Matthew Lecture 14

2010 Matthew Lecture 14

THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS

Matthew 8:18-34

Key Verse: 8:20

“Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’”

This passage contains three events: Jesus teaches the cost of discipleship, Jesus calms the storm, and Jesus drives out evil spirits from two men. Following Jesus is costly. Anyone who decides to follow Jesus must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Jesus daily. In order to follow Jesus, we must forget about worldly dreams. However, those who follow Jesus with an unconditional decision can come to know who Jesus is. Knowing of Jesus rightly is critical important in our Christian life. It also takes lifetime. Once we know who Jesus is we can be useful for his purpose of world salvation. Today we learn the secret to truly knowing Jesus.

First, the cost of following Jesus (18-22).

Look at verse 18. “When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.” This crowd had been stirred by Jesus’ beautiful words from the Sermon on the Mount. They had been healed by Jesus’ compassionate touch. They were hanging around Jesus and they wanted to be with Jesus forever. But Jesus gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Jesus loved not only the people in Galilee but also the people living in the other side of the lake. Jesus was eager to spread the gospel even into Gentile territory. Jesus showed an example of pioneering spirit to his disciples. From the beginning of his ministry, disciples followed Jesus. Jesus called Peter and his brother Andrew, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. When Jesus called James and his brother John, immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. (4:18-22) There were many others who were ready to follow and obey Jesus. When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he did not ask as to who would come, follow him. Instead he gave strict orders to cross to the other side of the lake. It required obedience that comes from trust and commitment. In this way, Jesus selected committed disciples from the crowd.

Look at verse 19. “Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.’” In Galilee the teachers of the law appeared as lower-level officials who acted in the synagogue as teachers or interpreters (7:28-29). Usually they had been disciples of a rabbi until they finished their course of study and then become legal experts. The teacher of the law in this verse came to Jesus with that background, referring to Jesus as “teacher,” the equivalent of the Hebrew title “rabbi.” This man had been greatly moved by Jesus’ teachings. He appreciated Jesus’ teachings because they were dynamic, and there was the absoluteness of God in Jesus’ teachings. Moreover, Jesus put into practice what he taught setting a good example. But the teachers of the law spoke from their own minds, and their teachings were powerless and vague. They failed to live up to their own standard, and they were hypocrites. This man was greatly moved by Jesus’ power in word and action. So he wanted to follow Jesus, learn from Jesus, and become a true teacher of the law. His inspiration was good. However, he didn’t know what it meant for him to follow Jesus. Following Jesus would be quite different from the privileged life he might have experienced in his prior training. Rabbis enjoyed a relatively high status within Judaism, but Jesus had no school or synagogue or prestigious place of honour among the religious establishment. Rabbis and their disciples were often invited and served with good hospitality. But Jesus and his disciples were so busy that they would skip meals and had to sleep anywhere when they were not invited.

Look at verse 20. “Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’” To explain the humble lifestyle that Jesus would live, Jesus compared it to that of animals. Even the foxes and birds have a home to go to. But Jesus had no home. Jesus had no house, no condominium. Jesus is the Son of God. But in verse 20, he refers to himself as “the Son of Man.” This title emphasizes Jesus’ humanity and humility. In order to be with us, Jesus, the holy Son of God, renounced his heavenly power and glory and came to this world as a man. While on earth, he became a servant of all kinds of people. For such a dreaming teacher of the law, to learn the humble and serving life of Jesus might be harder than sleeping on cold ground. To be a disciple of Jesus he had to die to his pride and self-glory seeking desire. He had to be willing to lose everything in the world that he had trusted in for security. Then he could follow Jesus. Such a decision is costly, but the reward is Jesus himself.

Apostle Paul was a true man of Israel, a Hebrew of Hebrews. He was a Pharisee in regard to the law. As for legalistic he was righteous and faultless. He was a great man of the learned and the able of the day. But he considered everything a loss to gain Jesus. He says in Philippians 3:7-9, “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” Paul’s life purpose was to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death (Philippians 3:10).

