LIFE WITH JESUS

LAST WEEK

We looked at the Great Faith of the Centurion

We saw a man who was not trained in the scriptures

A man who wasn’t brought up surrounded by the scriptures

A man who wasn’t brought up surrounded by the scriptures

Yet a man who had great Faith in who Jesus was

THIS WEEK

We are going to look at a few events that changed the trajectory of many lives

What I want us to be thinking about is this

What if we were the people that Jesus was impacting?

How would we react to a Miraculous Healing?

What if we had a desire to follow Jesus

But there was some stuff in the way

What if we were in a storm on a boat were Faith was lacking?

What if you knew two men who were demon possessed and saw them transformed before your very eyes?

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE TEXT

MATTHEW 8:14-

Matthew 8:14–34 NKJV

14 Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. 15 So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. 16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.” 18 And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. 19 Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” 20 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.” 21 Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” 23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” 28 When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. 29 And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. 31 So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.” 32 And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water. 33 Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.

PRAY

MATTHEW

Matthew 8:14–15 NKJV

14 Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. 15 So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.

Matthew 8:14–17 NKJV

14 Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. 15 So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. 16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”

MAN, I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT THIS HITS HOME

SEE I HAVE TWO MOTHER IN LAWS

My wife’s biological mom and her step mom

Both of which need a radical healing from God

Oh to be Peter, to be that guy that messed up so many times

Yet, who found favor in the eyes of God

Whose prayers were answered

Whose mother in law was able to serve again

SEE MY MOTHER IN LAWS HAVE BOTH SERVED IN THE CHURCH

One who has survived numerous battles with cancer

And another who is schizophrenic and hasn’t been to church since her diagnosis.

THIS PASSAGE GIVES ME HOPE

Hope in the God who can restore a person in order to see them serve again

Hope in a God who knows what they have need of before we even ask

Hope that even though the locusts have taken much, He can make all things new

WE KNOW THAT JESUS IS WITH US

BUT MAN, I WISH IT WOULD BE A PART OF HIS WILL TO HEAL BOTH OF THEM

That the cancer would depart

That the mental health issues would be irradicated

THOUGH I WANT THIS TO HAPPEN

WHAT WE GET TO TEACH OUR DAUGHTERS IN THIS SEASON IS THIS

THAT EVEN IF GOD DOESN’T HEAL THEM, HE IS STILL WITH US, HE IS STILL WORTHY TO BE PRAISED

The reality is that within us is the temptation to compare ourselves to others

“God you healed them...”

“God you blessed them...”

“God you casted out their demons...”

This is not only depressing, it is destructive to our relationship with the Lord

We rob God of the Glory he deserves when our mouths are full of envy instead of praise

THIS TEXT SHOULDN’T CAUSE US TO BE ENVIOUS

BUT TO MAKE US HOPEFUL IN THE FACT THAT GOD IS ABLE

THAT IF HE DID IT THEN, HE COULD DO IT NOW

AT WORST, HE IS WITH US, HOW DOES THAT COMFORT US WHEN WE

AFTER SEEING THE MULTITUDE THAT HAD GATHERED, CHECK OUT WHAT HE DID:

Matthew 8:18–22 NKJV

18 And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. 19 Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” 20 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.” 21 Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

JESUS KNOWS THAT CROWDS AREN’T ALWAYS A POSITIVE THING

HE ISN’T LOOKING FOR CRITICAL MASS

BECAUSE OF HIS INSIGHT

HE IS MORE INTERESTED IN MAKING DISCIPLES THAT WILL IMPACT THE MASSES.

It is at this point that Jesus begins to paint the picture of what it truly means to follow Him.

They want to see more

They want to experience more

They want to be enetertained

They want to be fed spiritually and physically

It is at this point that Jesus begins to paint the picture of what it truly means to follow Jesus

Yes, you will be blessed

Yes, you will see the miraculous

Yes, you will go to Heaven

But what happens when as you follow Christ

Jesus confronts your comfort?

What happens when Jesus calls you out on what you thought it meant to follow Jesus?

What happens when Jesus exposes what it is really like to follow Jesus?

