery streak in their nature; Matthew was a collaborator with the Romans and Thomas was a cautious and careful thinker, prone to doubt and Simon the Zealot has a terrorist background and nationalistic instinct, whilst “Judas Iscariot…betrayed” Jesus!

Jesus handpicked such people to be together and at first sight it may not have appeared to be a good idea! Putting a tax collector like Matthew with a Zealot like Simon, and an impulsive Peter with a cuatious and careful doubter like Thomas?

But Jesus knows best and He brought them together in community so that as they learned from Him in community, and undoubtedly, though they irritated eachother in community, by being with Jesus, they would learn how He graciously and patiently loved these men, managing their sins and failing and perculiar foiables without sinning and without abandoning any of them!

Of course they let Him down; they disappointed Him and messed up and denied Him in their cowardice when He was crucified, but irrespective of this, He loved them; strenghtened them and moulded and built them into a community of disciples, who loved one another whatever!

Jesus calls us into the Kingdom of God in which we are citizens together and this Kingdom has local and visible expressions in the Church and He calls us to be together and “love one another, as I have loved you”(Joh 13:34)

The Church as a community of beleivers is important to Jesus and essential for our aim of being with Jesus - “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them!”(Matt 18:20).

This is also why, Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to His disciples as a community, not normally on their own. “Peace be to you”(Joh 20).

It’s why the Spirit came upon the disciples in the upper room as they gathered and prayed together and it’s why the Bible insists that we “should not give up meeting together as is the habit of some, but encourage one another, and even mroe as you see the day approaching”(Heb 10:25).

And, yes the Church is made up of a bunch of people whose only thing in common sometimes may be Jesus and our common faith, but when we “love one another” as we are commanded to we find that our common life in Jesus and our comon faith is enough!

“The church is a hospital—a place where sick, broken, wounded, flawed people are made new by Jesus.” (John Mark Comer, My Name is Hope: Anxiety, depression, and life after melancholy)

We as a Church are an imperfect and mixed group of people, but it is here, that Jesus intends for us to grow and develop in our life of discipleship!

This is why we gather for public worship; have our Life Groups; Pray together at our Connect Meetings; encourage our Children and young people to join our WCF Kids and Unity Plus and would love to help you introuduce and find life in Jesus through Alpha Groups and grow in your life with Jesus by being baptised and being discipled in your relationship with Him!

The Church community exists so that we can BE WITH JESUS TOGETHER and it is intended by Him to help form us to become who Jesus wants us to be!

C. JESUS WANTS US TO BE WITH HIM IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIFE ON EARTH!

Dallas Wilard says: “A disciple is a learner, a student, an apprentice – a practitioner… Disciples of Jesus are people who do not just profess certain views as their own but apply their growing understanding of life in the Kingdom of the Heavens to every aspect of their life on earth.”

Jesus wants to be with us in every aspect of our lives! This is the ideal and its not easy but its what discipleship reuires of us!

Listen to Jesus’ teaching on discipleship:

(i). “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”(Matt 28:17-20)

Note disciples go where they are told; worship Jesus and even doubt, whilst together; they make disciples and baptise people into the name of the Triune God; and teach new disciples “everything I have commanded” - not picking and choosing what they like and Jesus is with them “always” - in the home as well as in church; in the workplace; at the restaraunt or pub or cinema; in your intimate and quiet moments, He is there and Paul says, “whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all for the glory of God”(1 Cor 10:31).

“Do you see your work as an essential part of your discipleship to Jesus and as the primary way that you join him in his work of renewal? If not, you should.”(John Mark Comer, Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human).

(ii). “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”(Luke 9:23):

Wow, that’s not trendy it is, DAILY, SELF-DENIAL IN WHICH WE CRUCIFY THE SINFUL TENDENCIES OF OUR HEARTS! Our modern Western mentality is that if you can afford it, you should deny yourself nothing! To be happy you have to be athentic to yourself and give yourself unquestionally to the things you long for and desire!

This is NOT the way of Jesus! SELF INTEREST can be a mask for selfishness and it can be utterly destructive to your soul to DENY YOURSELF NOTHING for as Jesus said to the Laodicean church, “These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”(Rev 3:17-22). Note this is said to a Church, to professing Christians who are decieved about their true status as belieivers. Lukewarn! Is that me? Is this you? Is this something you need to put right with Jesus, today?

SELF-DENIAL is good for the soul! Don’t believe the lie that “more stuff equals more happiness.” Accumulation brings its own stresses of where are you going to put the new stuff; what are you going to get rid of? - Suppose you get that promotion and the extra money, what you going to spend it on and how are you going to organise your finances to pay off more of your debt? And who is going to lose your time and attention because you have to give more time and attention to work? The truth is that more stuff so often just leads to more stress; less time and freedom; less rest and relaxation, less time for wife, husband and family; for God; less time for being with Jesus, less prayer! Less of what your soul longs for?

