Jesus Calling us to Follow

What an amazing day watching all those people get baptized. Young and old, children and adult, families… Making a public decision to follow Jesus is a wonderful step in our spiritual formation. However, this wonderful decision is not the end, it’s only the beginning.

It’s kinda like graduating from High School… when we were a high school student we looked forward to graduation and as a teenager it seems like an arrival in a long destination. But, we then realize that it’s only the beginning of adulting.

Baptism is an important step but it doesn’t mean that we’ve arrived, we are just at the beginning.

This morning, I’ll be starting a series called WWJD… what would Jesus do?

I remember wearing those bracelets as a reminder that I am a follower of Jesus, a disciple, or an apprentice of Christ. The things that I do, the words that I say, and the things that I spend my time on matters in light of that question… What would Jesus do?

Eventually that bracelet became a trend and it lost it’s meaning but we must understand what Jesus did if we are going to live out the answer to the question, “What would Jesus do?”

Through this series we will be talking about and learning about the life of Jesus so that we can better respond to that very important question… What would Jesus do?

Let’s look at the first followers of Jesus in Luke 5. Jesus showed up and introduced HIMSELF in a powerful way to a few mangy fisherman. Then we are introduced to Peter, James and John as they responded to Jesus’ invitation.

Luke 5:1–11 ESV

1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

PRAY

Jesus is drawing a crowd even at the beginning of HIS ministry as we see here. The word was spreading quickly about Jesus but even when his ministry was gaining many followers Jesus still noticed 2 boats that were on the lake and the fisherman who were in the boats.

Jesus wasn’t distracted by the crowds but Jesus lived out HIS own parable about leaving the 99 (the crowds) and finding the one (the lost).

As Jesus noticed the 2 boats, he stepped into one of the boats, Peter’s boat, and kept on preaching to the crowds.

Jesus got into Simon Peter’s BOAT.

This wasn’t an accident or a coincidence. Jesus knew what HE was doing when he sat down and taught the people from Peter’s boat.

Simon Peter, James and John were fisherman, cleaning up their nets, packing them up, and getting ready to head home after a long and unsuccessful night of fishing. These men were very tired and discouraged. They just wanted to go home but Jesus was on Peter’s boat.

Sometimes we don’t see the significance of Jesus being in our boat. Let me tell you, Jesus is in your boat right now even though you may be feeling lonely, discouraged, or even tired. Jesus is in your boat and HE’s in your boat for a reason. The question is what are you going to do about it?

Simon Peter could have kicked Jesus out of HIS boat but he didn’t.

I think Peter was like the crowd who recognized that Jesus was a great teacher.

Peter saw Jesus heal his mother-in-law in his own house (Luke 4:38-39).

Peter saw that Jesus was a miracle worker and a prophet.

Jesus was in his way from being able to go home and go to sleep but just when Jesus was wrapping up HIS message to the crowd Jesus said to Simon.

Luke 5:4 ESV

4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

Jesus was not the expert fisherman, Simon Peter was.

Peter could have told Jesus to stay in your own lane, you are a prophet, a teacher, and a miracle worker but I’m a tired and unsuccessful fisherman. Even though last night was unsuccessful, I still know how to fish.

The middle of the day is the worst time to fish. Peter knew the best time to fish was in the dark early in the morning.

However… Peter didn’t respond by rejecting Jesus.

Peter considered his past experience and yet obeyed the word of Jesus.

Sometimes obedience doesn’t make sense in the natural but God always works in the supernatural.

Luke 5:4–5 ESV

4 Jesus said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

Peter didn’t look to the natural… how he was feeling, his past, his present disappointments. Peter was honest and acknowledged that those feelings existed but at the end, he took Jesus at HIS word and obeyed.

Faith isn’t ignoring our feelings. We must be honest about our feelings but in spite of how we feel, we still obey God’s Word. We still trust that Jesus works beyond our feelings and our natural circumstances. Jesus works in the supernatural. Jesus is not limited by the natural like we are.

God’s Word will never return void. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If we believe, if we are a follower of Jesus, then we must walk in obedience no matter how we feel.

No matter how you feel, always take Jesus at HIS Word and step out in obedience.

Jesus used this miracle to reveal HIS calling.

Jesus knows our passions, he knows what gets us going, Jesus knows everything about us and HE will use those things to get our attention and reveal HIS calling to us.

Jesus revealed HIMSELF like that for Simon Peter… on the lake catching fish.

Luke 5:5–7 ESV

5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

Jesus has a way of overwhelming us and blessing us at just the right time. He does this to remind us that, yeah, HE will never leave us or forsake us, yeah, HE loves us and want’s to bless us.

But… the biggest reason that Jesus reveals HIMSELF in such a personal and impactful way is to remind us that HE has a calling on us and HE wants us to respond to HIS calling.

It’s more then just making us feel good and make us comfortable. Jesus want us to respond to HIS calling through obedience.

HE wants us to say yes to wherever HE calls us to go or whatever HE wants us to do. Jesus wants our YES!

That we would say YES, I will obey your Word.

Peter recognized this… God revealed HIMSELF to Peter in a way that HE would get a response.

Luke 5:8 ESV

8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

At this miracle Peter recognized who Jesus was. Peter toiled and worked on his own power and strength and had nothing to show for it. But, when he obeyed the Word of Jesus and all he did was throw his nets into the deep water, Peter recognized that he was in the presence of God. Jesus was Holy and Peter was a sinful man so Peter said to Jesus, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

Aren’t you glad that Jesus didn’t listen to Peter?

Jesus accepted Peter, comforted him, and then invited him to follow.

Luke 5:10 ESV

10 And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

Jesus gave them the invitation to follow HIM so…

They left everything and followed Jesus.

They left there nets, their boats, their equipment, their livelihood, and followed Jesus.

What would compel somebody to do something like this?

They knew that if they are going to know Jesus they would need to follow Jesus. That means they would need to walk with Jesus, to live with Jesus, to listen to Jesus and learn from Jesus.

Yeah, they knew that following Jesus will cost them everything. But they knew that their gain was so much better then what they can ever give up.

It doesn’t mean that it’ll be easy but HE promises that it will be worth it.

Peter had to learn some difficult lessons about giving up everything… it was so much more then just his fishing equipment and his fishing buddies…

He had to give up his identity and eventually he had to learn to give up his pride.

Sinking in the lake… getting rebuked by Jesus… denying Jesus 3 times.

But every single time Peter’s pride got himself in trouble, Jesus redeemed Peter. God used Peter in powerful ways in the early church because he was put his confidence in Jesus because he gave up his pride.

Peter made an eternal impact on so many people because he said YES to Jesus.

It takes one YES to Jesus and everything begins to change.

So our question for today is “What would Jesus do?

Before we can do for Jesus we must listen to Jesus. Listen to HIS voice, HIS word, abide in the love of Jesus, and be filled with the presence of Jesus.

When we hear God’s voice, we can obey God’s Word and do for Jesus.

Surrendering all and following Jesus is 100% worth it but it’s not easy.

That’s why we must follow Jesus in community.

We all need encouragement, we need to be challenged because we are all are running this race together.

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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.

We can look at those who faithfully served Jesus before us and be encouraged but this is our turn and we must be the ones who say YES to Jesus.

We must be the ones who leave everything and follow Jesus.

Jesus gave up everything for us so that we can say YES to Jesus.

We can say yes to so many other things… but are we saying yes to Jesus?

Take Away:

Is Jesus in your boat?

Are you responding with a YES to God’s Word?

What are you holding on to that is hindering you from following Jesus completely?