“Follow Me”Mountain Grove Gathering

October 2015

“Follow me” Beginning

“Follow me” Ending

“Follow me” During

The gospels contain over twenty references where Jesuspersonallyinvited people to follow him.

• "Follow me and I will make you fishers of

men" (Matt. 4:18-20; Mk. 1:16-18; Lk. 5:1-

11)

• "We have left everything and followed you"

(Matt. 19:27; Mk. 10:28; Lk. 18:28)

• “Why can't I follow you now?" (Jn. 13:36-37)

• "Peter was following him at a distance" (Matt.

26:58; Mk. 14:54; Lk. 22:54; Jn. 18:15)

• "You follow me" (Jn. 21:19-22)

• akoloutheo [to follow] • akolouthos [a follower]• prefix a ["union, likeness,"] and keleuthos ["a way"]

"one going in the same way"

Most frequently occurs in the Gospels

JourneyDynamic

A process

“The Way” (Acts 9:2; 18:25-26;19:9, 23; 22:4,14, 22)

“…by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his Flesh” (Heb. 10:20 ESV)

Kaleō = “call” and “name”

“God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.”(Romans 8:29-30 The Message)

Jesus Called/Named Peter“Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently [emblepo] at Simon, Jesus said, ‘Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas’ (which means “Peter”).” (Jn. 1:42 NLT)

“Grace replaces who you are with who you can become…” (Ginny Owens, Mystery of Grace)

Cephas only occurs 8 other times (all by Paul)

“The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists of listening to them. Just as love of God begins with listening to his word, so the beginning of love for our brothers and sisters is learning to listen to them.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." (John 10:3 ESV)

Following the call was somethingPeter thought deeplyabout

Transformational (1 Pet.1:15; 2:9; 3:9;5:10; 2 Pet. 1:3)

 ”For you were called to this. Because Christ also suffered for you, leaving-behind a pattern for you in order that you might follow-after His footsteps…For you were going-astray like sheep, but now you returned to the Shepherd” (1 Pet. 2:21-25 DLNT)

What is the mode of transportation?

We Walk……in newness of life (Rom. 6:4)

…according to the spirit (Rom. 8:4; Gal. 5:16)

…by faith (2 Cor. 5:7)

…in light (1 Jn. 1:7)

…in love (Eph. 5:2)

…worthy of our calling in Jesus (Eph. 4:1; 1 Thes. 2:12; Col. 1:10; Col. 2:6)

…in good works (Eph. 2:10)

Doctrine Behavior=

“What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.”

"Christ did not appoint professors, but followers. If Christianity ... is not reduplicated in the life of the person expounding it, then he does not expound Christianity, for Christianity is a message about living and can only be expounded by being realized in men's lives."

Soren Kierkegaard

“This is how we can be sure that we are in him: the one who claims to abide in God ought to walk just as Jesus walked.” (1 Jn. 2:5-6 Mounce)

"Simon Peter said to him, 'Lord, where are you going?' Jesus answered him, 'Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.' Peter said to him, 'Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.' Jesus answered, 'Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.'"(John 13:36-38 ESV)

Taking up the cross and following Jesus

Matt. 16:24; Mk. 8:34; Lk. 9:23

Matt. 10:38

Lk. 14:27

Matt. 16:24; Mk. 8:34; Lk. 9:23"The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with his death—we give over our lives to death. Thus it begins; the cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”

Bonhoeffer, Cost of Discipleship

"Peter answered him, 'We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?'" (Matt. 19:27 ESV)

“Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.” (Mark 10:21-22 NIV)

• Family-based fishing syndicates were financially well off (e.g., Wuellner, et. al.) and politically connected (Jn. 18:15-16)

• Garum

• Magdala or Tarichaeae ("Processed-Fishville")

“And Jesus told them, ‘Believe me, nobody has left his home or wife, or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God, without receiving very much more in this present life—and eternal life in the world to come.’” (Lk. 18:29-30 PHILLIPS)“…the happiness with which the disciple is blessedhere and now…Brethren in Christ join a rich, loving,and generous community. It is brothers and sisters and mothers…which they are taught to be to each other.They are not invited to be censors and inspectors and policemen.”(Bro. Alfred Norris)

“Simon Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, where are you going?’Jesus answered, ‘Where I am going, you can’t follow me now, but you will follow later.’Peter asked, ‘Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I’ll give up my life for you.’Jesus replied, ‘Will you give up your life for me? I assure you that you will deny me three times before the rooster crows.’” (Jn. 13:36-38 CEB)

"The principle runs through all life from top to bottom, Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favourite wishes every day and death of your whole body in the end, submit with every fibre of your being, and you will find eternal life. Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not given away will be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead."

C.S. Lewis

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20)

Despite a Really Bad Night PeterKeeps Following

• He has the worst seat at the Lord’s Supper• The whole fiasco around washing the feet• He has to ask John (who had a great seat) for help in determining who would betray Jesus• Individually and in front of the whole group,Jesus tells him that he will betray his Master threetimes

• The three (Peter, James and John) fall asleep butJesus only reproves Peter

"Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance....”

“…a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light”

“a little later someone else saw him and said, 'You also are one of them’”

“another insisted, saying, 'Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.’”

