People Who Follow Jesus

Last week, we started dissecting the final section in John 21, and spent the time on the command from Jesus to Peter, Follow Me.

What does it mean for us to ‘Follow Jesus’?

Repent and Believe the Gospel Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Daily Die To Self Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Submit to His Lordship Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Imitate His Example Ephesians 5:1 be imitators of God, as beloved children. Hebrews 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let’s pick up from there, now that we know what it means for us to follow Jesus.

What does it mean for us when other people follow Jesus?

Read John 21:20-25

Follow Jesus, No Matter What It Leads To (Follow Him Sacrificially)

In John 21:18, Jesus revealed to Peter how he would die… then told him to follow me.

Life is not about how/when you die, but how do you live

Alexander MacLaren the belief that the risen Christ is Lord of life and death, is the only one that can stay our hearts, or make us bow with submission to His divine will.

What you think and believe about Jesus is what will determine your level of faithfulness to His command to follow.

TDNT (ἀκολουθεῖν in the NT.)

this is not in any sense an imitation of the example of Jesus… but exclusively a fellowship of life and suffering with the Messiah which arises only in the fellowship of His salvation.

Consider Paul:

At one time, he had faithful followers of Jesus put to death

Saw the risen Christ on the road to Damascus

Spent his life suffering for the sake of the gospel

Philippians 3:10–11 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Consider his testimony to the Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 11:24–29 (about 20 things listed) Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

There was not a weak Christian with whom Paul did not sympathize.

He was an extraordinary sufferer for Christ and he gloried in the grace of God that enabled him to endure

Consider Peter:

We all identify with Peter because of his failures – his falling into temptation, his denial of Jesus, his rash speaking, his failure to keep awake and pray.

He had seen the risen Christ, and spent his life suffering for the sake of the gospel

Read 1 Peter 2:18-25; 4:12-19

Hebrews 12:3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Those who desire to live faithfully for Christ must resolve to Follow Jesus, No Matter What It Leads To

Follow Jesus, No Matter How God Uses Others (Follow Him Selflessly)

In John 21, Peter’s eyes were momentarily diverted from following Christ (so soon!)

“What about John?”

Either his intention was:

Genuine concern for a close friend, with whom he had been through thick and thin

Idle curiosity as to the intention of the Lord with John

Either way, Peter’s focus was diverted from where he was told to put it… on Jesus!

You are not responsible for the obedience of other people

You are not responsible to know God’s intentions with other believers

You are responsible to Follow Him!

Valley of Vision When my mind acts without thee, it spins nothing but deceit and delusion; when my affections act without thee, nothing is seen but dead works…grant that I may distrust myself, to see my all in thee.

Pastors, if we’re not careful, can lose our joy, focus, and true reason for being in pastoral ministry when we play the comparison game.

Comparison says, “God, where You have me isn’t where I need to be.”

Making comparisons with others causes us to question and doubt the sovereignty and providence of God.

It leaves us with the fear that we’re missing out on something better.

Matthew Henry The best men find it hard to attend upon the Lord without distraction, hard to keep their minds so closely fixed as they should be in following Christ: and a needless and unseasonable regard to our brethren often diverts us from communion with God.

Focus on the Lord, not on others.

CONCLUSION

He is Risen!

And because He is Risen, He commands His disciples to Follow Him.

The example passed down by Jesus (Himself), Paul, Peter, and many disciples through the years is to:

Follow Jesus, No Matter What It Leads To

Follow Jesus, No Matter How God Uses Others

J. C. Ryle As the soldier follows his general, as the servant follows his master, as the scholar follows his teacher, as the sheep follows its shepherd, just so ought the professing Christian to follow Christ.