Follow Me
Answering The Great Commandment And Commission

The Calling: Follow me (Discipleship)

Sunday September 24, 2023 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui

Mark 3

And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter;James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, "Sons of Thunder"; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him... Mark 3:13-19

The Message: Jesus calls us towards a new path in life, from scarcity to abundance - shifting from the world's conventional reasoning to the unconventional wisdom of the kingdom. How do we respond to the calling of Jesus?

THE CALL

1. Jesus calls us from conventional reasoning to unconventional wisdom

And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men. They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Mark 1:16-18

Consider your path: Are you a wanderer or a dedicated follower of Jesus?
To follow Jesus, we must crucify our human logic.

1. Wholeheartedly following Jesus necessitates surrendering our reliance on human logic and placing our trust in His divine guidance.
2. When the disciples hauled in abundance (fish) beyond their needs, at that moment, the disciples transcended the boundaries of worldly logic. They stepped into the extraordinary illogic of the kingdom of God.

But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him Mark 3:7

1. This prompts a vital question: Are we part of the multitude as followers, or do we meander aimlessly?
2. Consider their motives: Could they have been pursuing Jesus for personal gain? Perhaps they sought free food or immediate healing, marking them as potential wanderers.
3. So, where do you stand? Are you a wanderer, drifting through life without a clear purpose, or do you earnestly follow Jesus's teachings?

Our lives are a whirlwind of activity-going here and there, doing this and that. But amid this chaos, have we spared time to follow Jesus genuinely? Are we so involved and busy that we need more time to follow Jesus?

2. Jesus Calls Us To Our Heavenly Father

For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." Mark 3:35

Jesus is calling to us family life, a confessing life that God is our father.

1. In Mark 3:35, Jesus extends a profound invitation, beckoning us into the embrace of a spiritual family.
2. This journey may be fraught with challenges and isolation, but it is an essential step toward spiritual fulfillment.

When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. Mark 1:19-20

Jesus set boundaries.

1. In Mark 1:19-20, The brothers left their earthly father, Zebedee, behind in pursuit of their higher calling.
2. He made it clear that he would not pushed to do the things that are not of His Father. "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You." Mark3:32a
3. Jesus seems ruthless in eliminating the hurried agenda of families, including his mother, Mary. "Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me?"John 2:4
4. Give your agenda to God and pray, "Your will be done."

Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Matthew 23:9

1. Heed Jesus' call to His Father, embrace your divine family, and allow His love to guide you toward fulfilling His will.

3. Jesus calls us to a new reality.

Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they kept silent. Mark 3:4

1. The kingdom of God is a new reality.
2. Jesus is introducing a kingdom that transcends traditions, regulations, and rituals.
3. The Sabbath is designed for humanity's benefit, not vice versa.
4. Similarly, systems and structures exist for the betterment of humankind.
5. The presence of the Kingdom of God is indeed a new reality.

Contrary to selfishness, the kingdom of God embodies selflessness. Peter came to realize this during a fishing expedition.

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So 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. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" Luke 5:4-8

"Launch out into the deep," Jesus had instructed, and in doing so, they not only caught fish but an overwhelming abundance. Peter's embarrassment stemmed from his prior self-centered endeavors.

Jesus' miracles are signs of a new reality

1. Jesus gave more than what the disciples could deal with.
2. Though they may not have comprehended the concept of resurrection fully, witnessing the inexplicable haul of fish, nearly bursting their nets illuminated the truth of this new reality.

4. Jesus Calls Us From Fear to Faith

But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred." Mark 4:8

1. Jesus calls us to transition from a mindset of fear to faith.
2. Fear makes us hold on to our position and possessions.
3. Matthew left his position and possessions. He got up and followed Jesus

Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them. As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him. Mark 2:13-14.

1. Trapped in a scarcity mindset? Release our grip on the material things that define us to embrace a more abundant life in Christ.
2. The mentality of scarcity: We are fearful people. We are afraid.
3. It's a mindset that tells us there's not enough to go around, that resources are limited, and that we must safeguard what we have.
4. In this fearful state, we tend to hoard.
5. We make enemies because someone will come and say, you have more than me; give me some of what you hoarded.

Jesus is always full. He gives us more than our expectations.

5. Jesus Calls Us To Experience Divine Hospitality

"Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." Mark 5:19

1. Whatever you need, you will find it home, God's home.
2. In our pursuit of fulfillment and purpose, we often resemble the prodigal son who believed that all his aspirations and longings resided in a distant country.
3. This man had become a prisoner of chains, untamed and estranged from his true home. He dwelled in the mountains and among the tombs, harboring an unclean spirit known as Legion.
4. We are reminded that even in the most desolate and distant places of our lives, Jesus calls us to experience the divine hospitality of His love and grace.

The paradox of divine hospitality is that it wants to create emptiness, not a fearful emptiness, but a godly emptiness. A godly thirst and hunger, a friendly emptiness where strangers can enter and discover themselves.

Divine Hospitality is creating a godly emptiness. Jesus told him, "Go home to your friends." You are far from home; go home. That is divine hospitality.

And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him, and all marveled. Mark 5:20

How Do We Respond

1. Letting Go: Trust God and let go.

1. The secret lies in our ability to take small steps. This concept is akin to a mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is smaller than all the other seeds on earth, as mentioned in Mark 3:31.
2. Following the path of Jesus involves the act of letting go - letting go of pain, fear, and worries.
3. Choose love: While we are well-acquainted with pain, we sometimes find ourselves less acquainted with love.
4. To put the kingdom first and allow other things to fall into place signifies choosing love.
5. Love, in its essence, is about letting go. If you trust God and let go, you will discover that life multiplies and becomes more abundant.

2. Look At Jesus: Look away from scarcity and focus on God's abundance

1. "Follow me" is an invitation to fix your gaze upon Jesus.
   1. Look: Have you not witnessed the miraculous catch of fish?
   2. Look: Is your net not overflowing with abundance?
2. Matthew's leaving behind a potentially lucrative but morally questionable profession represents a shift from a scarcity mentality to one of abundance.
3. By following Jesus, we tap into the abundance of His grace, love, and purpose, which far surpasses any worldly gain.

3. Listen To Jesus: Transition from "My Present" to "His Presence."

1. Embrace the path of leaving behind what you consider "My present" and journeying toward the presence of Jesus.
2. Recall the woman who had suffered from a debilitating blood issue for twelve long years; she made the remarkable shift from seeking her solution to surrendering to the Solution that only Jesus could provide.
3. She transitioned from the realm of human logic into the divine illogic of God's kingdom.

And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?" Mark 5:30

"Who touched My clothes?" It illustrates the profound shift away from self-reliance.

1. It is moving from fear to love.
2. It is moving toward love.

Summary

Stepping away from the possessions and desires that we cling to as "Mine" is an essential aspect of following Jesus.

This journey transforms from fear to love, moving towards the boundless love He offers.

Undoubtedly, it's not always an easy or straightforward path, but taking that first step toward Jesus can be transformative.

Choose to prioritize love and initiate small changes in your life, gradually drawing closer to the profound grace and love Jesus embodies.