Have you ever wondered about the way the disciples—Peter, Andrew, James, and John just dropped everything and “immediately” followed Jesus…? That’s the way it seems in Matthew and Mark…. Were they a bit unstable in their lives—less than the solid career we seem to seek; easily influenced…? Were they unhappy with their lives—perhaps seeking adventure…? Perhaps, Jesus had some sort of charismatic spell over rather simple people…? If that were true, don’t you think their friends would have stopped them? (My buddy, Randy and his friends when we were young….)

I’ve always found it a bit far fetched that one day Jesus shows up and says, “Follow me,” and they just drop everything and go. Really, there is more to the story….
• John 1:35ff, JB points out Jesus to Andrew and another disciple. They go and spend the day w/JC.
• V.41, Andrew goes and gets Peter, and brings him to JC. Jesus renames him peter.
• Luke 4:14, we read that Jesus has been preaching and healing in Galilee and word has spread….
• V.31, Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law, and stays at her house….
• 5:1-11, Jesus asks, Peter to put out to the deep water for a miraculous catch of fish….

I’m not telling you these things to discount the measure of trust/faith it took for them to follow Jesus. I just want to point out that it happened for them in much the same was as it happens for us.
• They heard of Jesus by the testimony of another—John the Baptist….
• Heard of his power to heal—spiritual and physical—from his mother-in-law. Perhaps he was there….
• They met him face-to-face…. They were even given a sign….

Now, before we are tempted to say, “Well, their response doesn’t seem so extraordinary now,” I want to point out that Jesus is not saying, “Believe in me.” Rather, Jesus is saying, “Follow me.” There is a difference.
• I think they were past the believe in me phase of their relationship. It was time for Follow me.
• So, before we even begin to think it was easy, think what it would mean to leave their business, their vocation, their families, their homes, their friends….
• Think of the chance they took. It was either going to be the adventure of a lifetime, or they were fools….
• Have you ever seen Deal or No Deal on TV…? It was like being at the end with only $1, or $1M….

As I said, the disciple’s relationship with Jesus began a lot more like ours than we might think. How many of us are past the believe in me phase and are into the follow me phase…? I assure you the follow me comes immediately after the believe in me part of our relationship with Jesus….
• I can imagine that we are following Jesus to this very place of worship on Sunday morning….
• We leave this place strengthened, having experienced Jesus Christ afresh….
• Do we still hear him saying, “Follow me,” on Monday—or even after lunch on Sunday?
• Does our language change back to the way it was before we followed Jesus to this worship?
• Does our attitude go back to the way it was before we were inspired by the Lord in this place?
• Do our relationships remain the same as they were before we filled up on the Love of God on Sunday?
• We have followed Jesus here. At the end of the service the acolytes go before us carrying the light….

There is a time in our lives when we are hearing about JC, and we are experiencing his power, and we are meeting him in others—even face-to-face—and JC is saying to us, “Believe in me. Trust me. Have faith.” Yes, he is worthy of our trust, but it will always take faith—it will always be an act of surrender…. And if believing is an act of surrender, following will be even more so.
• In following we will surrender our tongues—our foul mouth and our gossip….
• In following we will surrender our bad attitudes, our anger…, and our selfishness….
• In following, we surrender our relationships to the Lord, and he will heal some relationships, and others we will have to let go (1Peter 4:2-4)….

It takes a great deal of faith to follow. Some have even said that the measure of faith a person has is in the degree to which they follow…. I have a hard enough time measuring my own faith, let alone others….
• The time to follow Jesus is now! The time to get motivated is now!
• Contrary to what we think when we are teenagers, our lives will swiftly pass….
• I’ve heard it said that people on their death beds never say, “I wish I’d spent more time at work.” I must admit, I’ve never heard anyone say this. However, I have heard more than one person say, “I wish I’d spent more time with my Bible,” or “I wish I’d learned to pray….”
• I believe such regret is based on a sure knowledge that they will soon be meeting our maker—and He is still a stranger. God help us all—especially me—if when we meet Jesus he is a stranger; if when we meet God Almighty we do not know him as Father—daddy….
• Knowing Jesus, Knowing Father—these don’t happen instantly. It takes time and effort invested into the relationship. God is investing more than we can imagine into our relationship. How much are we investing?
• There is an urgency to the words, “Follow me.” Perhaps it is good that Matthew and Mark say that immediately they left everything and followed Jesus.

Were the disciples any different than you and me?
• Were they a bit unstable—easily influenced? No more than you and I are easily influenced. Think of how readily we chase after every promise we see on the internet, on TV, and billboards…. We are enslaved by and manipulated by the culture we live in…. Jesus says, “I am the Truth,” and “…the Truth shall set you free.”
• Were they unhappy with life? No more than you and I are unhappy when we awaken in mid-life and wonder if there is true fulfillment ever to be found…. Perhaps unhappy with life is inaccurate—it may be better to say that we are unhappy with life that doesn’t know and follow Jesus.
• Were they bored with life and seeking adventure? Aren’t we all—in some way or another—seeking to relieve the sameness of every day? Don’t we try to escape in movies, or drink, or relationships that are destructive…?

You know what? I have apologized to my old friend Randy for trying so hard to stop him from giving up everything to know God…. Now, I am asking you—won’t you surrender everything to follow Jesus?

If you have any questions concerning this message, please contact our pastor at: Rev. Tony Hoefner