Following toward Eternity

Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, “Follow Me.”

Mingled - contact

Desired their good - camaraderie

Showed sympathy - compassion

Ministered to their needs - commitment

Won confidence - character

Bade “Follow Me” - companionship

Character

We have already seen Christ’s character…

Confidence - this is someone we can trust.

This is someone we can learn from.

This is someone we want to hang out with.

Companionship

Then he bade them: Follow me.

In Jesus’ day, this command was literal!

The goal of a disciple was to follow so closely that the dust from the rabbi’s feet was all over your clothes at the end of the day, because you had followed so close behind.

So Jesus says to the fishermen: Follow me. And the Bible tells us that “at once they left their nets and followed the Lord.”

And he met Levi in his tax booth and he said: Follow me. And Levi got up and literally followed Jesus where he was going.

Jesus is still inviting people: Follow me.

But now it’s more figurative than it was in the first century.

We can’t actually walk around following him from place to place, watching him heal, listening to him teach, watching him interact with people, eating with him, asking him questions… or can we?

We do need to watch, listen, ask…

And then we need to imitate. Because isn’t that what discipleship was really all about?

Little kids - walk around in parents shoes. Dressing up like mommy or daddy.

Camp pitch - PKs would all take our turn standing on a stump and “preaching”

Jonathan and I used to baptize each other in grandma and grandpa’s swimming pool.

Follow me - and then imitate me.

MH 143-144

Ministry of Healing Work of the Disciples

There is need of coming close to the people by personal effort. If less time were given to sermonizing, and more time were spent in personal ministry, greater results would be seen. The poor are to be relieved, the sick cared for, the sorrowing and the bereaved comforted, the ignorant instructed, the inexperienced counseled. We are to weep with those that weep, and rejoice with those that rejoice

The Gospels’ Last “Follow Me”

John 21:15–17 ESV

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Peter had denied Jesus three times.

Now Jesus gives Peter three calls - Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep.

Yes, Peter messed up. But Jesus wants the reality of the call to ring like a bell in Peter’s ears. Jesus still has a mission for you, even if you’ve messed up.

And Jesus goes all the way back to the call:

John 21:18–19 ESV

Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Follow me.

Even though you will suffer, be imprisoned and eventually martyred. Follow me.

John 21:20–22 ESV

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

But Peter starts looking around.

What about John? Is John going to suffer?

What about John and the end times? Is that really fair?

Does John have to follow you in the same way I follow you?

And Jesus lets out the most snarky little phrase - ti pros se?

What’s it to you?

Too many times we think following Jesus is about:

making sure it’s fair

making sure someone else is living up to our standard

figuring out exactly how it’s going to be at the end of time

Jesus says: what is that to you? You follow me.

No excuses.

Whataboutism

But Jesus, what about those theologians who are wrong about the investigative judgment?

What is that to you? You follow me.

But Jesus, what about those Christians who are mean to women and gays?

What is that to you? You follow me.

But Jesus, what about the way the hierarchy of the church abuses power?

What is that to you? You follow me.

But Jesus, what about the other church members that don’t keep Sabbath the way I do?

But Jesus, what about the church members who are legalists?

But Jesus, what about those who aren’t faithful tithers?

What is that to you? You follow me.

Does Jesus mean Peter shouldn’t care about John? No.

But Peter shouldn’t let someone else’s circumstances get in the way of him following Jesus as close as he can.

No excuses.

Following Jesus

Watching. Listening. Asking. Imitating.

Ministry of Healing Work of the Disciples

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