Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Trending: Is a word we use to describe what is currently popular or widely discussed online, especially on social media websites.

It may be a topic or a person that may be the subject of many posts on a social media website within a short amount of time and a significant amount of views.

You can find what is trending on the major news networks.

You can find what is trending on youtube.

You can find what is trending on facebook or twitter.

A trending post will generate tons of views, tons of followers, and tons of discussion within a short amount of time.

Well, in a world before facebook, twitter, and instagram, we can say that Jesus was the trending topic and person of the day.

Jesus was popular among the common people because he healed diseases and cast out demons.

As we saw last week, the tensions between the religious leaders and Jesus and his followers escalate where they conspire in regards on how to kill him.

And even though Jesus is the talk of the day, many people do not like him.

And a multitude of people follow him simply because he is popular and because they hear that this man can heal them of their physical affliction.

Not only was Jesus trending that day, but Jesus had trending followers.

But what we will see in our text today is that there is a difference between being a trending follower of Jesus and a true follower of Jesus.

A trending follower follows Jesus when he is popular and can provide some immediate relief to some physical need while a true follower follows Christ regardless of whether he is popular or not and regardless of whether he can provide some immediate need.

A trending follower follows Jesus for a short amount of time while a true follower will follow Jesus for a lifetime.

A trending follower will follow Jesus because the crowds do it while a true follower will still follow even when there is not a crowd.

Main Proposition:

My question for you this morning is: Are you a trending follower of Jesus or you a true follower of Jesus?

Are you a fan?

Or you a disciple?

In other words, are you a true disciple of Jesus or you just part of the crowds following Jesus because He can provide some material benefit to you?

How can we distinguish between true and false disciples?

In our text, we will look at three characteristics of a true follower of Jesus, so that we too would be true followers of Jesus.

Let us read our text this morning:

Scripture Reading:

I.

A True Disciple Follows Jesus Sacrificially (vv.

7-12)

That is to say, a true follower is commited to Him.

And commitment to him entails sacrifice.

As Jesus popularity grows, so does the crowds.

And Jesus withdraws to the open place near the lake, which is probably in Capernaum or the Sea of Galilee where massive crowds follow Him.

Jesus was a celebrity preacher.

Jesus was so popular that people where coming from everywhere to see Him.

The regions mentioned recalls the reign of Israel over these lands back its peak and glory days.

When the crowds heard what Jesus was doing, healing all sorts of diseases and afflictions, they came to him because they wanted to be healed.

Jesus was a celebrity in first century Israel.

And Jesus, because He is a compassionate Savior, would heal many who would come in contact with Him.

And notice that the crowds were so large, that it even put Jesus’ life at risk.

And Jesus has to tell his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd.

Boat is not a large fishing vessel, but a small boat that would function as his pulpit.

This is where Jesus probably delivered his sermon on the mount.

I can only imagine Jesus in a crowd like the beginning of Black Friday where people are pushing and shoving trying to get inside the store.

Or in a concert in a Stadium where people are trying to grasp for the star.

Or a massive group of zombies trying to touch a living person.

People were literally falling down and almost crushing Jesus as they were seeking to touch him.

Everyone was trying to touch Jesus because they knew they could be healed by Him.

Now, there is nothing wrong to want healing.

But if you get healing, and forget about Jesus, you don’t really want Jesus, but want only what Jesus can give you.

In other words, you only follow Jesus not for his sake, but for your own sake.

That is why I say true disciples will still follow Jesus even if the healing is not immediate.

True disciples will trust Him and follow Him regardless of the circumstances.

The test of true faith, is whether one would be willing to follow Jesus when it feels as if one is forsaken by Jesus.

In the other gospels, some would fall away from falling Jesus because of his teaching and the threat of danger.

Will you follow Jesus if it entails hardship and difficulty?

If you are only following Jesus to see whether or not he can relieve you of some physical affliction or help you attain some personal achievement goals, your following Jesus for his benefits, and not necessarily for himself.

Wanting Jesus Gifts, Not Jesus Himself.

Trending followers only want to follow Jesus when he can meet an immediate or physical need, while true disciples follow Jesus in order just be with him, taught by him, and used by him.

One preacher said, “It is like marrying someone only for their money.

Or only for sex.”

You are using the person to get what the person can give you, not because you love them.

How do you know whether you are following Jesus sacrificially or just using him to get your real god or idol?

1.

How do you pray?

Prayer reveals our hearts desires.

Are we only praying for physical things.

Are we only praying for physical healing?

Are we only praying for advancement in our school or job?

Are we only praying for our physical health?

Are we only praying for the things of this world?

Are we only praying for temporal things?

Jesus is only useful to us when he advances our own cause.

2. Do you submit to Jesus even when things are not going well?

When Jesus doesn’t provide the healing?

When Jesus didn’t allow you to get into the school you hoped for?

Or you didn’t get the promotion you were looking for?

Or you still haven’t found the right one?

Do you shrink away from following Jesus because he didn’t meet those material needs according to your own timetable?

3. Are you willing to follow Him when He is not popular?

Are you a bandwagon follower?

NBA finals are now up.

A lot of former

NBA Western Conference Finals are up.

Golden State is in it again.

Many years ago, no one was a Golden State Fan when they were losing.

Everyone was a Laker Fan when they were winning the championship.

I wonder how many Golden State Fans were former Laker fans?

And they jumped on the bandwagon when Golden State was winning.

Well, that is how many people are like with Jesus.

Sometimes following Jesus will entail threat and persecution.

Especially in our day and age, it is not popular to follow Jesus especially on his views on marriage, the exclusivity of salvation only in Him, heaven and Hell, denying oneself and taking one’s cross to follow him in a culture where self is ultimate.

Do you trade teams when He goes against popular opinion?

4. Do you love Him?

The Demons Submit to Christ, but don’t Love Him

Mark 3:

The demons knew the true identity of Jesus Christ.

Their cry was one of despair and dread because they knew what was coming when Jesus came.

They knew who Jesus was “You are the Son of God!”.

You can confess Christ rightly and still go to Hell.

Jesus strictly ordered them/rebuked them to not make him known because he did not want them to bear testimony about him and give the Pharisees more ammunition to discredit him.

Furthermore, he did not want to have any misunderstandings of what He came to do to be clouded by the crowds.