WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.200 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:09.900 Presbyterian Church, and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. A special welcome. If 00:00:09.900 --> 00:00:14.179 you're new or visiting with us, we're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here not 00:00:14.179 --> 00:00:19.059 because we're trying to fill seats, but because we're following Jesus together as one community, 00:00:19.059 --> 00:00:24.100 and as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good, they 00:00:24.100 --> 00:00:29.120 don't need God's grace, and no one so bad they can't have it, which is why we come back week 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:35.760 after week to hear what God has to say to us in His Word. We're continuing our series in the 00:00:35.760 --> 00:00:39.939 Gospel of Mark. We're still in chapter 1. We're going to be starting at verse 16 this morning, 00:00:40.460 --> 00:00:45.420 and you'll remember the Gospel of Mark tells the story of Jesus in His life and His death 00:00:45.420 --> 00:00:49.719 and His resurrection, and as I've been telling you, when we talk about Jesus, we're not talking 00:00:49.719 --> 00:00:55.520 about an idea, an abstraction, a theory. We're not talking about a mythological figure, but 00:00:55.520 --> 00:01:01.540 instead we're talking about a real man who lived in real time and real space, and in fact still lives 00:01:01.540 --> 00:01:05.879 today. So I've been giving you these facts to kind of help us wrap our heads around the fact 00:01:05.879 --> 00:01:12.079 of Jesus' humanity. I told you last week that one of Jesus' brothers, Judas, not the same as Judas 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:17.640 Iscariot, we have an ancient record that tells us about Judas' grandchildren, so these would have been 00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:24.939 Jesus' grandnephews, who held the family farm in Nazareth, which makes us believe most likely Jesus' 00:01:24.939 --> 00:01:30.239 family had a farm, which means Jesus was probably, most likely did some farming. Now if you're 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:35.120 familiar, you know that's not the only thing that Jesus did. Jesus, like many of us, needed to get up 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:41.659 and go to work so that He could support Himself. And if you were around back in the 90s, you might 00:01:41.659 --> 00:01:45.459 remember there was this thing for a while where people would have these bumper stickers that said, 00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:51.819 my boss is a Jewish carpenter. Now it's wrong on multiple levels. First of all, Jesus is seated at the 00:01:51.819 --> 00:01:58.319 right hand of God in heaven, so He's not a carpenter anymore. But secondly, the word in Greek 00:01:58.319 --> 00:02:04.039 is tekton, which could mean carpenter. It could also mean that Jesus worked with stone in some way. 00:02:04.119 --> 00:02:09.659 So maybe Jesus was a carpenter, maybe He worked with stone, maybe He did both. The options are open. 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:16.579 What we do know is probably likely, if Jesus did those things, He had a really strong grip. Now the 00:02:16.580 --> 00:02:21.240 Bible doesn't tell us that, but we can guess, based on that occupation, Jesus' grip strength was really 00:02:21.240 --> 00:02:27.640 good. So if you shook Jesus' hand, it would be an experience. If you want to know what a strong grip 00:02:27.640 --> 00:02:32.480 is like, just find Tom Gearing after the service today, and you can shake his hand, and then you'll 00:02:32.480 --> 00:02:37.600 know, okay? So Jesus, real person, real time, and real space. And we've been asking these two questions. 00:02:37.700 --> 00:02:42.120 We've been asking, who is Jesus, and how do we respond to Him? And we started in Mark chapter 1, 00:02:42.120 --> 00:02:47.400 verses 1 through 8, we saw that Jesus is the physician. So what He says in chapter 2, verse 17, 00:02:47.500 --> 00:02:53.680 is true. Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came to call, 00:02:54.920 --> 00:03:00.000 not to call the righteous, but sinners. So remember, we talked about the fact that need is the price of 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:06.000 admission. Then we looked at verses 9 through 11, we saw that Jesus is both the Psalm 2 king and Isaiah's 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:11.020 suffering servant. He is so great that the heavens rip open for God to make a pronouncement about Him. 00:03:11.020 --> 00:03:16.560 He's so humble that He receives baptism from John the Baptist, who says He's not worthy to untie 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:22.820 Jesus' sandals. Jesus, when He receives baptism, stands in the place of sinners. And then in verses 00:03:22.820 --> 00:03:29.740 13 and 14, we saw that Jesus is the perfect one. He succeeds, He obeys, where we fail, we disobey. 00:03:29.960 --> 00:03:34.820 Finally, last week, we looked at the kingdom of God, which is coming. We saw the kingdom is here in part, 00:03:34.819 --> 00:03:41.000 it is not here in full. The kingdom is a reign more than a realm, a power more than a place. 00:03:41.299 --> 00:03:45.519 We're going to continue asking those two questions this morning. Who is Jesus? How do we respond to 00:03:45.519 --> 00:03:50.659 Him? And as we come to these verses, we're finally going to see Jesus calling His first disciples. 00:03:50.819 --> 00:03:55.479 We're still in our introduction to the Gospel of Mark, but we're going to get more directly at this 00:03:55.479 --> 00:04:01.479 question of how we respond to Him, because these disciples are going to model it for us. And so I invite 00:04:01.479 --> 00:04:06.679 you to turn now in your Bible, or in your worship guide, or in your phone. We're on Mark chapter 1, 00:04:06.739 --> 00:04:12.280 starting at verse 16. No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's Word. God tells us 00:04:12.280 --> 00:04:17.459 that His Word is more precious than gold, even the finest gold. And it is sweeter than honey, 00:04:17.959 --> 00:04:23.279 even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. And so that's why we read it now, starting at verse 16. 00:04:24.539 --> 00:04:30.000 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:35.300 casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, 00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:42.360 Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men. And immediately they left their nets and 00:04:42.360 --> 00:04:47.540 followed Him. And going on a little farther, He saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John, 00:04:47.620 --> 00:04:53.100 his brother, who were in their boat, mending the nets. And immediately He called them, 00:04:53.660 --> 00:04:58.779 and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed Him. 00:04:58.779 --> 00:05:03.659 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's Word. 00:05:05.959 --> 00:05:12.339 Our Father in Heaven, we thank You again for another Sunday where we come to meet with You 00:05:12.339 --> 00:05:16.179 and to hear from You clearly in Your Word. And we ask that You would do that this morning, 00:05:16.379 --> 00:05:19.699 that You would speak clearly to us in words that we can understand, 00:05:20.559 --> 00:05:24.279 and that You would open our eyes, You'd unstop our ears, 00:05:24.279 --> 00:05:29.739 You'd soften our hearts, and You'd clear our minds, that we would be able to hear and see 00:05:29.739 --> 00:05:35.619 and understand and believe everything that You have written for us in Your Word. 00:05:35.919 --> 00:05:40.059 We thank You that we don't have to earn these things, and we certainly don't deserve them, 00:05:40.119 --> 00:05:44.559 but instead we simply ask them in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:44.720 Amen. 