As they made their way to the other side

Those following him had no clue what was about to happen

At this point it hadn’t been that challenging

Some of the guys had left their failing businesses

But nothing super crazy

Nothing life threatening or Theologically Challenging

As they prepared to launch out,

As they prepared to launch out, a scribe comes up to JesusWe must remember, a scribe was very well versed in OT TextThey also were very educatedIn fact, their schooling was very much a part of their identityScribes would sit under a Rabbi and learn from him, be discipled by him, and forever be identified by the reputation of the particular RabbiIf was as if you went to an Ivy LeagueYou would be known for being a Princeton GraduateYou would get the Alumni License Plate BracketYou would were your Alma Maters sweaterYou would seek to represent it wellSo to a scribe it was very important who he chose to be underThis decision would effect him for his entire lifeKnowing all of this, we read that this scribe comes up to JesusMakes a brave claim saying“Teacher”Rabbi“I will follow you wherever you go”How many of us think this is the correct response?How many of us have said this at one point or another in our lives?Though this saying is commendableThough it is something we think is the right responseThis statement is easier said than doneHow does Jesus respond? Without even flinching, Jesus exposes what this scribe might not be ready to doMaybe, this scribe was following from afarMaybe, he had seen the miracles, the feedings, the entertainment, and he desired to be a part of Team JesusJesus goes on to sayFoxes have holes, they have a residency, a place they call homeBirds have nests, a place to rest and nurture their babiesBut the Son of Man, Jesus Has nowhere to lay his head What if this guy was thinking:Man, If I follow Jesus, I wont be homeless anymoreIf I follow Jesus, I will soon be a homeownerIf I follow Jesus, I will have a place to call homeIf I follow Jesus, I will have a place where I can restJust as he is thinking all of thisJesus probably looks at those he had been disciplingOr maybe he looks at him square in the eye and says something that may have challenged every perceived notion of what he thought it meant to follow JesusChurch, I want us to realize what Jesus is saying hereIt’s not just a hard jab to the face of the scribeIt was about setting the pace for the future of the churchIt was about being Kingdom MindedIn essence, Jesus is sayingFollowing me changes your view of residencyFollowing me changes your view of citizenshipFollowing me changes your view of the word “Home”Following me causes you to rethink what this world valuesAnother discipleA person Jesus was pouring intoA person who had been following Jesus a little closerComes up to him and saysLord, let me first go and bury my fatherLord, let me go take care of my father in his old ageLord, dismiss me from following you for the time beingLord, let me honor my father before I begin to follow you. This process could have taken years if not decadesIn hindsightLet’s say this dude really wanted to follow JesusHe was passionate about it. He was excited about it. He was all in. When he asked Jesus his question, Jesus said, “Go for it”So this dude, goes on to care for his father3 years go byHis father diesHe buries his father On his way back to follow JesusHe learns that Jesus himself had been crucified? Friends, the urgency involved in making a decision to follow Jesus is so real that Jesus responds the way he does. Follow MeLet the dead bury their own deadThe disciple didn’t know how long Jesus would be here on earthThe disciple didn’t know that Jesus would be crucified soonThe disciple thought there were only two choicesCare for his father or Follow JesusWhat if Jesus wanted to prepare you for caring for your parents through an active decision of following him. But you chose go care for your family first.What if Jesus wanted to equip you for the better of your familyBut you have let your family stop you from following HimWhat if Jesus wanted you to experience such a salvation, such a grace, such a love, for you to display to your familyBut you decided that family is more important

