Implications of Discipleship

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Psalm 37:5–6 ESV

5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

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Matthew 8:18–27 ESV

Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Sermon

Implications of Discipleship

Jesus teaches about Faith

Psychology Today presented in an article, opposing the world view of “Believing something without evidence” (irrational belief)

“A credible faith is a rational faith. Faith and reason are not only consistent, on such a view, but in fact faith in some sense depends on reason.”

Conclusion: “Religious Faith could be defined as Faith is trusting in God, based on sound reasons.”

Bible definition:

Faith is the knowledge of, trust in, and commitment to Jesus Christ that is required for salvation.

Faith: Longsuffering

Matthew 8:18 ESV

Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side.

Over to the other side of the sea of Galilee

Matthew 8:19 ESV

And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

Reminiscent of Ruths words:

Ruth 1:16–17 ESV

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

Matthew 8:20 ESV

And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

“Foxes have Hole, birds of the air have nests”

Son of Man - First mention

son of man - thoroughly human or ideal man

Son of Man - 80 times in New Testament

Daniel 7:13–14 ESV

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Son of Man: Gradually reveals His identity whilst avoiding blasphamy accusations

Indicates the Saviour’s humiliation

No permanent abode on earth;

Subjected to bitter suffering; Matt 17:12

Matthew 17:12 ESV

But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.”

Shall be betrayed and put to death; Matt 26:24

Matthew 26:24 ESV

The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

Shall be buried; Matt 12:40

Matthew 12:40 ESV

For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Indicates the Saviour’s exhaultation

Rise again; Matt 17:9

Matthew 17:9 ESV

And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

2nd Coming; Matt 16:27

Matthew 16:27 ESV

For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

Confirmation of Identity

Matthew 26:62–64 ESV

And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Stephen’s vision ...

Acts 7:56 ESV

And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

return...

Matthew 8:20 ESV

And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Jesus associates with sinners

"Son of Man” has not come as a nationalistic messiah of the Jews but as “the saviour of the world” John 4:42

His path of suffering leads to the crown, to glory.

Disciples must follow the same path of suffering

The keen scribe ready to follow, unready for what lies ahead

Faith: Unconditional

Matthew 8:21–22 ESV

Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

Impressed by Jesus’ teachings

Burial was a duty of a son

On surface reason seems reasonable

“Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead”

Following Him means doing what he commands, without qualification, condition, or reservation

He was unprepared to follow

This provides no basis to believe that Jesus said that believers should never provide for or attend funerals of unbelievers or family members

Faith: Rational Belief

Matthew 8:23–27 ESV

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Do not confuse with later great windstorm (Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25)

Matthew describes as “seismos” [earthquake] of the sea - seismograph

Lake [sea of] Galilee is lowest laying and freshwater lake (157 feet deep - 48 metres)

18 species of fish (largest 77lbs, approx 1m long)

The disciples and men on the boat were terrified for their lives (rational fear)

Andrew & Simon (Fishermen & Brothers)

Philip (from Bethsaida, committed & shared his faith)

Nathanael (Bartholomew: Philip’s friend from Cana, intelectual curiosity, knowledge of the law & scriptures)

John & James (Fishermen & Brother)

Waves were swamping the boat

Jesus was asleep

Woke him saying “Save us, Lord [master]; we are perishing”

Jesus replied “Why are you afraid [cowardly, lacking courage], O you of little faith?”

Miracle was not based on the size of their faith

Was to plant the seed of and to nurture faith

“He rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm”

Men marvelled, saying “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Great Preacher with authority

Heals sick and casts out demons

Controls Elements (water into wine)

Heals from a distance

Now controls wind & waves

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Closing Prayer

Doxology