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:52.399 This has been going on for a while. I can't remember how many years, 00:05:52.720 --> 00:05:57.240 but recently it seems like it's happened more frequently that when I buy something online, 00:05:57.240 --> 00:06:00.860 I have to fill out this form at the bottom that says, or ask the question, 00:06:01.420 --> 00:06:04.180 how did you hear about us? And of course, right, there's a lot of options. 00:06:04.300 --> 00:06:06.779 You could have heard about them from a friend. That's the easiest one. 00:06:07.079 --> 00:06:10.819 Maybe it's from a referral. If they run ads in the same magazine over and over, 00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:15.879 they'll list that magazine's name. If they run a TV commercial, they'll list that as well, 00:06:15.899 --> 00:06:19.519 because they want to know what are the most effective methods that we're using. 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:24.879 How are we reaching people? How are they finding out about their product to the point 00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:29.399 that they're actually purchasing our product? They're giving us their credit card number. 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:32.899 I bring that up because I want you to think about this question. 00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:36.879 How did you first hear about Jesus? 00:06:40.819 --> 00:06:42.939 How did you first come to know about Jesus? 00:06:45.079 --> 00:06:50.459 If you're a Christian, how, when did you begin to follow Jesus? 00:06:52.500 --> 00:06:55.159 Where were you at when you followed Jesus? 00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:58.319 Where were you at geographically? 00:06:59.539 --> 00:07:01.539 Where were you at stage of life? 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:04.000 Where were you at in your lifestyle? 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:10.060 Where were you when Jesus came to your life? 00:07:11.019 --> 00:07:13.779 Now, there might be a variety of answers to that one as well, 00:07:13.860 --> 00:07:16.120 just like there is for things that you purchased. 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:17.819 Maybe you heard about Jesus from a friend. 00:07:18.220 --> 00:07:20.519 Maybe you grew up in a family where you were taught about Jesus. 00:07:20.740 --> 00:07:22.339 Maybe you saw something in a movie. 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:23.860 Maybe you read something in a book. 00:07:24.279 --> 00:07:25.500 There's a variety of answers. 00:07:25.699 --> 00:07:27.939 Maybe you're like me sometimes when you fill out these forms 00:07:27.939 --> 00:07:29.720 and you think, I can't even remember. 00:07:29.720 --> 00:07:33.200 Remember, I've known about this product for so long. 00:07:33.500 --> 00:07:34.720 There's a variety of options. 00:07:34.820 --> 00:07:36.420 I'm not sure which one is correct. 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:38.180 Brothers and sisters, I'm here to tell you 00:07:38.180 --> 00:07:41.380 all of those things are secondary causes. 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:44.140 Yes, you may have heard about Jesus from a friend. 00:07:44.220 --> 00:07:45.620 You may have learned about him in church. 00:07:45.960 --> 00:07:48.720 You may have been taught about him from your mother or your father. 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:52.020 That is not primarily how you know about Jesus, though. 00:07:52.120 --> 00:07:53.860 Those are means, not the cause. 00:07:53.860 --> 00:07:58.900 You know about Jesus because he saw you. 00:08:00.580 --> 00:08:04.300 You know about Jesus because he saw you. 00:08:04.360 --> 00:08:08.300 The key to this passage this morning is the repetition of the words 00:08:08.300 --> 00:08:10.920 like it is many times when we come to God's word. 00:08:11.020 --> 00:08:15.440 I want you to look with me here first at verse 16 and then verse 19. 00:08:15.580 --> 00:08:16.560 Jesus is on the move. 00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:19.480 Remember, he has moved from the desert to Galilee, 00:08:19.580 --> 00:08:21.060 which is in northwest Israel. 00:08:21.060 --> 00:08:24.720 Verse 16, he's passing alongside the Sea of Galilee. 00:08:25.320 --> 00:08:27.960 He saw Simon and Andrew. 00:08:27.959 --> 00:08:32.960 Then the pattern is repeated in verse 19. 00:08:33.199 --> 00:08:37.199 And going on a little farther, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:39.259 and John, his brother. 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:43.840 Risk of stating the obvious, Jesus saw them. 00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:46.860 They did not see him. 00:08:48.299 --> 00:08:51.899 Simon, Andrew, James, and John were not seeking Jesus out. 00:08:51.899 --> 00:08:54.879 Jesus was seeking them out. 00:08:55.939 --> 00:09:00.240 Jesus' followers ultimately do not choose him. 00:09:01.539 --> 00:09:04.360 Jesus chooses his followers. 00:09:05.699 --> 00:09:09.319 Brothers and sisters, the same is true for you as well. 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:12.199 If you're a Christian and you're here this morning, why are you here? 00:09:12.620 --> 00:09:15.439 Ultimately, you are here because Jesus saw you. 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:19.700 You are here because Jesus chose you. 00:09:19.900 --> 00:09:24.040 Yes, there might be all kinds of secondary means that he used to do that. 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:29.060 And the ultimate reason is because he decided that you were going to be here this morning 00:09:29.060 --> 00:09:33.960 on August 22nd at our worship service starting at 1030 a.m. 00:09:33.960 --> 00:09:38.360 It was Jesus' idea that you were going to be sitting where you're sitting right now, 00:09:38.460 --> 00:09:41.840 listening to this passage in Mark 1, verses 16 through 20. 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:46.600 Jesus saw Simon and Andrew and James and John. 00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:48.379 Jesus saw you. 00:09:49.980 --> 00:09:51.100 Jesus pursues. 00:09:51.220 --> 00:09:53.560 That is the whole point of the incarnation. 00:09:54.379 --> 00:09:58.379 The whole point of the incarnation is that Jesus came down to us. 00:09:58.780 --> 00:10:00.240 He didn't wait for us to call him. 00:10:00.300 --> 00:10:01.940 He didn't wait for us to invite him. 00:10:02.300 --> 00:10:06.780 He decided to come down into this world to be with us. 00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:10.820 You did not see Jesus. 00:10:10.820 --> 00:10:12.440 You did not invite him. 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:13.900 Jesus saw you. 00:10:14.100 --> 00:10:15.379 He called you. 00:10:15.960 --> 00:10:19.480 That is how needy you are. 00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:23.660 Remember, we talked Mark 1, verses 1 through 8. 