Come, Follow…Who? ...
King Solomon said, “There is nothing new under the sun.” (Eccl. 1:9). By
that, he meant the problems we have today are very much like problems of long
ago. While we may have new technology like computers, tractors, microwave
ovens, and such, the old problems are still the same. Paul laments in 1st
Corinthians that people shacked-up, cheated on their spouse, and did other
evils against God such as getting caught up in chasing money and materials.
The need for repentance did not originate in Nineveh, nor did the call to faith
begin with Jonah. And these continue to our times.
During Epiphany, we recall how Jesus showed Himself as true God as well as
true man. I want you to consider some blind-alley questions, what God does NOT
say, how God answers according to His own wisdom and strength, and how those
things apply to each of us as God’s people.
Mark says that as Jesus was preaching beside the Sea of Galilee
(Tiberius), He found Andrew and Simon working at their job as fishermen. What
did Jesus command that day?
Did He say, come follow your feelings?
That is what you will hear some religious leaders saying. The emphasis is
on how YOU feel about something or what YOU feel is right. Depending on the
moment, you can feel happy or sad, straight or gay, caring or nasty, or any
other direction or extreme. These paths in life are taken by many; & lead to
eternal ruin in hell.
God’s Word warns us we are filled with rebellion against Him from the
instant of conception; and mutiny comes out in what we say and do, OR by what
we fail to say or do. Just because your sinful heart feels something, that
does not make it right with God, or good for you. Feelings change. God does
not. Sin is sin. God never says “follow your feelings.”
Did Jesus say, come follow your hopes and dreams?
It is easy for people to convince themselves that God wants nothing but
the best for His children. People will say that when you believe hard enough,
God will give you constant blessings of wealth and health. Such a religion is
firmly attached to this world, which is passing away; rather than to God’s
peace and joy, which are eternal.
Then comes a heart attack, a stroke, an auto accident, or a natural
disaster. These remind us that “moths eat and rust corrupts.” Dreams often
die.
Eventually, focusing only on our desires will lead us to become like the
Ninevites - self-centered people known for their cruelty to others.
Hopes and dreams are very important, but we can be so tangled up in this
world we lose sight of the meaning of life: Jesus Christ. He never says
“follow your own desires.”
So did He say, come follow YOUR own wisdom?
Paul wrote in Corinthians 3 that all of the wisdom of this fallen world
(decisions, plans, promises, etc.) are foolishness to God. The Supreme Court
of the USA approved of slavery at one time; and now they don’t. There have
been other reversals, too, by these people who are wise by the standards of
this world. Following OUR own wisdom is foolishness. Jesus never says,
“follow your OWN wisdom.”
Did He say, come follow MY wisdom?
In the summer of 2005, the boy who played Opie Taylor on the TV show
“Mayberry RFD” actor Tom Hanks was in a movie based on a fictional book by Dan
Brown. It is called “The diVinci Code” and it follows the same fallen human
wisdom that’s been around since the Garden of Eden. People make up their own
books and pass them off as authentic; even as “Christian”.
Such fake books as the Gospel of Thomas & Hebrews (collections of wise
sayings empty of Christ, forgiveness, and the cross), the Egyptian Gospel (just
moral ascetic proverbs), Ebionite Gospel (vegetarians), Infancy Gospel
(miracles), Gospel of Peter (Jesus wasn’t human), Epistle of Mary (3 guesses)
and others were mostly written 100 years after Jesus rose from the dead & the
apostles were in heaven. Pompous titles claimed authority from apostles, but
were a pack of lies.
These books have never been hidden, as Brown’s book and movie proclaim.
They teach the Kingdom of God is IN you already, and it just needs a little
secret knowledge (gnosis) or experience to make it grow. They draw on other
world religions, and encourage you to look for wisdom in this world to save
you. Doesn’t Gnosticism sound a LOT like religion today? “Whatever works for
you”?
In the Gnostic way of life, God is external & the problem isn’t who we
are; it is how we act. Gnostics say if we just get enough of their secret
wisdom, or experience or feelings - we will be fine. So if you need to borrow
from Buddha, sprinkle in some Shinto, mix in some Muslim morality, and
generally have a grab-bag of theology - 1st century Gnosticism says that’s
fine. The 21st century is like the 1st century in that way.
But Jesus never says, come follow My wisdom.
What Jesus says is “Come, follow ME.”
God’s Word, which had the ability to create the universe in six days, has
power. It is effective. The call that Christ gives has the power to create
faith in these men, and it does. Great faith. He does not say ‘think about
it’ or ‘make a decision for Jesus, now’. The Holy Spirit worked thru this word
in that moment. The call that Jesus gave to people in the first century is the
one He gives in the twenty-first century. God-in-the-flesh came to live, to
die, to rise, and to ascend “for us and for our salvation.”
“Come and follow” the Christ who fights for your freedom and labors for
your rescue from sin, death, and hell.
“Follow Me” is not a simple one-time decision. It is a life-long choice
the Holy Spirit continues to work in us, because God wants people to go to
heaven. Too often, people treat faith as something you can turn on when it is
convenient. God works a desire in you to CONSTANTLY follow, to DAILY fill
yourself with His goodness, and GROW in Christ all your life.
That’s why Jesus says, “Follow ME, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Not “go up to Canada for a once-in-a-lifetime event”. Fishers. From now on.
That is not something WE decide. It is not something WE go all-out to get
done. Nor is it something that happens in the blink of an eye. God does it.
Who makes us “fishers of men”? The Son of God says as we are following,
JESUS will MAKE us, fashion us, form our faith so we will be able to work in
His Kingdom. Who does it? God. He works in the power of His Word and
Sacraments to build our faith, give us joy in His forgiveness, and tell others
about the cross.
When Jesus proclaims “the Kingdom of God is near”, Jesus Himself is the
Kingdom. The repentance He declares is God’s work of turning souls away from
focusing on our feelings, experiences, desires, and wisdom, and by faith
turning to trust in His promises and strength.
Jesus proved that He was God in this little section. He did not say
“follow God’s teaching” or even “My Word.” Jesus said, “Follow Me.” Only God
could make such a claim and be truthful.
The power of His Word is also displayed in that each of them followed
without delay, and they became life-long fishers of men.
Certainly they faced tests as followers of Jesus: some of the same ones
you and I do. But they listened carefully to the Words of Jesus and followed
Him. They relied on the power of God’s promises, just as you and I can.
In a world that wants to make up stories about a Jesus they would want to
follow, tell people to mix religions with Christian faith to make it easier to
believe, or follow our feelings, may the Lord give you His strength to remain
firm in His promises and follow Jesus - today and always in His Name. Amen.
In His Service,
Pastor Michael Harman
St. Peter – Newell, Iowa
and
First – Fonda
Immanuel – Pomeroy
watching the latest LHM online chat..._______________________________________________
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