Maybe we need to stop running on the ever-increasing speed of life’s treadmill, even if it means less time watching TV, on our phones or social media, just to give some time to someone else; to chat to your husband, wife or family; to have more time for prayer and Bible reading; or just to sit alone in your room with Jesus; more time to come to Church and be in community?

SELF-DENIAL! Listen to this very helpful bit of advice from John Mark Comer, “it’s wise to regularly deny ourselves from getting what we want, whether through a practice as intense as fasting or as minor as picking the longest checkout line. That way when somebody else denies us from getting what we want, we don’t respond with anger. We’re already acclimated. We don’t have to get our way to be happy.”(The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World).

(iii). “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”(John 12:26).

Serving Jesus require us to follow Him, wherever He leads and wherever He is! God honours this kind of following! This reminds me of the old Gospel song:

“Take up thy cross and follow me I heard my Master say "I gave my life to ransom thee Surrender your all today"

Wherever He leads, I'll go Wherever He leads, I'll go I'll follow my Christ who loves me so Wherever He leads, I'll go

He drew me closer to His side I sought His will to know And in that will, I now abide Wherever He leads, I'll go.”

(B.B. McKinney)

I repeat, Jesus wants to be with us in every aspect of our lives! This is the ideal and its not easy but its what discipleship requires of us!

There is no other type of discipleship than this! It’s a giving of our lives away; being willing to give up “everything” for Him - “you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.”(Luke 14:33).

And if Jesus is our treasure! If the Kingdom of God is truly “the pearl of great price”, then, as C.T. Studd said: “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”

APPLICATION:

So what do we need to do now, today to BE WITH JESUS? After all, we don;t lkve in first century Israel and Jesus is not here on earth but now “sits at the right hand of God” How then do we intentionally BE WITH JESUS today; this week; this month; this Year?

Jesus answers this in John 14:15-27,“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him....If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him...All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

God has given us a deposit of the Holy Spirit to reveal and sine a light on Jesus to our souls so that He can be with us spiritually, even when He cannot be with us physically! Jesus can and will be with us as we seek to be with Him each day!

“‘The first and most basic thing we can and must do is to keep God before our minds. This is the fundamental secret of caring for our souls. Our part in thus practicing the presence of God is to direct and redirect our minds constantly to Him. In the early time of our “practicing” we may well be challenged by our burdensome habits of dwelling on things less than God. But these are habits—not the law of gravity—and can be broken. A new, grace-filled habit will replace the former ones as we take intentional steps toward keeping God before us. Soon our minds will return to God as the needle of a compass constantly returns to the north. If God is the great longing of our souls, He will become the pole star of our inward beings.' (Dallas Willard)

It is, as the Psalmist said in Psalm 16, “I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,...You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

1. If you have not yet started the journey of being with Jesus, you need to respond to His call to “come follow me”!

Today is the day you should decide to follow Jesus! To “taste and see theat the Lord is good”(Psalm 8). To “come and see” and take up Jesus’ invitation to discover a friendship in which He will be your Saviour and Lord!

2. If you are a Christian but your love has grown cold or even lukewarm, its time to “repent” and to retun to Jesus. To hear Him knocking at the door of your heart and invite Him in - Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

John Mark Comer rightly warned: “For many of us the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith. It is that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version of it. We will just skim our lives instead of actually living them.”( The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to stay emotionally healthy and spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world).

Have you lost your first love? - And love really is the key, the deepest need we have is to discover mroe of what Paul calls, “the length, breadth, height and depth of the love of Christ and to know this love, which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of Christ”(Eph 3)

“The key, then, to loving God is to see Jesus, to hold him before the mind with as much fullness and clarity as possible. It is to adore him.” ~ Dallas Willard

3. Every day, in every way, deny yourself and take up your cross and follow Jesus!

You need the presence of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit to help you to do this, you cannot bear the heavy load of your sin and the heavy weight of your many responsibilities alone which is why Jesus invites you to lay your “burdens” on Him, because as John Mark Comer said, “an easy life isn’t an option, an easy yoke is” - see Matt 11:28-30. “Cast all your care upon Him, because He cares for you”!

You will need willing determination and discipline to do this every day! Discipline to read the Bible and to pray; to deny the flesh, which is not just about not sinning but skipping things that you sometimes would reallty like to do and arn’t wrong in themselves - like lying in; or watching millions of episodes of Friends or Neighbours again; or spendinng so much time on social media, etc, - just to take time to be alone and spend time with Jesus.

“Spiritual people are not those who engage in certain spiritual practices; they are those who draw their life from a conversational relationship with God.” ~ Dallas Willard

Remember, this is about relationship nor ritual or rules because “the will is transformed by experience, not information.” (Dallas Willard).

Just think about that statement for a moment. We can have great Bible knowledge; be well read theologically and be well respected in the Church because of our experience in Christian service but its nothing without a loving relationship with Jesus - 1 Cor 13,. “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” This sound just like Jesus doesn’t it?

And so if we are going to be with Jesus, in order to become like Jesus we begin with our relationship with Him! Let us so resolve today to take the greatest, the best and the most important step of our lives and resolve to be with Jesus!