00:10:23.879 --> 00:10:27.220 Need is the price of admission to the gospel of Mark. 00:10:28.379 --> 00:10:32.820 We are so needy, we needed Jesus to come and find him. 00:10:32.940 --> 00:10:35.080 We couldn't even find him on our own. 00:10:35.740 --> 00:10:37.380 Now, you might be thinking, no, I found Jesus. 00:10:37.379 --> 00:10:40.939 I watched a bunch of YouTube videos about different world philosophies, 00:10:40.939 --> 00:10:44.100 and I finally came to the conclusion that Jesus was the Son of God. 00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:45.379 That's great. 00:10:45.460 --> 00:10:46.460 You know why you did that? 00:10:47.439 --> 00:10:49.179 Because Jesus saw you. 00:10:49.179 --> 00:10:52.799 Jesus used those means to find you. 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:56.299 Jesus saw you, no matter who you are, whether you're a Christian or not. 00:10:56.339 --> 00:10:59.419 If you are a Christian, wherever you became a Christian, 00:10:59.559 --> 00:11:01.659 whatever the answer to the question is for you, 00:11:01.899 --> 00:11:04.219 when Jesus found you, when you heard about him, 00:11:04.259 --> 00:11:05.419 it's because Jesus saw you. 00:11:05.479 --> 00:11:09.859 He saw you when you were consumed only with worldly success and title. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:14.719 Jesus saw you when you were sitting in the waiting room at Planned Parenthood. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:18.700 Jesus saw you when you were too scared to ask for help, 00:11:18.779 --> 00:11:21.899 thinking no one would want to know you if they knew the truth. 00:11:22.300 --> 00:11:26.340 Jesus saw you when you were living for your own pleasures and comfort 00:11:26.340 --> 00:11:27.779 and nothing and no one else. 00:11:28.680 --> 00:11:33.580 Jesus saw you when you were living and growing up in a dysfunctional and broken home, 00:11:33.820 --> 00:11:38.080 and the only thing you could feel in that moment was anxiety and fear. 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:41.320 Jesus saw you when you were proud and arrogant, 00:11:41.560 --> 00:11:43.620 mocking anyone else who disagreed with you. 00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:48.560 Jesus saw you when you were aimless and you weren't sure what the purpose of life was. 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:51.600 Jesus saw you when you were in a messy divorce 00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:53.799 and you weren't sure if there was a way forward. 00:11:54.259 --> 00:11:57.560 Jesus saw you when you had an addiction that at that moment 00:11:57.560 --> 00:11:59.899 was stronger than anything else in your life. 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:04.919 No matter where you came from and no matter how you ended up here, 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:08.700 I know that you're here because Jesus saw you. 00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:10.220 Period, dot, end of discussion. 00:12:10.220 --> 00:12:14.100 Who is Jesus? 00:12:14.340 --> 00:12:17.639 He is the one who's coming to seek after his people. 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:21.480 You know we talk about this when we talk about people and suffering, 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:23.920 that there's two kinds of help that you can offer someone. 00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:26.220 The first kind of help is to say to someone, 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:27.920 let me know if you need anything. 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:31.659 The second kind of help is to say, 00:12:31.979 --> 00:12:34.339 I would like to help you in this way. 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:35.579 Can I do that? 00:12:35.939 --> 00:12:37.659 There's a radical difference between those. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:39.439 Let me know if you need help. 00:12:39.939 --> 00:12:42.279 First of all, that person may not be in a position. 00:12:42.719 --> 00:12:43.899 The greater the suffering, 00:12:44.059 --> 00:12:45.699 the harder it is for you to think clearly. 00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:47.299 That person may not know what they need. 00:12:48.579 --> 00:12:51.919 And they may not feel like they're able to actually admit their need. 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:55.379 The greater the suffering, the more you need help. 00:12:55.519 --> 00:12:57.039 The more you need someone to say to you, 00:12:57.099 --> 00:13:00.139 hey, I am going to come over and I'm going to mow your lawn. 00:13:00.179 --> 00:13:01.079 Is there any problem with that? 00:13:01.099 --> 00:13:02.679 I'm going to come over and bring you a meal. 00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:03.899 When's the time I can come? 00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:07.419 That's the kind of help that we need in the greatest moments of suffering. 00:13:07.659 --> 00:13:09.959 Jesus comes with type two help. 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:11.899 Jesus doesn't say, 00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:13.699 let me know if you need anything. 00:13:13.700 --> 00:13:21.960 Jesus shows up and comes and brings us what we need before we know that we need it. 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:25.680 It's Romans chapter five where we're told that even while we were sinners, 00:13:26.140 --> 00:13:27.840 Christ died for us. 00:13:29.560 --> 00:13:31.140 Remember our first question, 00:13:31.320 --> 00:13:32.540 who is Jesus? 00:13:32.700 --> 00:13:35.020 We want to see him for who he is. 00:13:35.400 --> 00:13:40.220 Jesus is our savior who's filled with so much compassion and humility 00:13:40.220 --> 00:13:44.899 that he comes and seeks us now no matter how helpless we are. 00:13:45.320 --> 00:13:47.100 And so our first response is this. 00:13:47.180 --> 00:13:52.160 We want to see how beautiful and wonderful and glorious Jesus is. 00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:58.259 Jesus saw us before we saw him. 00:13:59.960 --> 00:14:02.720 That is how great he is. 00:14:03.680 --> 00:14:07.680 Our other response is that we need to be filled with great humility. 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:09.939 Not just are we comforted, but we're challenged. 00:14:10.479 --> 00:14:12.439 We needed Jesus to see us. 00:14:13.819 --> 00:14:15.639 We were so helpless, 00:14:15.839 --> 00:14:18.399 no matter how little we want to admit it, 00:14:19.059 --> 00:14:21.479 that Jesus had to seek out us. 00:14:21.659 --> 00:14:24.839 We were incapable of seeking him out. 00:14:26.699 --> 00:14:28.939 And so I want you to look with me at verse 17. 00:14:29.219 --> 00:14:30.679 Jesus tells these disciples, 00:14:31.779 --> 00:14:33.819 I will make you become fishers of men. 00:14:33.819 --> 00:14:36.939 What does Jesus need to be able to say that? 00:14:38.359 --> 00:14:40.079 Someone's going to train you in something. 00:14:40.219 --> 00:14:42.199 You hope they know what they're talking about, right? 00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:48.339 Before Jesus is going to make anyone a fisher of men, 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:52.439 we need to know that Jesus is the fisher of men. