In Step with King Jesus

September 8, 1991 AM

Lesson John 21:15-25

Text: Mark 1:16-18

Introduction

If you follow some people around you'll get rich; if you hang with others you'll get into trouble. One thing is sure, the people that you are in step with are going to make a big difference in your life.

Peter decided to hang around with Jesus and that decision took him into all sorts of situations! Including one time of walking on water! People have talked about it ever since, but no one, so far as I know, has ever done it in the summer time!

It all began for Peter one day by the sea-side. Several boats were pulled up on the beach, and Peter and his brother and others were going about their business. Some were washing their nets; some were looking to their boats.

Peter thought he saw the ripple of fish feeding along the shore and he walked over and threw his round casting net over the place. It was just then he saw Him. The Man called Christ, the Man who was like no other man.

Something inside Peter was stirred deeply. And then he heard Jesus say, "Follow me..."

And that is just what Peter did. He put aside everything, and began to follow Jesus. He could not know then where they might go. But Peter decided he would forsake all else and trust Jesus.

I. A CALL TO FOLLOW JESUS IS A CALL TO ABANDONMENT

  1. A call "Follow Me" means leaving nets and all and a definite change of life. A "turning." It may not be as dramatic a leaving as Peter and Andrew, James and John, but make no mistake- if you follow Jesus, really follow Him, then NOTHING else comes ahead of Him!
  2. A call means willingness to take orders. Training is part of serving. Rough edges need to be knocked off in any smooth-running relationship. [Marriage's first 365 days!]

    Peter was of the "Let's just DO it!" "Shoot from the LIP" variety of people! GOOD people— but do they ever need to learn to FOLLOW and TAKE ORDERS!

  3. Later Peter came near complaining: "Lord, we have left ALL and followed Thee!" Implying, perhaps, the question: Is it worth it, this total abandonment? Jesus did not hesitate to assure him: "Yes! It is the ONLY way!"

[BACK TO PETER'S ADVENTURES:] Do you remember two key incidents in Peter's life?

One was a real high point, when Peter was inspired to say to Jesus: "Thou art the Christ! the Son of the living God!"

And in reply Jesus said: "Blessed are you, Peter! I will build my church on this Rock! I'm giving you the keys to the kingdom!"

The other time was one Peter would liked to have forgotten. It was a really low place. Trusting in his own strength, Peter said: "Though every other follower abandons You, I won't!" And this time Jesus gently said, "You will deny me three times before morning!"

II. A CALL TO FOLLOW JESUS IS A CALL TO RESPONSIBILITY

  1. It is inescapable: God's people are groomed for growth. This is certainly true in the Cosmic Scheme; Jesus said that when the faithful face Him in heaven they will hear Him say: "Well done! You have been faithful over few things, I will make you ruler over MANY! Enter into the JOY of thy Lord!"

    But don't be mistaken: It is also true right here in the arena of mortal existence!!

  2. Imperfect, controversial, biased and sometimes a bit two-faced because of his fears (see Galatians 2), still Peter was challenged by Jesus with the charge of great responsibility: "I will give you the keys to the kingdom..."
  3. God challenges every one of His children to follow Jesus into matters that count for eternity. He does not want us to settle for trivia.

    Someone has scrambled all the price tags of our world; we pay too much for money, and we value life-changing love so little! But Jesus gives the keys to the kingdom to those who will follow Him, and only to those.

[BACK TO THE PETER SAGA] - One last incident in Peter's following of Jesus:

It the first Easter evening. Jesus left a message: "Tell the disciples, and especially Peter, I'll meet them by the lake."

It was a 90-mile journey back to Galilee, and the disciples must have made it back to Galilee in record time. And less than a week later, back by the beautiful lake where they had once earned their living, Jesus met them on the very same shore where He had first called them.

Jesus took the big fisherman aside, and He tenderly renewed the relationship.

"Do you still love Me?" He asked.

Peter was grieved that He had to ask. But the relationship was restored.

Then Jesus said those very same words again! He said, "Whatever the others do, Peter, you FOLLOW ME! "You will follow Me now, Peter, even to the death."

III. A CALL TO FOLLOW JESUS IS A CALL TO LOVE AND TRUST EVEN TO THE DEATH

  1. It isn't that we will be tortured to death. Things aren't always as simple and clear-cut as that. "How sweet would be their children's fate if they, like them, could die for Thee."

    Anyway, in this world, [which until recently was divided into what we call "Free" and "Communist" or "Totalitarian"] where, do you suppose, is the Christian Faith "healthiest?" Where it costs the most!

  2. The most important aspect of faith to superficial Christians is that we save our souls from hell, and save our skins here from as much discomfort here and now as possible.

    This is what spawns such half-truth doctrines such as "Give to get!" "Tithe the income you WISH you had!" Even "Seek first the kingdom— do the necessary religious exercises— AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED!" People go where they hear what they want to hear! But all these Bible-half-truths are perversions of deeper truth about true riches!

  3. In matter of fact, Life (as we see it with the natural eye) is NOT fair! Jesus was crucified at 33 years of age! Every one of his followers since, up to the present generation, of course, has died, too.

    Does it pay to follow Jesus, even to the death? I WISH WE COULD ASK PETER IN PERSON, RIGHT NOW! (Where, do you suppose Peter is?)

Conclusion:

The common caricature of Peter is the gate keeper of heaven. There he stands with the keys, saying who shall and who shall not enter. But of course that is just a caricature.

Peter, just now, is near where Jesus is! He is still following! Peter, just like you and me, needed to come to God by grace through faith. [Am I saying all people are equal before God? In love, I am sure we are all loved equally. But in stature and accomplishment? No way! When we see Peter we shall be duly impressed.]

I imagine the reunion that took place when Peter died! How, do you suppose, did Jesus greeted Peter when Peter's great spirit left his martyred body, and was escorted by the angels to the Presence?

[FINAL 'PETER SAGA'] Whether or not it was said in words, or how it was expressed, can only be imagined. But in the greeting [of "Well done, faithful servant! Enter thou into the JOYS of thy Lord!"] there had to be a flashback in both their minds to that day along the lake shore when a number of boats were pulled up on the sand and a stranger came by with the holy light of God in His face, and he said to Peter and his brother, Andrew, "Follow Me!"

Jesus is still stopping by where we are, going about our daily routines, and saying: "Follow Me!"

You don't know what you are getting into, or where you may end up if you hear that voice and obey. But you do know Who you will be walking with!

Prayer: Thank You for the privilege of being near You! Amen.

Hymn Where He Leads Me, I Will Follow