LIVING PROOF Series (Message #11) The Pathway to Life Goes Thru Death (P1)
Four Stages to Complete Surrender
Follower
The word follower has a different meaning than it had twenty years ago. Before the days of social media, famous and prominent people drew large crowds of followers; people actually followed them around in person. Use the word today, and one immediately thinks of following someone virtually on social media. In both uses, the word means essentially the same thing: one who is curious about or interested in the people they choose to follow.
Looking back two thousand years into the time of Jesus, we find one of the first uses of the word follower. It has the same meaning I just defined above. As Jesus’ ministry became public and miracles a prominent part, the number of people who followed Jesus multiplied greatly. We can boil down the main reason to one word: curiosity.
Their curiosity was two-fold. First it was sparked by Jesus’ words. We read that He spoke as one having authority. (Matthew 7: 28-29) Second, their curiosity was greatly aroused by what He did – amazing miracles most thought only God could perform. (John 3: 2)
The Gospels record many examples of curious followers of Jesus – crowds and individuals.
Crowds
“Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.” Mathew 4: 25
“When Jesus finished these words, He departed from Galilee and came into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan; and large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there.” Matthew 19: 1-2
Individuals
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” John 3:1-2
“Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God! The two disciples heard him speak and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?”John 1: 35-37
“But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.” Matthew 19:22
Most curious followers don’t get too close. They remain at a distance to avoid being recognized or called out; no expectations placed upon them; no commitments from them. However there are those who choose to follow more closely and engage with the one they consider a leader. They want to learn more about that person’s life and teachings. We call them disciples.
Disciple
The word disciple is found in both Testaments. In the Hebrew and the Greek, it means that same thing: pupil, learner. Most of Jesus’ followers were only curious to see what miracle He would perform next. He also had those who wanted to engage with Him and go deeper. These were disciples. Yet as we will soon find, even within this group, some reached a point when His teachings became too hard to understand and accept, so they abandoned Him.
The Uncommitted Many (Read the passage in John 6)
“As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.”
John 6:66
The Twelve
Most people think of the twelve men chosen by Jesus when we hear the word disciples. Please note He did not force them to follow Him; He called them and they answered. We read in Matthew 19 the familiar story called “The Rich Young Ruler”. Recall that at the end of the story, the rich man turned and walked away from Jesus after receiving a command he could not obey.
Jesus told His disciples how hard it is for a rich man to enter Heaven, to which Peter replied:
“Behold, we left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much and inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:27-29
From these verses we learn two things: Followers are clearly not born-again Christians; and neither are some disciples. Though they begin well, when the latter come to His hard teachings or commands, they bail – afraid of being associated with Jesus. They want His love, perhaps even the salvation He offers, but they are unwilling to do as He instructed: repent and believe.
But we also find committed disciples as well; born-again, willing to stand with Jesus, and obey His commands even to the point of death. We will dive deeper into that next week. That is all we have time for today. I have covered enough to ask one very important question.
Does either stage (follower or disciple) describe your life with Jesus today?
For those who are born-again and committed to growing up in Christ, as the Apostle Paul put it, keep going and growing. Next week’s message is for you.
For those who were once followers, even disciples who sat for a while at His feet in His Word to learn, who walked away from Him, I have this final admonition and invitation for you.
INVITATION
Jesus said He is the only way to salvation and a restored relationship with God the Father. If you continue to reject Jesus because the world says He is not the only way or would not really send anyone to Hell if He is loving, I have bad news for you. Having heard this message, you are now without excuse. If you die in your sins, you will spend eternity in Hell. The Good News is Jesus loves you so much He died for your sins too and awaits your change of heart and mind. The Bible calls that repentance. It is never too late to repent, confess your sins, and believe/receive Jesus as your Savior today; until it is too late.
For Christ’s sake,
