A Disciple is Called

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A common question that’s tossed around by anyone at some point is “what’s my calling?” What is my purpose? Can you answer those questions? In tonight’s passage we’ll read about two brothers, who were fishermen, being called by Jesus to follow Him and take on the purpose he has for them.

Matthew 4:18–22 (ESV)

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

This is a crazy move by Jesus. He’s asking these guys to leave their livelihoods and follow him. They weren’t just fishing for fun doing som catch and release. This is how they put food on the table. This is what they do.

But what do they do? IMMEDIATELY they left the boat and their father and followed him.

I believe the word “immediately” is important here. Jesus had a power and draw that no other person has ever had. To get these men to leave what they know to follow him into the unknown means that Jesus must be the real deal.

At this point in the story it’s very likely the disciples knew of Jesus. Andrew was a follower fo John the Baptist. The guy who’s known as the forerunner. The one who told everyone about the coming Messiah. So by the time Jesus starts his ministry, the disciples would have had knowledge of him. But that’s what key here. They hadn’t surrendered yet to this call. They hadn’t stepped into a relationship with Him up until this point.

The disciples quickly realized that their “calling” was bigger than their occupation...

I believe in order for us to answer that first question “what is my calling?” We first have to understand “who is calling.”

What did the disciples do? They “followed Jesus.”

That’s our starting point here tonight.

We can’t pursue a calling if we don’t know who’s calling us.

The reason why they were so quick to get up and follow was because they understand who was calling on them.

Who is Jesus? More specifically, who is Jesus to you?

Jesus says he is “the light of the world.”

He says “I am the Good Shepherd.”

He says “I am the way, the truth, the life, and no one comes to the father except through me.”

Who did the disciples think he was?

Matthew 16:13–17 ESV

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

Jesus is not just a man. He is the Christ. And no, this isn’t his last name.

“christ” means the annointed one, the one sent to redeem the world.

If we go to the book of John we get another clear picture of who Jesus is.

John 1:1–4 (ESV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

WHO’s the word? Well John makes it apparent in verse 14

John 1:14 ESV

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The word became flesh. The became a human and lived among other humans. Who did that? Jesus.

So we can replace “The word” with Jesus

John 1:1–4 (ESV)

In the beginning was the [Jesus], and [Jesus] was with God, and [Jesus] was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

We’re all in a different spot coming into tonight’s message. Some of us have grown up in church and we know these passages. We’ve heard it time and time again. Some of us have grown up in church, but these passages haven’t ever really made sense and stuck with us. Some of us, have never heard any of this, or very little, and are coming in not knowing what to do with any of this information.

No matter who you are. Whether you’ve heard it a thousand times or for the first time. I need you to hear this…

Jesus is God. Jesus is the Christ. He is the Savior of the world and can be the Savior of your life.

We constantly talk about sharing the Gospel. The Gospel is the good news of Jesus.

It is that we, without Jesus, are sinful and separated from God. Deserving of death and punishment with no hope. But Jesus, came to this world as a man to live a perfect life in order to present himself as a living Sacrifice for the sins of everyone. We deserved death And he took our rightful place on the cross. But, he didn’t just die And stay in the grave Like every other person. He rose again, defeating Sin. Defeating death. Giving us an opportunity to have life in him.

How? He says that all we have to do is Romans 10:9

Romans 10:9 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

No cleaning yourself up first, no works. Just Jesus. Just faith in Jesus. But please here that. It is JUST Jesus. No one or nothing else. There’s a temptation to be so inclusive that we want to promote the idea that there’s multiple ways to be right with God. It’s not true. It’s a lie that’s separating people from God. Salvation is only found in Jesus.

Now why go off on this tangent about Jesus and the Gospel? The title is about a disciple being called. We first have to understand who Jesus is and decide what he will be to us. That is so important! Without that, we can’t move on.

So, our call is founded in the person of Jesus.

Back to the story…

The disciples have decided to leave everything to follow Jesus. They don’t really know where, what it’s gonna look like, they didn’t even fully understand what all Jesus was about to do on the cross and through them After his resurrection. So many unknowns, yet they followed.

What’s amazing about this whole story. And the story of the Gospel. Is the fact the Jesus wanted the disciples first. He wanted us first. Jesus is the initiator of the relationship. That is key.

1 John 4:19 ESV

We love because he first loved us.

Romans 5:6–8 ESV

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The disciples were not qualified. They weren’t even righteous before JeSus approached them. While they were sinners, Christ brought them in. And the same is true for us.

He first loved us! This is why we say it’s by faith, not by works.

If it were up to our works, we’re essentially saying we have to earn the approval of God before he saves us. That would be a hopeless mission. Instead, Christ loved us. So much so that he died for us.

But notice something about what’s happened here with with the disciples. Jesus didn’t just come up to them and say he you want to go to heaven? Okay repeat this prayer after me. Alright! Here’s your ticket. See you in the next life.

Being a Christian (a follower of Jesus) isn’t just about going to Heaven one day. Notice the action in the name we use to describe Christians. FOLLOWERS of Jesus. It requires us to get up and move.

But don’t get it twisted! It starts with faith in Jesus. Through that, the Holy Spiris goes to work on us. We go through a process called sanctification which is simply the lifelong process of being set apart from the world and growing closer to the Lord.

This is life long! And it’s beautiful. Being a follower of Jesus looks like living an adventurous life of following Him day after day, for however long your life Is, to wherever He takes you, with no Certainty in front of you. Simply surrendering to the call that Jesus has placed on our life. Even if we don’t fully understand what He’s Doing.

The invitation given to the disciples is the same one for us. Jesus is invited you saying “Follow me.”

It goes beyond just living a good moral life. Jesus is inviting you into a close relationship with Him. And his love is unconditional.

Are you staying where you are or are you following?

Some of you might just need to make a decision on that invitation. Will you follow Him?

On the other hand, some of us in this room know JeSus. We have given our life to Him and we love Him because Of His love for us. Praise God for that life that you have in Him today.

Here’s a question for you.

“If i claim to have answered the invitation to follow Jesus, am I going where he leads?”

He’s called us all to leave our old life behind and walk into the new one only founded in Him.

The call is to follow Jesus even when it costs us something. Even when it’s inconvenient. Even when it can be difficult.

I believe sometimes we get so caught up in other things we forget about this calling on our life. We even forget about Jesus. Yes, were here tonight. You might even come on Sundays. But what does the rest of your week look like?

We get caught up in other things. The good and the bad.

- drugs, alcohol, parties, sex, etc.

We even get caught up in school, sports, boyfriends/girlfriends, friends.

Sometimes were just trying to get through the week. Let me just get through school this week And then I’ll fix my priorities. Then that turns into let me just get through this month. Let me get through this semester. This year. And all of a sudden we feel distant. Disconnected. And removed from Jesus. We find our ourselves pursuing other things.

Yet, Jesus is here. He has never left. You might have. But he hasn’t, and he’s calling you back in.

My hope is that tonight might serve as a reminder, even as a warning. Don’t forget about Jesus. Don’t forget the cross and the life you have in Him. When we do, we end up in places, doing things that only contribute to our own downfall.