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:55.319 That's who Jesus is. 00:14:55.719 --> 00:15:00.079 He is the one who is coming and seeking and saving the lost. 00:15:00.079 --> 00:15:02.599 That's what he says in Luke chapter 19, verse 10. 00:15:02.679 --> 00:15:05.740 For the son of man came to seek and to save the lost. 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:08.159 The son of man, Jesus Christ himself. 00:15:08.340 --> 00:15:10.840 He is the fisher of men. 00:15:12.820 --> 00:15:16.539 He's coming to make fishers of men. 00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:19.919 Not only is he the fisher of men, 00:15:19.960 --> 00:15:21.000 I also want you to see here, 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:23.799 Jesus is the one who has great authority. 00:15:23.940 --> 00:15:25.759 That's one of the themes of this next section 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:27.180 of the gospel of Mark. 00:15:27.179 --> 00:15:28.739 Jesus is able to say, 00:15:28.959 --> 00:15:31.199 follow me and have people follow him. 00:15:32.299 --> 00:15:34.939 If you want to try and experiment later today, 00:15:35.839 --> 00:15:37.959 you could go to downtown Colorado Springs 00:15:37.959 --> 00:15:40.419 and you could just find someone random. 00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:42.339 You could just point at them and just say, 00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:42.839 follow me. 00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:45.919 And that's a great test. 00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:47.799 You can see how powerful you are. 00:15:49.019 --> 00:15:50.279 And if anyone follows you, 00:15:50.319 --> 00:15:51.339 I really want to hear the story. 00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:53.700 And if they don't follow you, 00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:54.899 I want to hear the story even more. 00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:58.860 Jesus comes as the fisher of men. 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:00.800 He also comes with great authority. 00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:03.240 Remember our paradigm from before, 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:04.420 from verses 9 and 11. 00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:06.480 He's so great and he's so humble. 00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:10.000 He's so great that he can command people 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:11.240 to follow him and they do. 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:14.240 He's so humble that he goes and he seeks them out. 00:16:15.480 --> 00:16:18.500 That is who Jesus is. 00:16:18.580 --> 00:16:19.680 He's the fisher of men. 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:22.739 He's the one with great authority. 00:16:24.479 --> 00:16:26.299 And so that takes us to our second question. 00:16:26.459 --> 00:16:28.120 How do we respond to Jesus? 00:16:28.359 --> 00:16:30.899 What do we do with the fisher of men? 00:16:30.979 --> 00:16:33.419 Well, thankfully, repetition is our friend. 00:16:33.599 --> 00:16:35.799 Again, remember we saw the word Saul twice. 00:16:36.459 --> 00:16:38.739 Now we're going to see Jesus's command, 00:16:38.859 --> 00:16:39.620 which I just mentioned. 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:42.559 Verse 17, Jesus says, follow me. 00:16:43.359 --> 00:16:45.620 Verse 20, it says he called them. 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:47.559 We can assume he's saying the same thing. 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:49.899 He's calling them to follow him again. 00:16:50.819 --> 00:16:53.239 And that word then repeats two more times. 00:16:53.459 --> 00:16:54.459 So Jesus says, follow. 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:55.159 What do they do? 00:16:55.459 --> 00:16:56.000 They follow. 00:16:56.139 --> 00:16:58.719 Verse 18, they left their nets and followed him. 00:16:58.819 --> 00:17:01.519 Verse 20, they left their father Zebedee in the boat 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.919 and followed him. 00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:05.960 How do we respond to Jesus? 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:07.240 There's a simple pattern here. 00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:08.680 Leave and follow. 00:17:10.860 --> 00:17:12.380 Leave and follow. 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:13.640 You'll notice, by the way, 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:15.200 these are the commands that follow. 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:17.120 The command from last time, 00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:18.759 Jesus said, repent and believe, 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:20.039 verses 14 and 15. 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:22.100 What's the next logical step? 00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:23.360 If you're going to repent and believe, 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:23.900 then follow. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:25.840 And you'll notice there's two kinds of leaving here. 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:27.220 Those are vocational leaving. 00:17:27.600 --> 00:17:28.860 There's a relational leaving. 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:31.980 Vocationally, they're leaving the fishing boats. 00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:35.799 Relationally, they're leaving Zebedee, their father. 00:17:35.900 --> 00:17:37.519 That's James and John. 00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:40.980 And so there's something great here that's happening. 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:43.700 They're willing to give up what's most valuable, 00:17:43.860 --> 00:17:45.920 what's most important in the eyes of this world 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:47.819 for the chance to follow after Jesus. 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:49.460 They're willing to lose their jobs. 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:51.500 They're willing to lose those connections, 00:17:51.660 --> 00:17:52.279 those relationships. 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:54.259 Now we could take this to an extreme. 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:55.640 Okay, don't hear what I'm not saying. 00:17:56.099 --> 00:17:57.640 I'm not saying that Jesus calling you 00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:59.440 is to abandon your family and quit your job. 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:03.600 Now in certain circumstances, we can talk about those. 00:18:03.840 --> 00:18:05.580 There are challenging situations 00:18:05.580 --> 00:18:07.759 where Christians do those things, 00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:09.180 but it's important for us to understand 00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:11.880 there is a difference and a similarity 00:18:11.880 --> 00:18:13.000 between us and the disciples. 00:18:13.120 --> 00:18:15.240 So they model following for us, 00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:17.779 but it's not in the exact same way. 00:18:17.880 --> 00:18:19.980 They are literally following Jesus around. 