A scribe comes up to Jesus

We must remember, a scribe was very well versed in OT Text

sWe must remember, a scribe was very well versed in OT TextThey also were very educatedIn fact, their schooling was very much a part of their identityScribes would sit under a Rabbi and learn from him, be discipled by him, and forever be identified by the reputation of the particular RabbiIf was as if you went to an Ivy LeagueYou would be known for being a Princeton GraduateYou would get the Alumni License Plate BracketYou would were your Alma Maters sweaterYou would seek to represent it wellSo to a scribe it was very important who he chose to be underThis decision would effect him for his entire lifeKnowing all of this, we read that this scribe comes up to JesusMakes a brave claim saying“Teacher”Rabbi“I will follow you wherever you go”How many of us think this is the correct response?How many of us have said this at one point or another in our lives?Though this saying is commendableThough it is something we think is the right responseThis statement is easier said than doneHow does Jesus respond? Without even flinching, Jesus exposes what this scribe might not be ready to doMaybe, this scribe was following from afarMaybe, he had seen the miracles, the feedings, the entertainment, and he desired to be a part of Team JesusJesus goes on to sayFoxes have holes, they have a residency, a place they call homeBirds have nests, a place to rest and nurture their babiesBut the Son of Man, Jesus Has nowhere to lay his head What if this guy was thinking:Man, If I follow Jesus, I wont be homeless anymoreIf I follow Jesus, I will soon be a homeownerIf I follow Jesus, I will have a place to call homeIf I follow Jesus, I will have a place where I can restJust as he is thinking all of thisJesus probably looks at those he had been disciplingOr maybe he looks at him square in the eye and says something that may have challenged every perceived notion of what he thought it meant to follow JesusChurch, I want us to realize what Jesus is saying hereIt’s not just a hard jab to the face of the scribeIt was about setting the pace for the future of the churchIt was about being Kingdom MindedIn essence, Jesus is sayingFollowing me changes your view of residencyFollowing me changes your view of citizenshipFollowing me changes your view of the word “Home”Following me causes you to rethink what this world valuesAnother discipleA person Jesus was pouring intoA person who had been following Jesus a little closerComes up to him and saysLord, let me first go and bury my fatherLord, let me go take care of my father in his old ageLord, dismiss me from following you for the time beingLord, let me honor my father before I begin to follow you. This process could have taken years if not decadesIn hindsightLet’s say this dude really wanted to follow JesusHe was passionate about it. He was excited about it. He was all in. When he asked Jesus his question, Jesus said, “Go for it”So this dude, goes on to care for his father3 years go byHis father diesHe buries his father On his way back to follow JesusHe learns that Jesus himself had been crucified? Friends, the urgency involved in making a decision to follow Jesus is so real that Jesus responds the way he does. Follow MeLet the dead bury their own deadThe disciple didn’t know how long Jesus would be here on earthThe disciple didn’t know that Jesus would be crucified soonThe disciple thought there were only two choicesCare for his father or Follow JesusWhat if Jesus wanted to prepare you for caring for your parents through an active decision of following him. But you chose go care for your family first.What if Jesus wanted to equip you for the better of your familyBut you have let your family stop you from following HimWhat if Jesus wanted you to experience such a salvation, such a grace, such a love, for you to display to your familyBut you decided that family is more important

They also were very educated

In fact, their schooling was very much a part of their identity

Scribes would sit under a Rabbi and learn from him, be discipled by him, and forever be identified by the reputation of the particular Rabbi

This decision would effect him for his entire life

Knowing all of this, we read that this scribe comes up to Jesus

Makes a brave claim saying

“Teacher” aka Rabbi

“I will follow you wherever you go”

How many of us think this is the correct response?

How many of us have said this at one point or another in our lives?

Though this saying is commendable

Though it is something we think is the right response

This statement is easier said than done

How does Jesus respond?

Without even flinching,

Jesus exposes what this scribe might not be ready to do

Maybe, this scribe was following from afar

Maybe, he had seen the miracles, the feedings, the entertainment, and he desired to be a part of Team JesusJesus goes on to sayFoxes have holes, they have a residency, a place they call homeBirds have nests, a place to rest and nurture their babiesBut the Son of Man, Jesus Has nowhere to lay his head What if this guy was thinking:Man, If I follow Jesus, I wont be homeless anymoreIf I follow Jesus, I will soon be a homeownerIf I follow Jesus, I will have a place to call homeIf I follow Jesus, I will have a place where I can restJust as he is thinking all of thisJesus probably looks at those he had been disciplingOr maybe he looks at him square in the eye and says something that may have challenged every perceived notion of what he thought it meant to follow JesusChurch, I want us to realize what Jesus is saying hereIt’s not just a hard jab to the face of the scribeIt was about setting the pace for the future of the churchIt was about being Kingdom MindedIn essence, Jesus is sayingFollowing me changes your view of residencyFollowing me changes your view of citizenshipFollowing me changes your view of the word “Home”Following me causes you to rethink what this world valuesAnother discipleA person Jesus was pouring intoA person who had been following Jesus a little closerComes up to him and saysLord, let me first go and bury my fatherLord, let me go take care of my father in his old ageLord, dismiss me from following you for the time beingLord, let me honor my father before I begin to follow you. This process could have taken years if not decadesIn hindsightLet’s say this dude really wanted to follow JesusHe was passionate about it. He was excited about it. He was all in. When he asked Jesus his question, Jesus said, “Go for it”So this dude, goes on to care for his father3 years go byHis father diesHe buries his father On his way back to follow JesusHe learns that Jesus himself had been crucified? Friends, the urgency involved in making a decision to follow Jesus is so real that Jesus responds the way he does. Follow MeLet the dead bury their own deadThe disciple didn’t know how long Jesus would be here on earthThe disciple didn’t know that Jesus would be crucified soonThe disciple thought there were only two choicesCare for his father or Follow JesusWhat if Jesus wanted to prepare you for caring for your parents through an active decision of following him. But you chose go care for your family first.What if Jesus wanted to equip you for the better of your familyBut you have let your family stop you from following HimWhat if Jesus wanted you to experience such a salvation, such a grace, such a love, for you to display to your familyBut you decided that family is more important

