Come, Follow Me

Intro

Last Sunday we see the initial encounter between Jesus and Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip and Nathanael, and most likely John, the Gospel writer. I got to introduce our passage this morning in our last point that led into the Redeemed becoming followers or disciples. From their initial encounter with Christ, we see Jesus calling them, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men (and women).” And immediately, they left their boats, their nets and followed Him.

Evangelism must result into discipleship. Those who believe must be brought into education and nurture, which would result into their becoming disciples and followers, and the cycle continues.

Let us start by laying down the setting and context of our text. Our passage this morning starts rather ominously: “After John (the Baptist) was arrested . . .”

But like some of the other accounts that started ominously, the events following led to some wonderful things. For instance, the word of institution handed to us through the Apostle Paul states “that on the nigh that Jesus was betrayed” . . . and what followed was the Eucharist, memorializing the impending death of Jesus through the body broken and the wine poured out, sealed with the promise of Christ’s return.

“After John was arrested” led to the beginning of the preaching of Jesus about the gospel or good news about the kingdom of God. After John was arrested and put in prison, “Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe in the gospel.”

The message was simple: The opportune time is here; the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news! That in itself could be a separate sermon, but for today I would like us to dwell on the following verses. From last Sunday’s “Come and see!”, we move to “Come, Follow Me!’

Let us see three things here, and I will use the letter C as memory peg.

First, the Call (vv. 16-17a)

16 And as He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, . . . “

As we have seen last Sunday, this event now unfolding was not the first encounter of Jesus with them (except possibly James, who was not mentioned in last Sunday’s passage). Andrew and most likely John, the Gospel writer, were disciples of John the Baptist, who pointed to Jesus as the “Lamb of God.” Andrew brought his brother Simon to the Lord. (John 1:40-42).

It is likely because of John the Baptist’s arrest and imprisonment that made Andrew would go back to fishing, like what they would do later, after Christ’s crucifixion – they went back fishing. And it is here where Jesus saw them, and He issued the call, “Follow Me.”

Simple. Direct. Walang pasikot-sikot! No beating around the bush: “Follow Me.” But for all of its simplicity and directness as a summons, or even as a sentence, it is so complex and heavy in its implications.

Bakit kaya yung mga sentence na ganito na simple ay mabibigat ang ibig sabihin? Just two words: Follow Me. Or what Pastor Tam committed himself into when he said, “I do.” Two words but the longest sentence as it is a life sentence – until death do us part. Or the husband’s insistence that he has the last word at home – “Yes, dear!” Two words.

Anyway, simple words: Follow Me. But it is also complicated and loaded.

One of my favorite modern martyr is Dietrich Boenhoffer, who at one point was reflecting on the cost of discipleship, wrote a book entitled “Nachfolge” (literally: "following" or: "the act of following"), which spelled out what he believes it means to follow Christ. It was first published in 1937, when the rise of the Nazi regime was underway in Germany and it was against this background that Bonhoeffer's theology of costly discipleship developed, which ultimately led to his death.

The book in English is translated as “The Cost of Discipleship.” One of the most quoted parts of the book deals with the distinction which Bonhoeffer makes between "cheap" and “costly” grace. According to Bonhoeffer, “cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.” Cheap grace, Bonhoeffer says, is to hear the gospel preached as follows: "Of course you have sinned, but now everything is forgiven, so you can stay as you are and enjoy the consolations of forgiveness."

The main defect of such a proclamation is that it contains no demand for discipleship. In contrast to costly grace: “costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus, it comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. It is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: "My yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Wikipedia).

Evangelism must result into discipleship. Those who believe must be brought into education and nurture, which would result into their becoming disciples and followers. We should not subscribe to the notion that “once (we) had been “saved,” not only would all past sins be wiped away, but future ones, too—so, one could pretty much behave as before. Cheap grace is a divine get-out-of-jail-free card.”

The Word of God is clear: in Romans 6:1, the Apostle Paul asks: “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!”

“Follow Me,” is a call to discipleship. A call for change of allegiance and devotion. It is a movement from calling Jesus as “Savior” to “Savior and Lord” or “Savior and Master.” Some modern theologians resists the language of Master and Lord, because of it appears to glorify or at least condone and tolerate a hierarchy of power, that of a servant or slave to somebody more superior or more powerful. But I personally do not see a way around it. For me, Jesus is Savior, but also Lord and Master, to whom I commit myself, to whom I owe allegiance, devotion, submission and loyalty.

Jesus calls us, as He did to the early disciples: “Follow Me.”

The second thing we see, is the Commission. (v. 17)

“I will make you become fishers of men" (v. 17b NASB); or “I will make you fish for people,” as the NRSV puts it.

According to the Preacher’s Commentary, “Jesus also chooses teachable (persons). When He calls, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men,” He promises a lifelong learning and growth process. Not by accident, He chooses unschooled and unsophisticated fisher(folks). What a miserable start for world evangelization,” it says. But as we have said in previous sermons, “God chooses us not because of our present condition but for what we may become,” under His mentorship and guidance.

We must never forget that Jesus knows what He is doing. He wants teachable men without intellectual preconceptions or cultural mindsets that will be insurmountable barriers to truth.” Teachability!

“Jesus also wants task-oriented men. “I will make you become fishers of men,” speaks volumes about the task to which the disciples are called and the results that can be expected. Jesus knows the skills that are required to catch fish, and He does not hesitate to liken them to the skills of catching people. Fishing of both kinds is a science and an art. Without the discipline of learned skills and the intuition of natural gifts, the net will come up empty. For His disciples, Jesus wants [persons] who have learned the science and sensed the art of fishing. Why? He needs [people] who are ready to live with the consequences of their work. To invoke the language of today, Jesus needs [people] who live by the “bottom line.” Fishermen fit the definition. If they don’t get a catch, they starve; but if they exercise the discipline of scientists and the sensitivity of artists, their nets come up full.”

The third and last thing we see here is the Course of Action (vv. 18-20)

See how the brothers responded: For Simon Peter and Andrew, “18 And they immediately left the nets and followed Him.” For James and John, who were mending their nets, left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him” (v.19).

To quote Bonhoeffer once more: “The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every [one] must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world.” The attachment may be familial ties with family; or economic security in the present, as represented by the nets and boats.

The Lord Jesus Christ said one time to those who tried to follow Him for the benefits they can get, this is what he told them: “Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Lk. 9:58).

See the response: It is not a case of “Here I am, send somebody else!” It is “Here I am, send Me!” It is not a case of “I will follow you … later! It is - “I will follow you … now!”

Our response to Christ’s “Come and Follow Me” should be and must be:

I have decided to follow Jesus: no turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, still I will follow: no turning back, no turning back.

The cross before me, the world behind me: no turning back, no turning back.

Sisters and brothers: Jesus sees the potential in all of us, and calls us, as he has called the Twelve, the seventy and many more through the ages: Come, Follow Me! I hope and pray that we come to Him and respond; to go and act, resolute in the work, and fully and wholeheartedly resolved to do as the Lord bids.

May it be so with us! May it be so for our Church! May it be so, amen!

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Preached at UCCP Baguio; Sandmeier UMC (Jan 22, 2023)