00:18:20.080 --> 00:18:21.680 We're about to see them go to Capernaum. 00:18:21.900 --> 00:18:23.360 When Jesus goes to Capernaum, 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:25.880 they're gonna follow him geographically to Capernaum. 00:18:26.620 --> 00:18:29.720 You and I are not gonna follow Jesus to Capernaum. 00:18:30.520 --> 00:18:32.760 Okay, we're not following him around geographically. 00:18:32.840 --> 00:18:34.180 This does not mean that we need to find 00:18:34.180 --> 00:18:36.160 Jesus's destinations, map them out, 00:18:36.260 --> 00:18:37.840 and then take the exact same trip 00:18:37.840 --> 00:18:39.160 in the nation of Israel that he did. 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:43.060 Right, there's a difference between us and the disciples. 00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:46.240 Following Jesus might mean changing locations, right? 00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:48.380 It might mean leaving your family. 00:18:48.520 --> 00:18:49.660 We've had folks at this church, 00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:51.240 when they converted to Christianity, 00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:53.740 it created great tension between them 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.740 and their extended family. 00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:57.759 And they were willing to do that, right, 00:18:57.819 --> 00:18:59.059 for the sake of Jesus Christ. 00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:02.980 What I do know this means for all of us 00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:04.559 is that the disciples are modeling 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:07.200 that Jesus is the king, as we've seen before. 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:10.660 He is worth giving up anything and everything for. 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:13.480 There is no loyalty or allegiance 00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:17.180 that is greater than our allegiance to Jesus, our king. 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:21.700 Do we leave our family and our vocation? 00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:22.799 Not necessarily. 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:25.419 But are we willing to? 00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:32.440 Are we willing to lose anything for Jesus? 00:19:32.619 --> 00:19:34.200 He is the greatest king. 00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:36.940 There's nothing and no one that takes precedence over him. 00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:38.740 He's worth dropping everything for. 00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:41.539 He is the only one in this world 00:19:41.539 --> 00:19:44.319 with that sort of authority and pull and sway. 00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:47.119 And so the question for us is this, 00:19:47.159 --> 00:19:49.159 is there anything that we're holding back? 00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:54.440 Is there anything that we are not willing to lose? 00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:59.500 If you were here with us last week during Sunday school, 00:19:59.580 --> 00:20:00.740 we heard from Paige Clark, 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:03.040 who talked about our college ministry 00:20:03.040 --> 00:20:04.960 that's expanding here in the West. 00:20:05.040 --> 00:20:06.600 And one of the challenges he talked about 00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:08.840 for students today, Christian students, 00:20:08.840 --> 00:20:11.580 is the challenge of finding jobs in corporate America. 00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:12.880 You were there. 00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:15.160 You know he talked about the fact that being a Christian 00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:16.480 is not an asset. 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:18.160 It's a liability. 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:20.380 Okay, in the United States today. 00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:22.060 If you're trying to get a job in corporate America, 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:23.380 it's a liability. 00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:27.640 That's the kind of sacrifice we're talking about, right? 00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:28.500 And following Jesus. 00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:31.220 Are you willing to lose vocationally? 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:32.960 Are you willing to do that? 00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:34.060 Are you willing to have a career 00:20:34.060 --> 00:20:35.320 where you make less money? 00:20:36.520 --> 00:20:38.700 Are you willing to not be able 00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:40.360 to take opportunities to advance? 00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:46.760 Are you willing to leave everything to follow Jesus? 00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:51.279 Now, as I mentioned earlier, 00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:54.400 there's some difficulty in talking about the word following 00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:57.019 because there's differences between us and the disciples, right? 00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:59.000 Jesus is not here with us physically. 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:02.339 We're not going to imitate every action that he takes. 00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:05.500 And so thankfully, as the New Testament continues, 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:07.140 it fleshes out this concept for us. 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:09.839 The apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:12.079 he doesn't really use the word follow. 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:14.740 He actually transforms this into a different word. 00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:17.019 He uses the word imitation. 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:20.039 And so you may have heard many times the phrase 00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:22.460 the imitation of Christ or the imitation of Jesus. 00:21:22.579 --> 00:21:25.579 He says in 1 Corinthians 11, verse 1, 00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:28.720 be imitators of me, that is, be imitators of Paul, 00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:30.759 as I am of Christ. 00:21:30.859 --> 00:21:32.680 And then he goes on to provide various examples. 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:33.920 We see this in the New Testament. 00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:37.900 1 Peter 2, we talked about this when we were in that book. 00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:39.319 Why do we endure suffering? 00:21:40.900 --> 00:21:42.079 Jesus was our model. 00:21:43.140 --> 00:21:44.620 We're following him in that. 00:21:44.619 --> 00:21:46.039 We're imitating him in that. 00:21:47.399 --> 00:21:48.319 Philippians chapter 2. 