Let the Shepherd Lead

Originally Proclaimed: 02/03/19

Intro:

• What do you think about when you hear the word cultivate?
  • My first thoughts rush to gardening and particularly to roses.
  • Most plants require very little care so that with a bit of good soil, the right kind of light, and regular watering in no time you can see the beautiful flowers.
  • Roses are not the same way. The require pruning, and dusting, amending the soil, and protection from the cold.
  • In my experience with roses they must be coaxed little by little to produce any of the beautiful sweet smelling results.

Hook:

• If we were to ask Jesus what the word cultivate made him think about, in my sanctified imagination, I believe he would say it makes him think about raising up true disciples or followers.
• Marshall Segal, a writer at the Christian blog Desiring God, lists three ways believers can almost follow Jesus by: Following (without) your heart, falling away when following gets hard, and hear “follow me” but drag your feet.
  • Segal says “If we almost follow Jesus, tagging along with Christians as long as it’s socially acceptable and psychologically comfortable, we’ll come to the end of the benefits of Christianity. If we truly follow him — desiring him above all else, embracing trials and opposition for his sake, and leaving whatever necessary behind — we won’t need to chase comfort, attention, or happiness here.”
  • https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-to-almost-follow-jesus
• Today, my hope is to share with you how four steps Jesus uses to cultivate followers, that I think helps us both to follow Him and have healthier relationships.

Message Points:

• Jesus’ 1ST step to cultivating followers is one that we have already encountered but should not discount. For someone to follow Christ they must first be called (3:7-19).
  • Jesus from the outset of his ministry seeks to make disciples by calling them out of the crowds for training.
    • Remember back in the first chapter when Jesus calls Simon and Andrew, James and John to follow him and become fishers of men.
    • In chapter 2 Jesus calls Levi to follow, who we know as Matthew.
    • In chapter 3 we will see him do this again as he calls the twelve to himself in verses 13-19.
  • By calling people to himself, Jesus was teaching us something important – Christianity is not cultivated in crowds, but in close personal relationships.
    • Take just a moment and notice that verse 7 tells us Jesus withdrew, but the crowds followed.
    • We read in verse 8 that people came from all over the region, even from areas that were Jewish like Judea, Jerusalem, and through the Jordan; from Herod’s homeplace Idumea, and from Gentile areas like Tyre and Sidon.
    • Verse 9 gives us the vivid instructions that Jesus asked for a boat to keep the people from crowding Him. While verses 10-11 make it plain that people pushed to be healed while demons fell out loudly in front of him.
    • As marvelous as the miracles were, Jesus major problem other than religious leaders opposition was the oppressive and crippling nature of the crowds.
  • Even today, think about the people whose lives you have impacted.
    • Most of us cannot say that we have truly impacted a group of people at the Walmart, or that assembly we sang to in High School.
    • Even those of us who do speak to a crowd regularly, like myself go home after every message wondering, did I get my point across?
    • I would venture to say that most of us would look instead at that small group of friends, family members, and people especially close to us.
    • These are the people who we will invite in when our house is a mess. These are the people who we call when we have an emergency. These are the people we want to have lunch with or with whom we spend our free time.
    • And by extension, these people who see our day to day lives are the ones who are most impacted by our testimony and our witness.
  • That’s why Jesus in verse 13 takes the time to go to the mountainside, and as we read in the other gospels and prays.
    • The crowds would never receive the full impact of knowing Jesus, but a few close associates could get to really know him, and the difference he makes.
    • Notice that verses 14 and 15 tell us that he gave the twelve the same mission and authority he had – to preach and even to drive our demons. In other words He was truly seeking to make them into followers or disciples like their master.
    • If we look at the list, the thing that we should note more than anything else is the ordinariness of these men.
      • And while we are on the topic, it is not that Jesus did not have women who followed him.
      • It is the case, that like any discipleship, Jesus mentored those of his own gender, teaching them to be men of God just as he was the God-man.
      • Further, what sets these men apart is their connection with Jesus.
        • Notice that the only information we receive in this list is connected to Jesus.
        • He gives several of them nicknames – to Simon, the name Peter and to James and John, the name Bonerges or sons of thunder.
        • The only other information tells us about Judas Iscariot – the almost follower of Jesus who responded to the call but ultimately and eternally would betray him.
• Moving into our next verses, we find our 2nd step to cultivating followers: Then that person must commit to hear and obey God (3:20-34).
  • Notice that verses 20-21 and 31-35, which talk about his families opposition to his ministry, form a sandwich  around the opposition of the teachers.
  • Here we find the other major obstacle to the ministry of Christ.
    • Like the crowds who missed the point of his ministry, there were those leaders and even his family who openly opposed his ministry.
    • We should deal with each group separately.
  • First we look at his family.
    • The family of Christ hear that the crowds are following Jesus to the point that he could not eat in verses 20-21.
    • They go to “take charge of Him” assuming He was out of his mind for allowing such a thing to take place.
    • We do not know their motives, but we need not assume they were overtly evil motives.
      • If Joseph was deceased, Jesus as the eldest brother should be leading the family business and assuming the responsibility for Mary’s care. Perhaps his brothers, starting with James, really felt like they needed His help.
      • Not only that, but to incite the crowds had recently led to the arrest, trial and crucifixion by Rome of other popular Jewish lay leaders. Perhaps they all feared for his safety.
    • Whatever their purpose, Jesus answers them in verses 33-34 with a question and answer.
      • He says “who are my mother and my brothers?”
      • And then as he looks at those who had gathered around him in the house saying that they are his family, the ones who do God’s will.
      • In other words Jesus made it plain that the highest commitment of every person is to hear and obey God’s will.
      • Like His mother and brothers, we can quickly get caught up in the good motivations of this life.
        • It is so easy when we see a legitimate need to take it one step too far, like saying that Jesus is out of his mind. By taking it too far, we break our relationships with others and neglect doing God’s will.
        • We also in the midst of a legitimate need can try to do what we think is best for someone, never considering what God’s will might be for that person’s life.
  • Second, we need to consider the religious leaders who openly accused Jesus of being possessed by a demon.
    • This ploy was an attempt to discredit Jesus openly, and obviously had evil motives.
    • Jesus quickly made it plain that it does not make sense for a demon to drive out a demon.
      • Demons have the same purposes – to oppress and keep people from their Lord.
      • One demon commanding another demon to stop divides them and reduces their effectiveness.
    • Then Jesus points out that to truly incapacitate a strong man, a stronger one must tie him up in order to ransack his home.
      • Here Jesus is speaking of the supreme authority and power of God.
      • No demon, even Satan himself can operate if God chooses to intervene because he is more powerful than every demon.
    • But then we read about the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. While we do not have a great deal of time to discuss this, it all boils down to committing to hear and do God’s will.