To know Jesus and to be with him is worth losing all the things of the world. William M. Miller served as a missionary to Iran for over 40 years from 1919-1962. He saw very little fruit numerically throughout his many years of service. In his book he tells several testimonies of Muslims who had come to Christ. He had heard that a man in Seistan, which is on the border of Afghanistan and one of the most resistant areas in the world, had become a Christian. He marveled, as he had ministered briefly in this area many years earlier and experienced a time of bitter discouragement, the most difficult he had ever known. Siestan was over 600 very inaccessible miles away from where he was stationed, but he looked forward to meeting the man and eventually he was able to travel to the region. With great difficulty he found the Christian. He asked the man how he had become a Christian. The man replied that he had been a Christian from reading the Bible. Mr. Miller asked him “Where did you get a Bible?” The man said, “I got it from you.” Missionary William Miller served Jesus and his people for over 40 years in Iran. His fruit was nothing but just a few convert Christians. But throughout his missionary life he had learned of Christ Jesus, who sacrificed his life to save others.

Look at verse 21. “Another disciple said to him, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’” This man wanted to cross the lake with Jesus, but he felt torn between following Jesus and taking a family responsibility. We don’t know if his father had actually died. But the obligation to care for the dead came implicitly from the command to “honour your father and your mother” (Ex 20: 12). Perhaps he was the first son of his family and wanted to care for his father in his old age. Or perhaps he was returning to fulfil the second stage of burial by transferring the bones of his father a year after death to an ossuary. In any case, this man makes a great contrast with Peter, Andrew, James and John who left their nets and immediately followed Jesus.

How did Jesus deal with his request? Look at verse 22. “But Jesus told him, ‘Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.’” Jesus taught clearly that we must put a first priority in Jesus’ call to discipleship. No excuse can justify a delay. It is true that emotional attachments in families run deep. The word of God tells us, “Honor your father and your mother” (Ex 20:12). Jesus obeyed his parents. Jesus cared for his mother, even from the cross. Many in Australia send their parents to the nursing home and do not care for them. We must love, respect and care for our parents. However, we must give first place to Jesus’ call to discipleship. Many say to Jesus, “Lord, first let me buy a house.” “Lord, first let me look after my family.” In any case, Jesus is elevating his call to “follow me” above all other responsibilities and commitments. Jesus himself showed us the example. When his ministry was growing, once his mother and brothers came and stood outside the house where he was teaching, wanting to see him. Jesus was giving the word of life to dying souls. He did not stop teaching the Bible. Instead, he said, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Mt 12:50). When we do God’s will, we join his eternal family. But those who turn back from following Jesus are dead spiritually. Even if they enjoy a few brief years of human fellowship in the world, they forfeit the best blessing of God forever. When we put Jesus first, we gain eternal life and we can give good influence to our family members.

Second, Jesus calms the storm (23-27).

Look at verse 23. “Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.” Those in the boat with Jesus were those who had counted the cost of following him. They knew that inconvenience and hardship were to be expected while following Jesus. They must have struggled with their human emotions and other commitments. But they had decided to follow Jesus unconditionally. They were committed themselves to make a choice in following Jesus.

Look at verse 24. “Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.” The Sea of Galilee is below sea level and surrounded by plateaus which have deep ravines carved into them. When air pressure changes, a sudden wind can come upon the lake turning it from calm to wild. Such a storm suddenly came against their boat. The danger was real, and the disciples feared for their lives. But Jesus was sleeping. Jesus slept so soundly that even a furious storm could not wake him up. Jesus was not afraid by anything. There was perfect peace in Jesus, and he could sleep well.

The disciples were helpless before the storm. But they believed Jesus could save them. So they cried out to him. Look at verse 25. “The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’” Their response is natural. Ordinary people could be fearful in that situation. However, Jesus was not happy with them. Look at verse 26. “He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” Jesus said, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’” Jesus challenged them to overcome their fear by the power of faith.