00:21:48.399 --> 00:21:49.559 We've been in the book of Philippians, 00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:50.859 if you've been with us for a while. 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.199 He says in humility, 00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:54.379 count others more significant than yourselves. 00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:55.000 Why? 00:21:56.699 --> 00:21:58.219 Because that's what Jesus did. 00:22:00.179 --> 00:22:01.639 Following Jesus in humility. 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:04.099 Following Jesus in suffering. 00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:08.319 And so imitation is the concept I want you to think of 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:09.019 as much as following. 00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:10.119 It's fine to say following. 00:22:10.639 --> 00:22:11.799 Following can get us confused. 00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:14.579 Imitation is easier for us, I think, to wrap our heads around. 00:22:14.659 --> 00:22:17.039 There's a reason that the apostle Paul uses this 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:19.599 for those of us who don't literally walk with Jesus. 00:22:20.779 --> 00:22:21.000 Right? 00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:22.579 People will talk about walking with Jesus. 00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:23.619 Not a bad phrase to use. 00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:26.019 Jesus is not literally here right now, 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:27.619 at least in his physical body. 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:28.539 Okay? 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:32.359 I can't take a walk with physical Jesus. 00:22:32.639 --> 00:22:34.299 He's seated at the right hand of God 00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:36.059 in the heavenly places right now. 00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:39.319 I can imitate him. 00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:42.139 And so as we begin to wrap our heads around this, 00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:43.680 this is something we're going to come back to 00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:45.339 over and over again in the Gospel of Mark. 00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:48.039 I'm going to give you four categories for imitation, 00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:49.859 which comes from this very helpful book 00:22:49.859 --> 00:22:51.879 called The Imitation of Christ 00:22:51.879 --> 00:22:53.119 by a man named Jimmy Agin. 00:22:53.899 --> 00:22:56.399 And he breaks down imitation into these four categories, 00:22:56.479 --> 00:22:57.579 which helps us to understand. 00:22:57.839 --> 00:23:00.239 It's, first of all, passion for the glory of God. 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:03.739 If we're following Jesus, if we're imitating him, 00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:05.519 we're going to be passionate for the glory of God. 00:23:05.739 --> 00:23:08.500 Second, passion for the good of other people. 00:23:09.639 --> 00:23:10.739 If we're following Jesus, 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:12.979 we're going to be passionate about the people around us. 00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:14.859 If they're suffering, we're going to care about that. 00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:16.899 If they need help, we're going to care about that. 00:23:16.899 --> 00:23:17.199 Right? 00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:18.199 Just as Jesus did. 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:21.659 Third, willing denial of self. 00:23:21.660 --> 00:23:24.620 Willing denial of self. 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:26.700 Jesus is going to get at this in Mark chapter 8 00:23:26.700 --> 00:23:27.380 when he says, 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:28.680 if anyone would come after me, 00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:30.019 let him deny himself. 00:23:31.060 --> 00:23:33.480 And finally, this is what happens in 1 Peter chapter 2, 00:23:33.620 --> 00:23:35.680 patient endurance of hardship. 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:38.080 Patient endurance of hardship. 00:23:38.820 --> 00:23:40.759 So those are four broad categories 00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:41.980 that help us think about, 00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:44.100 on the ground, in real time, 00:23:44.160 --> 00:23:46.120 what does it look like for us to follow Jesus, 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:46.960 to imitate him. 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:48.860 We're passionate for the glory of God. 00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:50.380 We're passionate for the good of other people. 00:23:50.380 --> 00:23:52.360 We have a willing denial of self 00:23:52.360 --> 00:23:55.360 and a patient endurance of hardship. 00:23:55.660 --> 00:23:57.020 So I'll just give you a few examples. 00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:58.780 Following Jesus might look like 00:23:58.780 --> 00:24:01.920 remaining faithful in a difficult marriage. 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:04.380 Following Jesus might look like 00:24:04.380 --> 00:24:06.260 losing out on job opportunities 00:24:06.260 --> 00:24:08.800 because we will not sacrifice, 00:24:09.160 --> 00:24:11.260 jeopardize our integrity or our faith. 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:13.060 We might make less money. 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:15.380 Maybe you make a lot of money. 00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:17.280 Following Jesus might look like 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:18.660 sacrificing your finances 00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:20.879 and your comfort to help those who need it. 00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:23.779 If you live in America in 2021, 00:24:24.139 --> 00:24:25.799 following Jesus might mean 00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:28.480 being misunderstood and slandered. 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:29.920 Right? 00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:31.680 That's the willing endurance of suffering. 00:24:33.139 --> 00:24:34.019 That's a peace. 00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:34.680 That's a beginning. 00:24:34.879 --> 00:24:35.680 That's an introduction 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:38.079 to what it means for us 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:39.279 to follow Jesus, 00:24:39.399 --> 00:24:40.339 just like these disciples. 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:41.519 We're imitating him. 00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:43.579 We're following after him. 00:24:43.660 --> 00:24:45.079 We're leaving everything else. 00:24:45.079 --> 00:24:46.559 Not that we abandon our families, 00:24:46.659 --> 00:24:48.099 but that we know there's nothing 00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:50.859 that gets greater allegiance from us 00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:52.019 than our Lord and Savior, 00:24:52.619 --> 00:24:53.279 Jesus Christ. 