      • Notice verse 28 begins with the phrase to alert us, Truly.
      • Then we read that people can be forgiven of all sins and slander uttered.
      • But verse 29 then follows that statement with a sin that cannot be forgiven. It is an eternal sin.
      • Jesus calls this sin blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, but we must discern what this blasphemy is from the context.
        • Remember these leaders opposition comes as they accuse Jesus of having demon because he could drive out demons or as verse 30 says an impure spirit.
        • Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit must be speaking against God’s work to change and transform lives.
        • Notice as well that Jesus references how God is strong enough to bind and plunder a strong man’s house.
        • Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit must be speaking against God’s ability to liberate and transform a person’s life so that they can do His will.
  • Both of these groups – Jesus’ family and the religious leaders – seek to hamper people from committing to do God’s will. This teaches us to encourage an ever increasing commitment to do God’s will.
    • Let it never be said of us that we say someone is too far gone to be rescued, redeemed, restored, and revived by the amazing grace and power of our God.
    • Let it never be said of us friends that we have assumed that it is too hard for some people to commit to hear and do God’s will.
    • None of us have perfectly followed Jesus, but all of us can increasingly commit to follow Him.
• As chapter four opens up, it picks up on a change in Jesus’ tactics mentioned in verse 3:23. There we read that Jesus began to speak to them in parables. Verse 4:2 echoes this. Verse 4:33-34 says that Jesus spoke many similar parables, not speaking without them to the crowds, but explaining them to his disciples.
  • Because of the opposition of the leaders and the oppressiveness of the crowds, Jesus’ new tactic was to teach by parable.
    • Parables are entertaining earthly stories with hidden but heavenly meanings.
    • Somewhere in the parable Jesus offered this challenge as he did in verse 4:9, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
    • By doing so Jesus was challenging his followers to consider applications to the parable. Some would leave satisfied with the entertaining stories, but others would begin to consider the heavenly meanings.
• This is Jesus’ 3rd step: He challenges true followers to conform to the Word that is heard (4:1-20).
  • We likely all know the first parable he taught to the crowds.
    • He told them about a farmer who went out to sow. He scatter his seed so that some fell on the path, on rocky places, among the thorns and in good soil.
    • The seed was eaten up, scorched and choked out in all but the good soil so that it produced a great crop.
  • But then His disciples ask him about the parables. Responding to their question Jesus says that the secrets of the Kingdom of God has been given to them, but to those outside it is hidden in parables.
    • Then he summarizes the prophet Isaiah from chapter 6:9-10, connecting his ministry to that of Isaiah who spoke and warned the people, but they did not listen to him.
    • Thought God has chosen to offer people salvation through the proclamation of His Word, God has also chosen to give people the freedom to choose to listen and apply His Word to their lives.
    • It is as simple as this.
      • When asked, “do you want to go to hell?” few would answer yes.
      • Or when asked “do you want to go to heaven?” few would answer no.
      • Most people who answer those two questions would be like the crowds following Jesus for the miracles.
      • Jesus’s point in quoting Isaiah is not saying that he want to exclude people from forgiveness, but to make it plain that to receive forgiveness, we must be willing to conform to His Word.
      • While many want to avoid hell and receive heaven, few will seek to conform themselves to God’s Word.
      • So as to not hamper people from hearing the hard truth about conforming to his word, Jesus proclaims that truth in a parable.
      • It entertains most, but some seek the hidden truth. Notice that verse 10 includes the twelve “and the others around him”. Those who were curious and wanted to conform to God’s Word were welcome.
  • Isn’t that the explanation Jesus offers for the parable of the sower in verses 13-20?
    • He says the seed is like the Word of God.
    • For some people, Satan snatches away God’s Word before they can consider it.
    • Others might happily hear God’s Word, but abandon it rather than conform to it when persecution or trouble comes.
    • Others have so many worries and desires that they do not hear the hope God’s Word offers to those who conform to it.
    • Only Christians who hear God’s word, accept it, and conform their lives to it produce a harvest.
  • In order to cultivating followers Jesus challenges us to conform ourselves to His Word.
• Finally then we see Jesus offer three parables that display his 4th step of cultivating followers. He continue to work so that a follower becomes more concerned with Christ’s will than their own will (4:21-34)
  • Notice the three parables from verse 4:21-34
    • The first one talks about a lamp and how it should be placed so that it gives light to the room.4:21-25
      • By it what is hidden can be revealed.
      • Further the measure we use will be used for us.
      • And those who have will be given more.
      • This parable tells us to use the light we have, namely the grace and forgiveness given to us by Christ to shed light on the rest of our life.
      • Friends, we should think the best of others instead of assigning intentions and seek to help them experience forgiveness in Christ.
    • The second parable talks about a sower again, but this time the seed grows without this help until the harvest.
      • By this we can understand that the seed again is God’s Word.
      • Our job is to sow, wait, and reap. Everything in between during the waiting is up to God.
    • The third parable talks about the mustard seed.
      • It begins as the smallest seed but grows to be a large tree.
      • God’s Word again is the seed, and in us it can grow to be the largest part of our lives.
  • Each of these parables teaches us to patiently follow Jesus that obedience to God’s Word and will might grow in us.

Conclusion:

• None of us here today wants to be an almost follower of Jesus.
• But you may be curious as to truly cultivate your following of Jesus.
• It is simple friends. Jesus is calling you this morning. Do you hear him?
• Jesus wants you to hear and obey God. Are you willing?
• When you hear hard truth will you turn away or seek to conform to Him?
• Most importantly is Jesus more important to you than everything else?