Drop the Nets

Say a silent prayer ….. "Let me preach like it's my last sermon, and like every person in front of me is running out of time."

INTRO:

Set the scene …..

Illustration:

Matthew 4:18–20 “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. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”

This recorded passage of scripture is when Jesus was about 30 years old.

Scholars believe …..

Simon Peter is between 26-30 years of Age.

And Andrew is in his late teens to early 20’s.

As the scripture reveals, Jesus approaches Simon Peter and Andrew while they are fishing and calls them to “Follow (Him) me”!

The significance about all of this, we will discuss in a few minutes.

What I want us to pay close attention to and I will break it down for us, is the statement, “Follow Me!”

It has so much significance for us today.

You may not know this but there is …

Rejection, loneliness, lack of self worth

along with joy, purpose, and validation

… in this passage.

Stay with me now …..

The Job You Didn't Apply For

Most of us know what rejection feels like.

You sent in the application.

You prepared for the interview.

You gave it everything you had.

And then the phone …. didn't ring.

Or worse — it rang — and it was a no.

So you settled.

You took what was available.

You told yourself — maybe this is just how it is for people like me.

But then imagine this —

One day, out of nowhere, someone walks through your door.

Not just anyone.

The person you most wanted to work for.

The one whose name you respected.

Whose reputation was unquestioned.

And they look at you and said — "I've been watching you. I know nobody chose you.I'm choosing you.”

“Come work with me."

You wouldn't ask for the weekend to think about it.

You wouldn't say — let me finish what I'm doing first.

You would go.

That is exactly what happened in this story we just read.

Jesus walked up to 2 men who had already been rejected, (passed over).

Men who had settled for the family fishing business because nobody believed they were worth choosing for something bigger.

And He said — follow me.

That is why Matthew 4:20 says they left immediately.

When the right person came along and finally chooses them — they didn’t hesitate.

They dropped everything. (You would have done the same thing)

And they followed. (You would have followed)

Transitional Statement:

Keep that image in your mind — the nets, the fishermen, the invitation nobody saw coming — because Jesus is about to say something in another story we find in scripture that makes that moment personal for every one of us.

(Stand for the reading)

Luke 9:23–27 (ESV)

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. 

24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 

25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 

26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 

27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

There is a phrase that stands out to me that made me dive a little deeper into what Jesus was saying to His disciples. 

In verse Luke 9:23 The phrase “If anyone would come after me …” stood out to me. 

When you look at this phrase the ESV says, “come after me.”

(NIV) states it as “Whoever wants to be my disciple”

I am sure (the good scholars that you are) you have heard this phrase before.

I have heard it stated as “follow me” Just like we read in Matthew a few minutes ago.

This caused me to look at these two statements:

Looking at these two statements: “come after me” and “follow me” …..

They are closely intertwined with each other.

They basically mean the same thing ….

This is a Rabbi calling His pupils.

Let me show you what I found ….  

Jewish males of that day …..

LEAVE THIS ON THE SCRENE (but skip down)

THE TIMELINE AT A GLANCE

Age 30 — A fully trained rabbi begins his public teaching ministry.

(When did Jesus start His ministry?????? Age of 30)

"Come After Me" — "Follow Me"

To a Jewish crowd, those words needed no explanation.

Every rabbi had his talmidim — his disciples.

These were students who didn't just learn from their teacher.

They literally followed him.

They went where he went, watched what he did, and devoted their lives to becoming like him.

Jesus wasn't introducing a new idea.

He was making a very old invitation — to a very different kind of Rabbi.

But here's where Jesus breaks the mold.

In both Greek and Jewish culture, the normal pattern was simple — if you wanted to learn from a great teacher, you went looking for him.

You tracked him down, made your case, and hoped he'd accept you.

You came to him.

Not the other way around.

The rabbi didn't go find you — you went and found the rabbi, begged to be accepted, and usually got told no.

Jesus flipped the whole thing.

He didn't wait for applicants.

He went looking for them.