00:24:55.399 --> 00:24:58.099 And so that raises a final question for us. 00:24:58.199 --> 00:24:58.299 Right? 00:24:58.379 --> 00:24:59.419 These things that I've listed, 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:00.559 passionate for God's glory, 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:01.720 passionate for others' good, 00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:02.919 denial of self, 00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:03.819 endurance of suffering, 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:04.799 these are hard things. 00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:08.460 How are we going to be able 00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:10.859 to remain faithful and steadfast 00:25:10.859 --> 00:25:12.220 in these difficult things 00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:13.500 that God calls us to? 00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:16.539 You may be aware 00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:18.240 of another concept, 00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:19.000 another principle, 00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:20.460 which is that the more difficult 00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:21.539 something is, 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:24.059 the harder it is to do by yourself. 00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:26.839 More difficult something is, 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:28.200 the harder it is to do by yourself. 00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:29.119 So I'll give you an example. 00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:31.539 I'm sort of a runner, 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:35.240 and I'm happy to go running by myself. 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:37.420 It's not the end of the world. 00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:38.359 I know how to do it. 00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:39.380 I've been doing it for years. 00:25:39.380 --> 00:25:44.180 I also do some strength training. 00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:47.460 I don't do that by myself. 00:25:48.800 --> 00:25:51.560 And I especially don't do leg day by myself. 00:25:52.360 --> 00:25:53.900 Okay, if you're familiar with internet memes, 00:25:54.260 --> 00:25:55.160 you know the phrase, 00:25:55.380 --> 00:25:56.260 don't skip leg day. 00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:58.240 Now, why is that a phrase? 00:25:58.340 --> 00:25:59.040 Well, first of all, 00:25:59.160 --> 00:26:00.360 leg day is really hard. 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:02.780 No one wants to do squats and deadlifts. 00:26:04.320 --> 00:26:05.940 And you don't want to skip it, right? 00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:06.900 Because it's so important. 00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:08.340 It's so important for you. 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:11.420 I don't do leg day on my own. 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:14.180 If someone's not coming to join me, 00:26:14.320 --> 00:26:15.540 I'm sleeping in, okay? 00:26:15.560 --> 00:26:16.240 It's not happening. 00:26:17.560 --> 00:26:19.440 I'm not setting up that equipment by myself. 00:26:19.560 --> 00:26:21.540 I'm not putting bumper plates on a bar 00:26:21.540 --> 00:26:22.500 if it's just me. 00:26:22.540 --> 00:26:24.740 That's too depressing, right? 00:26:24.800 --> 00:26:26.320 That is too high of a standard 00:26:26.320 --> 00:26:27.620 for me to meet by myself. 00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:29.880 Brothers and sisters, 00:26:29.880 --> 00:26:32.940 if we look at Jesus as our model 00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:35.080 and we have to do it by ourselves, 00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:36.320 it is impossible. 00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:40.759 It is too much for us to do it alone. 00:26:41.600 --> 00:26:43.080 And so we have to remember 00:26:43.080 --> 00:26:45.300 when Jesus calls us to follow him, 00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:48.280 he calls us to follow him. 00:26:48.340 --> 00:26:51.259 In other words, he is with us. 00:26:52.580 --> 00:26:55.080 He is not calling us to do something 00:26:55.080 --> 00:26:56.540 by ourselves or alone. 00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:58.660 When these men leave everything, 00:26:58.880 --> 00:27:00.040 they're not leaving everything 00:27:00.040 --> 00:27:03.200 and going off to a tower by themselves to pray. 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:04.920 They're going with Jesus 00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:06.680 who is there with them physically, 00:27:07.120 --> 00:27:09.740 showing and modeling for them the way to go. 00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:11.340 The same is true for us. 00:27:11.660 --> 00:27:12.880 As we follow Jesus, 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:15.039 we are incapable of doing it alone. 00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:18.000 We know that we need him to be with us 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.680 by the presence of his Holy Spirit, 00:27:19.880 --> 00:27:21.900 by the example that he's given us in his word, 00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:24.460 by the community that he surrounds us with 00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:25.299 in the church, 00:27:25.380 --> 00:27:27.279 the instruction that he gives us here and now. 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:30.019 We have to be with him. 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:33.700 That is the difference between us 00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:35.259 and all the other religions. 00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:37.099 Many religions would tell you 00:27:37.099 --> 00:27:39.319 to have a willing endurance of suffering. 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:40.839 Many religions would tell you 00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:42.759 to be passionate about the good of others. 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:46.119 Jesus is the one who's actually with his people, 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:48.339 enabling and empowering them to do it. 00:27:48.599 --> 00:27:51.119 He is the God who comes and sees us. 00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:53.500 He's the one who actually became a man 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:55.079 in real time and real space 00:27:55.079 --> 00:27:57.500 and therefore has a strong grip strength. 00:27:58.939 --> 00:28:03.059 That is how we're able to follow after and obey Jesus, 00:28:03.219 --> 00:28:05.779 not because we have great power, 00:28:05.879 --> 00:28:07.839 but because he does 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:10.239 and he's with us every single moment 00:28:10.239 --> 00:28:11.839 and step in that process. 