Maybe, he had seen the miracles, the feedings, the entertainment, and he desired to be a part of Team Jesus

Jesus goes on to say

“Foxes have holes” they have a residency, a place they call home

“Birds have nests” a place to rest and nurture their babies

“But the Son of Man, Jesus Has nowhere to lay his head”

What if this guy was thinking:

Man, If I follow Jesus, I wont be homeless anymoreIf

I follow Jesus, I will soon be a homeowner

If I follow Jesus, I will have a place to call home

If I follow Jesus, I will have a place where I can rest

Just as he is thinking all of this

Jesus probably looks at those he had been discipling

Or maybe he looks at him square in the eye and says something that may have challenged every perceived notion of what he thought it meant to follow Jesus

Church, I want us to realize what Jesus is saying here

It’s not just a hard jab to the face of the scribe

It was about setting the pace for the future of the church

It was about being Kingdom Minded

In essence, Jesus is saying

Following me changes your view of residency

Following me changes your view of citizenship

Following me changes your view of the word “Home”

Following me causes you to rethink what this world values

FOLLOWING JESUS IS A PARADIGM SHIFT NOT ONLY IN PRACTICE BUT IN CITIZENSHIP

Another disciple

A person Jesus was pouring into

A person who had been following Jesus a little closer

Comes up to him and says

“Lord, let me first go and bury my father”

Lord, let me go take care of my father in his old age

Lord, dismiss me from following you for the time being

Lord, let me honor my father before I begin to follow you.

This process could have taken years if not decades

In hindsight

Let’s say this dude really wanted to follow Jesus

He was passionate about it.

He was excited about it. He was all in.

When he asked Jesus his question, Jesus said, “Go for it”

So this dude, goes on to care for his father

3 years go by

His father dies

He buries his father

On his way back to follow Jesus

He learns that Jesus himself had been crucified?

Friends, the urgency involved in making a decision to follow Jesus is so CRUCIAL that Jesus responds the way he does.

“Follow Me, AND Let the dead bury their own dead”

Why would Jesus respond this way?

“Let the dead bury their own dead”

Jesus knew, that there were things internally that would affect this mans desire to follow Christ.

Jesus knows, right now, that there are things in our lives that are hindering us from following Christ

Jesus knows that as a church, we are delaying the adventure of following Jesus.

This was a personal question between this disciple and Jesus

THE QUESTION ISN’T SO MUCH, WHY DID JESUS ASK THIS:

THE QUESTION IS, WHAT HAS JESUS REVEALED TO US TONIGHT?

What is the obstacle in the way of following Him?

Is it Family?

Guess what?

He wants to save your family, and He might do it through your initiative to Follow Him

Is it Sports?

Guess what?

He wants to further His Kingdom within your team

But you can’t put following Him on the backburner

Is it School?

Guess What?

He wants you to be a light in the midst of your classroom

But how are you goin g to be a light, if you are not walking in the light?

Is it Money?

Guess what?

He wants to use your wealth for His Glory?

But if you are not meeting with Him, how will you have vision to be financially fruitful?

How will you learn to cast your bread upon many waters?

WHAT IS GETTING IN THE WAY OF FOLLOWING CHRIST?

The disciple didn’t know how long Jesus would be here on earth

The disciple didn’t know that Jesus would be crucified soon

The disciple thought there were only two choices

Care for his father or Follow Jesus

What if Jesus wanted to prepare him for caring for HIS FATHER through an active decision of following him.

But you chose go care for your family first.

What if Jesus wanted to equip you for the better of your family

But you have let your family stop you from following Him

What if Jesus wanted you to experience such a salvation, such a grace, such a love, for you to display to your family

But you decided that family is more important

JESUS EXPRESSES AN URGENCY TO FOLLOW HIM

TO ALLOW THE SPIRIT

Church, If we believe that Jesus wants to save the lost, and he wants to use us to do it, one of the pictures God may use to draw people to himself, is the visual of how we, as His People, follow Jesus.

If we are ambassadors of God’s love, how are we displaying that?

If we are the Forgiven, how are we forgiving others?

If we have been shown Grace, how are we demonstrating that to the undeserved?

Jesus isn’t just asking us to leave everything behind, He is calling us to prepare ourselves to see those things redeemed.

Matthew 8:16 NKJV

16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,

“HE IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER”

MATTHEW 8:

THEREFORE WE MUST BELIEVE THAT

That my daughters would be able to know that our God is Greater than any sickness