Fear has always been a great enemy of mankind. Those who live in fear are bound with invisible chains. Every time they want to do something great, their chains tighten their hands and feet and they become paralysed. On the other hand, those who overcome their fear become the great men and women in history. Jesus’ disciples must overcome fear. Overcoming fear is lesson number one in their discipleship training course. There are many kinds of fears such as fear of future, fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of illness, fear of finance and so on. Ultimately, fear is rooted in the fear of death. The Bible calls death the last enemy of mankind (1Co 15:26). Jesus conquered this enemy for us through his death and resurrection. Jesus said in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”

After helping his disciples, Jesus dealt with the storm. Jesus got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. Jesus has power to subdue the winds and the waves. Jesus is God Almighty. Jesus can calm any kind of storm with one word from his mouth. Look at verse 27. “The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!’” The disciples were no longer fearful at all. They were overwhelmed with amazement at Jesus.

Third, Jesus heals two demon-possessed men (28-34).

Jesus and his disciples arrived at the other side of the lake in the region of the Gadarenes. This was Gentile territory. Jesus went there to meet two men whom everyone else avoided. From Israel, Jesus heard their desperate cry. So he went to visit them. Jesus also wanted to further train his disciples in practical faith, godly compassion, and missionary vision. Look at verse 28. “When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.” The two men were possessed by demons. This is not what God intended. God made each human being with a unique personality. We can enjoy this uniqueness when we find ourselves in God and live in obedience to his word. But if a man rebels against God, God may give him over to his sinful nature and ultimately to demons, who work hard in the disobedient (Ro 1:28; Eph 2:2). A person who is possessed by a demon is no longer in charge of his life. Instead, the demons are in charge. Demons drove these men to dwell among the dead in tombs. Demons made these men so violent that they damaged many others. They were helpless before the power of demons.

However, demons are scared to death of Jesus. Look at verses 29-31. “‘What do you want with us, Son of God?’ they shouted. ‘Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?’ Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, ‘If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.’” The demons were afraid of Jesus because they knew that Jesus is the Son of God. They knew that the day would come when Jesus would throw them into the fiery lake of burning sulfur for eternal condemnation (Jude 6). They trembled before Jesus, knowing he would drive them out of the men. So they begged to be sent into the pigs.

Jesus has no pity on demons. Jesus came to destroy the work of demons (1Jn 3:8). Jesus is the Son of God who destroys demons in order to restore God’s righteous rule in men and in the world. These two men had suffered much under the torment of demons. Now Jesus wanted to set them free by an act of his grace. Look at verse 32. “He said to them, ‘Go!’ So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.” Here we learn Jesus’ authority over demons. With just one word, Jesus drove them out of the men. When Jesus said, “Go!” they were compelled to leave immediately, whether they liked it or not. They had to obey Jesus. The power of demons was pretty strong. Yet Jesus drove out this terrible force with a word. Jesus knew that the pigs would be lost. But Jesus did not mind sacrificing a herd of pigs to save two men from the torment of demons.

Look at verses 33-34. “Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.” Jesus had brought a great spiritual blessing to the people of that region by driving out the demons. But in their spiritual ignorance, the townspeople misunderstood, thinking that Jesus caused the ruin of their pig business. So they began to fear for their pig business, and asked Jesus to leave them alone.

In this passage we learn the cost of following Jesus. We may lose everything in the world while following Jesus. But the great reward is Jesus himself. Jesus is everything to us. To follow Jesus, we must make an unconditional decision to put him first in our lives. We must follow Jesus whenever he calls us, and we must go wherever he wants us to go. Then we can experience his almighty power. Jesus can calm down all kinds of the winds and the waves in our lives. Jesus can drive out demons. When we follow Jesus and become his disciples we can experience his mighty power and live victorious lives. Let’s listen to Jesus’ invitation and become his disciples. “Follow me first, and let the dead bury their own dead.”