There is also an educational dynamic here that you need to understand — because it changes everything about what these men heard when Jesus said those words.

The Jewish education system was brutally selective.

Children began school around age five or six — learning to read, studying Torah, memorizing Scripture.

But by around age ten — most were done.

Sent home.

Told to learn the family trade.

The sharpest students — and only the sharpest — advanced to the next level.

A place of intense study called Beit Talmud.

More Scripture.

Deeper study.

Harder questions.

But by age fourteen or fifteen — most of those students were done too.

Back home.

Back to whatever their fathers did.

And then there was the final level.

The one almost nobody reached.

Where a student could approach a rabbi — a real rabbi — and ask to become his talmid.

His devoted disciple.

The rabbi would study that student carefully.

Question him.

Test him.

And if he believed that student could actually become like him — think like him, live like him, interpret Scripture like him — he would look that student in the eye and say two words.

Follow me.

This invitation had a name…..

It was called taking on the rabbi's yoke — his entire way of seeing the world, his theology, his reading of Scripture, his way of living.

It wasn't partial commitment.

You didn't follow a rabbi on weekends.

It was everything.

And most men — most Jewish men in Jesus' day — never heard those words spoken to them personally.

Ever.

Now pick up the story in Matthew chapter four.

Peter.

Andrew.

Fishermen.

Which means they already had their answer.

They didn't make the cut.

A rabbi had already looked them over and passed.

They had gone home.

They had picked up the nets.

They had resigned themselves to the fact that the invitation was never coming.

So when Jesus walked up to that boat — He wasn't just calling two fishermen to a new job.

He was reversing a verdict.

Someone had already told them — you're not good enough.

You don't qualify.

Go back to the boat.

And Jesus showed up on the shore and said — I think otherwise.

When He said "come after me" — every Jewish ear in earshot heard five things simultaneously:

I have chosen you — not the other way around.

Every other rabbi waited to be found.

Jesus came looking.

I believe you can become like me — that is the heart of the whole invitation.

A rabbi only said follow me to someone he was convinced could actually do what he was doing.

Jesus said it to the already-disqualified.

Take on my yoke — leave your old way of seeing everything and adopt mine.

And unlike every other rabbi whose yoke was a burden of religious performance — Jesus said: my yoke is easy. My burden is light.

Walk behind me — literally — the physical posture mattered.

Close enough to be covered in his dust.

Not beside me.

Not ahead of me.

Behind me.

You watch.

You learn.

You imitate.

The goal was to become so much like your rabbi that people couldn't tell the difference.

I am inviting you into something most people never get — it landed like a pardon.

Like a second chance nobody saw coming.

So "come after me" and "follow me" — they are not just directions.

They are a declaration.

I see you.

I chose you.

I believe you can do this.

I believe you can become like me.

That is what those fishermen heard on that lakeshore.

That is why Matthew 4:20 says they left immediately.

It wasn't impulsiveness.

It was someone handing them back everything they thought they'd lost.

Conclusion:

For centuries, that invitation belonged to the elite.

The sharpest.

The most promising.

The ones the system already approved.

If you didn't make the cut — the door was closed.

You weren't getting that invitation.

Ever.

Until Jesus.

He comes to these men and asked them to “Follow HIM.”

Now here's where it gets even richer.

There is something stated by Jesus that changes everything for us ALL when it comes to the phrases “come after me” and “follow me.”

Jesus speaking in Luke 9:23 opens with a conjunction — "If anyone"

That little phrase changes everything.

When we read “Follow me” in Matthew 4:19 “And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

He is speaking directly to His disciples. (The 12)

"The rabbinical system said: few qualify.

Jesus said: anyone who is willing.

The rabbinical system said: you come find the rabbi.

Jesus said: I'll come find you.

The rabbinical system said: earn your place.

Jesus said: I'm giving it to you.

The rabbinical system said: prove yourself

Jesus said: just come

And here is the thing that changes everything —Jesus didn't say 'follow me' to a select few and then close the door.

He turned to the whole crowd.

He looked past the disciples.