00:28:12.659 --> 00:28:17.379 He calls us to what we cannot do by ourselves 00:28:17.380 --> 00:28:19.200 and are only able to 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:22.680 because he is there beside us and next to us, 00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:25.260 one step ahead as we follow behind. 00:28:26.660 --> 00:28:29.480 Jesus is our great model. 00:28:29.620 --> 00:28:31.260 He's not just a model. 00:28:31.760 --> 00:28:35.340 He is the one who is present there with us. 00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:39.620 You can only imitate what you watch 00:28:39.620 --> 00:28:42.440 and study closely, right? 00:28:42.900 --> 00:28:44.820 You don't imitate a textbook. 00:28:45.320 --> 00:28:47.220 You imitate a person. 00:28:47.380 --> 00:28:52.840 If we have any hope of imitating Jesus, 00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:54.620 of following after him, 00:28:54.820 --> 00:28:59.340 our eyes have to always be on Jesus. 00:29:00.680 --> 00:29:03.080 That's inherent in the word follow. 00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:07.220 You can't follow something you can't see. 00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:14.800 Jesus sees us first so we can see him and follow him. 00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:17.259 By the way, later in this book, 00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:18.740 just a couple sections from now, 00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:20.619 Jesus is gonna be in Capernaum. 00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:24.960 He is going to heal Simon's mother-in-law. 00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:27.299 Okay, so wrap your heads around this. 00:29:27.379 --> 00:29:28.559 Simon's following him. 00:29:29.619 --> 00:29:31.859 Jesus' power is there present among them. 00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:35.279 Jesus is with them. 00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:37.740 Jesus is performing a healing in front of them. 00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:40.259 Jesus raises, that's the word that's used, 00:29:40.379 --> 00:29:42.180 Simon's mother-in-law who has a fever, 00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:44.420 and this fever is so severe, 00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:46.420 we're meant to think that she's near death. 00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:50.680 Jesus calls them to follow him. 00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:53.360 He does not leave them. 00:29:55.360 --> 00:29:57.220 And so I'll go back to everything we listed before. 00:29:57.340 --> 00:30:00.660 How do we remain faithful in a difficult marriage? 00:30:00.660 --> 00:30:03.519 Because Jesus is with us. 00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:07.620 How are we able to lose out on job opportunities 00:30:07.620 --> 00:30:10.680 because we won't compromise our integrity or our faith? 00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:12.420 How are we able to make less money? 00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:15.200 Because Jesus is with us. 00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:16.840 Brothers and sisters, 00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:19.660 how are we able to sacrifice our finances and comfort 00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:20.820 to help those who need it? 00:30:20.860 --> 00:30:23.480 We do it because Jesus is with us. 00:30:24.019 --> 00:30:27.500 How are we able to be misunderstood and slandered 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:29.019 and continue with joy? 00:30:30.859 --> 00:30:33.480 Because Jesus is with us. 00:30:35.099 --> 00:30:39.480 Jesus is going to repeat this same command 00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:42.099 to follow him later in Mark chapter 8, 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:43.140 as I've mentioned before, 00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:43.980 and he says this. 00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:45.220 It says, 00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:46.960 Calling the crowd to him with his disciples, 00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:47.700 he said to them, 00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:49.339 If anyone would come after me, 00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:53.220 let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:56.759 For whoever would save his life will lose it. 00:30:56.759 --> 00:31:00.339 But whoever loses his life for my sake 00:31:00.339 --> 00:31:02.000 and the gospels will save it. 00:31:02.900 --> 00:31:06.099 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world 00:31:06.099 --> 00:31:08.180 and forfeit his soul? 00:31:08.920 --> 00:31:12.720 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:15.539 Who is Jesus? 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:19.039 Jesus is the great fisher of men. 00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:21.640 He is the one who sees us 00:31:21.640 --> 00:31:26.180 and is so great that he can command us to follow him. 00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:29.379 How do we respond? 00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:33.079 We follow him because we see Jesus. 00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:34.740 We follow him. 00:31:35.299 --> 00:31:39.420 We follow him because we know that he is with us 00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:42.140 every step of the way. 00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:43.859 Let's pray. 00:31:43.859 --> 00:31:47.339 Our Father in heaven, 00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:49.339 we thank you so much 00:31:49.339 --> 00:31:52.159 that you have not left us alone 00:31:52.159 --> 00:31:54.379 to figure things out 00:31:54.379 --> 00:31:56.279 and piece them together on our own. 00:31:56.359 --> 00:31:56.899 But instead, 00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:59.939 you've given us your word that has real power. 00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:00.979 And even more, 00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:02.500 you've given us your son 00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:03.719 who is our savior 00:32:03.719 --> 00:32:04.519 and our example 00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:05.719 and our model. 00:32:05.839 --> 00:32:07.819 We ask that you would encourage us 00:32:07.819 --> 00:32:08.919 and strengthen us 00:32:08.919 --> 00:32:09.979 by your presence. 00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:11.759 You'd remind us of the great power 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:13.960 that is at our disposal 00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:16.279 because of Jesus' death on our behalf 00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:18.779 and that you would work that deep into our hearts 00:32:18.779 --> 00:32:19.720 that we would love you 00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:22.019 and we would follow you more and more. 00:32:22.319 --> 00:32:23.339 We ask these things 00:32:23.339 --> 00:32:24.920 in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:32:25.380 --> 00:32:25.660 Amen. 00:32:25.660 --> 00:32:29.600 I invite you to stand for our closing hymn. 00:32:29.600 --> 00:32:30.000 Amen.