Follow Me!
Notes
Transcript
“Follow Me!”
Mark 1:14-28
Introduction
Jim and Elizabeth Elliot
· Devoted their lives to Jesus and spreading the Gospel to unbelievers
· Jim felt the call to be a missionary to share Jesus with the WAODANI tribe in Ecuador in the 1950’s
· He and 4 others went to carry out this calling
· Cost of devotion – Leave family and home
· At that time, the Waodani tribe was one of the most violent people in the world
· Even so, Jim was obedient to God’s call for his life
· And like Jesus’ first disciples, He was obedient to the point of death
· He and the 4 others were killed by the tribe
· Jim’s wife, Elizabeth, then devoted her life to Jesus as she carried on his ministry by living with the tribe after his death – Many in the tribe came to faith
· Elizabeth since wrote a book called, “Through the Gates of Splendor” about Jim’s travels
· In the book, it shares Jim’s famous quote, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose”
Today
· Jesus’ devotion to His earthly ministry His Father called Him to
· The disciple’s devotion to Jesus when He called them to Himself
Main Text
Mark 1:14-28
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19 And going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed Him.
21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 What have You to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28 And at once His fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
Body of Sermon
· These VS reveal what Christ’s earthly ministry was
· Jesus calling His first disciples
· And His authority
o In His teachings
o Over sickness
o And over demons
Start with VS 14-15 – Quick Review
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
· These 2 VS bridge the gap between VS 1:1-13 and the rest of the Gospel
· Jesus’ earthly ministry of proclaiming the Gospel and inaugurating the Kingdom of God
VS 16-20 – IN DETAIL
Jesus calls His first 4 disciples – Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, and John
· May seem trivial
· There is a lot here we can learn from
1st: Let’s look at their qualifications
· These guys are the “Bad News Bears”
· They weren’t scholars, strong, influential leaders, or rich
· They were simple fishermen
Next: Jesus says, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men?”
· Jesus’ call is clear and specific
· A call to “Follow Him” is a call to discipleship
· “Fishers of men” refers to evangelism – Sharing Gospel
o The same call is for us as well – A call to discipleship and evangelism - To be obedient to God’s plan for our life
· The words Jesus uses is VERY IMPORTANT
o He says “I will MAKEyou…”
o Those who Jesus calls to Himself do not have the strength or knowledge to be an effective disciple or evangelizer in and of ourselves
o We need Jesus to MAKE US a disciple – Make us “Fishers of men” through the power of the Holy Spirit
Acts 1:8
8 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
· Jesus “MAKES US” disciples and evangelizers:
o When He reveals Himself to us so we can intimately know Him
o When we live in fellowship with Him
o When we have a healthy prayer life
o Through the preaching and teaching of Scripture in our Sunday service
o And through our personal Bible study
· We can’t expect that we will made disciples and evangelizers without putting in the work ourselves
Let’s look at their response
· They don’t start asking Jesus a bunch of questions
· They don’t say, “Let me think about it”
· No, they “IMMEDIATLEY FOLLOW HIM”
· There is a sense that somethings took over their bodies when they responded
· It’s because it is a supernatural calling influenced by the Holy Spirit
· Jesus chooses us, we don’t choose Him
· There is a cost to being a disciple of Jesus
o These guys left their families, homes, and their source of income to devote their lives to follow Jesus
· There is a cost to being a disciple of Jesus
o It requires us to give up our will and embrace God’s will - Give up our own desires and plans for Gods
o It requires us to serve God and others rather than ourselves
o It requires a complete change of heart and mind to let go of self and be completely devoted to Jesus
Touch on VS 21-28 briefly
VS 21-28
21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 What have You to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28 And at once His fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
· VS 21-28 show His authority
o In His teachings
o Over sickness
o And over demons
· Jesus’ primary task was teaching with authority
· His authority over sickness, nature, and evil were secondary
o They complimented His teaching and gave it more validity
· Jesus continues His authoritative teaching today by way of Scripture
· This section also show the crowd’s reaction to His authority – They were amazed
· Greek word used – “EXCOUSIA”– Means a supernatural diving authority
· Jesus’ divine authority far surpassed the authority of the Jewish leaders
· Let’s look at Jesus’ authority over sickness and demons
o Jesus performed an exorcism and when it left the man, he was restored to health
o Notice the demons knew exactly who Jesus is – the Son of God – The Holy One of God
o They knew much more about Jesus than any of the crowd did
o Satan knows Jesus and knows Scripture
· As we go through this book, pay attention to every time Jesus performs and exorcism and heals the sick
o Remember that anytime Jesus heals and restrores someone – It is a picture of His ultimate healing and restoration we all need – Being redeamed and restored from sin through Christ’s work on the cross
IF WE RUN OUT OF TIME
· Study this section yourself
Conclusion/Application
QUESTIONS TO ANSWER
· Who are you following?
o Yourself?
o People of power, authority, or status/wealth?
o OR Jesus who has all power and authority?
o When Jesus calls you, will you immediately follow Him?
o Will you be obedient to His calling for your life?
· So, are you willing to give up everything and devote your life to Jesus?
o To be His disciple?
o To carry out God’s will and plan for your life?
· Will you be obedient to be “FISHERS OF MEN”?
o To have a heart for unbelievers and share the Gospel with them?
As the author of Hebrews says:
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
· Don’t think you can’t do what God has called you to do because you feel like:
o You’re not smart enough
o You’re not strong enough
o You’re not influential
· Remember, Jesus chose simple fisherman
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
· The Holy Spirit will empower you to live out the life of a disciple and to carry out His plan for you
What would rather hear:
o “Well done good and faithful servant”
o OR“Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you?”
· Now examine your life – What would you hear right now?
o “Well done good and faithful servant”
o OR “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you?”