And He said two words that blew the entire rabbinical system wide open —'If anyone.'

Not if to the qualified.

Not if to the deserving.

Not if to the ones who made the cut.

(Anyone) Tis is completely gender neutral.

It carries no male or female designation whatsoever.

(Men and Women)

It for us ALL TODAY!!!!!!

That word (Invitation) is still standing today.

And it is still looking for a response."

Pause

Some of you know what it feels like to be passed over.

To not make the cut.

To go back to the boat.

To resolve yourself to something less.

(For the teens in the room)

Maybe it was not making the team.

Getting passed over for the group of friends you wanted to be part of.

Sitting in the cafeteria wondering if anybody actually sees you.

Jesus saw you then. He sees you now.

(For the young adults)

Maybe it was the college that said no.

The job that went to someone else.

The relationship that didn't work out the way you planned.

You did everything right — and it still wasn't enough.

Jesus saw you then. He sees you now.

(For the baby boomers)

Maybe it was the promotion that never came.

The marriage that fell apart.

The dream you quietly set down somewhere along the way because life just got too heavy to carry it anymore.

You gave everything you had — and still felt like you came up short.

Jesus saw you then. He sees you now.

(For the seniors)

Maybe you've spent a lifetime wondering if it all meant something.

If anyone noticed.

If the years added up to anything that mattered.

Maybe you've been sitting with that question longer than anyone in this room knows.

Jesus saw you then. He sees you now.

Here is what I need every single one of you to hear today —

This invitation was never about your credentials.

It was never about your qualifications.

It was never about what you have done— or what you have failed to do.

The rabbinical system had requirements. (Plural)

Jesus has one.

Willingness.

That is it.

That is the whole list.

He is not standing at the door checking credentials.

He is not waiting for you to clean yourself up first.

He is not holding a clipboard with your name on it— waiting to see if you make the cut.

He already made His decision about you.

He came looking.

He found you.

And He is saying the same thing today He said on that lakeshore —

"Come. After. Me."

Not … some of you.

Not … the ones who have it together.

Not … the ones who grew up in church.

Not … the ones who never messed up.

All of you.

Every single one.

The teenagers who feels invisible — All.

The young adults who feels behind — All.

The boomers who thinks the best years are gone — All.

The seniors who wonders if it's too late — All.

All.

Anyone.

You.

PAUSE

The Rabbi is in the room.

The invitation has no expiration date.

The nets are still in your hands.

The only question left —is whether you will drop them.

Knowing about Jesus is different than knowing Jesus!

“Come Follow Jesus” is an invitation — not an application you have to qualify for.

"Come follow Jesus” is an invitation — not a reward for the ones who already have it together.

Billy Huddleston said, “When the word is preached it deserves a response ….”

You don't have to have it figured out.

You don't have to be good enough.

You just have to be willing.

If that's you today — the altar is open.

The Rabbi is waiting.

Come.

While those are coming we also want to lay hands on some of the congregation who has said yes to Following Jesus.

They are leaving this week for a mission trip to Jamaica.

I would like for our prayer warriors to come gather around these individuals and lets pray.

Prayer -

Father —

We just heard the voice of the Rabbi. Not in a classroom. Not from a distance. But here. In this room. Today. And we heard Him say the same words He said on that lakeshore — Come after me.

For anyone who walked in today carrying the weight of being passed over — Would you meet them right where they are. Remind them that You didn't come looking for the qualified. You came looking for the willing.

For those who responded to Your invitation this morning — We celebrate them. Surround them with grace. Remind them on the hard days that it was You who came looking — and it was You who chose them.

And Lord, we lift up the team leaving for Jamaica. Go before them. Prepare the hearts of the people they will meet. Protect them in travel. And may the people of Jamaica see Jesus in them — not a church, not a program — Jesus. Bring them home safely. And bring them home changed.

We want to be covered in Your dust, Lord. We want to walk so close behind You that people can't tell where You end and we begin.

So here we are, Rabbi. We are dropping the nets.

In the name of Jesus — Amen.