“And the Lord turned [strepho s.w. Matt.16:23] and looked [emblepo s.w. Jn. 1:42] at Peter.”

What is the event in yourlife that you are most ashamed of?

John 21:18-23 DLNT

walking where you were wanting to go

bring you where you are not wanting to go

signifying by what kind of death he will glorify God

“Be following Me!”

“Lord, and what of this one?

“…what is it to you? You be following Me!”

Bad Memories

“When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire [anthrakia] in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread” (Jn. 21:9)

Only other X is Jn. 18:18

This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. John 21:14

Three failures in the garden

Three denials

“…he wrapped his outer garment around him [diazónnumi] (Jn. 21: 7)

Only other X is Jn. 13:4-5

Jesus: "Simon son of John, do you truly love [agapao] me more than these?"Peter: "Yes, Lord, you know that I love [phileo] you."Jesus: "Feed [boske] my lambs [arnion]"Jesus: "Simon son of John, do you truly love [agapao] me?"Peter: "Yes, Lord, you know that I love [phileo] you."Jesus: "Take care of [poimaino] my sheep [probaton]."Jesus: "Simon son of John, do you love [phileo] me?"Peter is "grieved" [lupeo]Peter: "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love [phileo] you."Jesus: "Feed [boske] my sheep [probaton]."

This is a continuation of their conversation on the "nighthe was betrayed."

Jesus: "Simon son of John, do you truly love [agapao] me more than these?"

"'You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, "I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered." But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.' Peter answered him, 'Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.' Jesus said to him, 'Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.' Peter said to him, 'Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!' And all the disciples said the same." (Matt. 26:31-35 ESV)

The comparisons to others stops...for the moment

arnion

"a little lamb...lambkin"

Only used by Jn, almost exclusively in Rev.

Not amnos

"lamb"

Sacrifice...Peter's intro to Jesus (Jn. 1:29, 36)

"...you were ransomed...not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, likethat of a lamb without blemish or spot." (1 Pet. 1:18-19 ESV)

arnion probaton

Jn. 10

"For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned [epistrepho] to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." (1 Pet. 2:25 ESV)

"'Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again [epistrepho], strengthen your brothers.'" (Lk. 22:31-32 ESV)

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1 Peter 5:1ff ESV)

Grieved• He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do

you love me?" Peter was grieved [lupeo] because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" (Jn. 21:17 ESV)

• "And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, 'Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.' They began to be sorrowful [lupeo] and to say to him one after another, 'Is it I?'" (Mk. 14:18-19 ESV)

"As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, 'The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.' And they were greatly distressed [lupeo]."(Matt. 17:22-23 ESV)

"Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, 'Sit here, while I go over there and pray.' And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful [lupeo] and troubled. Then he said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful [perilupeo] even to death; remain here, and watch with me.'" (Matt. 26:37-38 ESV)

“God allows us to experience the low points of life in order to teach us lessons that we could learn in no other way.”

C.S. Lewis

Jesus: "Simon son of John, do you agapao me more than these?"Peter: "Yes, Lord, you know that I phileo you."Jesus: "Simon son of John, do you truly agapao me?"Peter: "Yes, Lord, you know that I love phileo you."Jesus: "Simon son of John, do you phileo me?"Peter: "Lord, you know all things; you know that I phileo you."

Let's Talk About Love

"...many Christians in America just know that agape is a Greek word that refers to divine, unconditional love, a higher love than any other. But as a matter of fact, agape does not have this special meaning in Greek, and is only slightly different in meaning from phileo. Agape means 'love,' and it has about the same range of meaning as the English word 'love.' It can refer to loving people, food, God, money, or anything else. It can refer to selfless love or selfish love, depending on the context. Surprisingly, Greek scholars and New Testament scholars widely agree on this conclusion, but most other Christians, including many pastors, are unaware of it. I am not aware of any living Greek scholar who accepts the view of agape that is widely proclaimed from the pulpit."

"Then Peter . . .seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved (AGAPAO)" — John 21:20 (19:26; 21:7)"She. . .cometh . . .to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved (PHILEO)" — John 20:2"For whom the Lord loveth (AGAPAO) he chasteneth." — Hebrews 12:6"As many as I love (PHILEO), I rebuke and chasten" — Revelation 3:19"ye love (AGAPAO) the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets." — Luke 11:43"love (PHILEO) greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues" — Luke 20:46

"Now concerning brotherly love [philadelphia] you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love [agapao] one another" (1 Thessalonians 4:9 ESV)

"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other [philadelphia], love one another deeply [agapao], from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." (1 Pet. 1:22-23 NIV)

Why?• Both phileo and agape are essential• Jesus was telling Peter that he needed to love people

with whom he had no personal connection• Jesus met Peter where he was but let him know that

growth was going to happen

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. (2 Peter 1:12-15 ESV)

What about him?

What is that to you? You follow me!

What Did Peter Learn?• Both phileo and agape are essential

• Give special care to the lambkins

• We love Jesus by loving each other

• Jesus accepts where we are and who we are but he is relentless in expecting us and helping us to become who we are meant to be

• We become who we are meant to be by obeying Jesus' command: "Follow me."