Are you a Fan or A True Follower of Jesus?
Matthew 4:19, John 6:60-66
The Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg established Facebook in 2004. Within months, Facebook quickly became successful on campus and expanded beyond Harvard into other Ivy League schools. Since then, Facebook grew popular and became nationally known across the world. As a result, today we use face book to connect with our friends and to network. One of the features of Facebook is that you can create a page and draw fans. Now friends and fans are two different things in Facebook. An invitation has to be made and accepted to become a friend. However, a fan is simply someone who is interested in the information you provide on a page or they might be interested in you.
Well, in sports, we have fans to various teams and players. During the NBA playoff series, Chicago has a lot of Bulls Fans cheering them on. Similar to the biblical times of Jesus. Our Lord was very popular. He drew crowds through his ministry. He healed the sick. He delivered the demon possessed. He feed the hungry. He gave life to the lifeless. Through his compassionated ministry, he drew large crowds and had somewhat a large following. Beyond the twelve disciples Jesus had other disciples following him. In Luke 10:1, Jesus sent out Seventy Two to perform many miraculous signs. But as surely Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray him, he knew that many that was on his jock was not true followers but fans. The question that is addressed to you, are you a Fan or a true follower of Jesus?
The Bible records Jesus saying “Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!”.
Jesus knew that many who even perform the task of Church work and even attended church was not true in heart and did not the Father’s will. Those who seem to be believers are not followers but fans. I call fans or so-called Christians, knock-offs Christians. They look like Christians, sound like Christians, act like Christians but all along they are only fans.
How can you tell the difference between a Fan or a Follower of Jesus?
1. A Follower puts Jesus first: Jesus told Andrew and Peter, Follow Me (Matthew 4:19), Jesus said to Matthew; Follow Me (Matthew 9:9). In each case, the disciples dropped everything they were doing and left everything behind to follow Jesus. But Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Set your minds on things above (Colossians 3:2). We can get so distracted on our own agenda. But God has agenda already plan for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11.
2. A Follower creates other Followers: When I was a child, I played a game called follower the leader. We touch turns being a leader and eventually when everyone had a turn. We were a follower when the game is over. Jesus told Andrew and Peter, I will make you fishers of men. Andrew told Peter about Jesus. Peter later became the Rock of the Church (Matthew 16:16) and preach to thousands. The end times are near. We should individually and collectively focus on Jesus great commission. Matthew 28:19 Make disciples of all nations baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded them in the Holy Bible.
3. A Follower is committed: Jesus said in John 8:31, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. In the book John, Jesus is recorded in 6:53 telling the disciples the requirements for a dedicated and committed believer. After Jesus layout the hard truth, many of the disciples said, “This is hard teaching. Who can accept it?” John6:61. They turned back and no longer followed Jesus (John 6:66).
When things begin to get tough in life, this is not the time to through in the towel. When a sports team is winning, everybody wants to be a fan. But when the team is losing, many fans jump ship and chose another option. A true follower will stick through the storm even when the team is losing. Are they any true followers in the house?
4. A true Follower of Jesus is a Worshiper. Fans only get excited when a spectacular play occurs. Fans of Jesus only get happy when they can get a blessing. Praise be to God for True Followers. Even in the valley of the shadow of death, they are praising God. Even when they don’t see the blessing, they are praising God. When the funds are low and when friends are few, they praise God.
Don’t just be a Fan, be a true follower of Jesus
