“Come and Follow” // Matthew 4:18-22
The following is a manuscript of the sermon presented by Senior Pastor Dr. Roger Patterson on Sunday, March 20, 2022 at our West U Baptist Church Campus. To view the sermon in full, check out the link below.
As you may know, I have been traveling with a team of 17 of students and adults this spring break to take the gospel to the utter-most parts of the world. If you saw my Facebook post this week, I mentioned that on one of the days, we went to the end of the earth and then traveled an additional 30 miles! This trip is led by Jerry Edrington and focuses on our senior class. Eight students, my son Cooper being one of them, joined up with our youth staff and some parents, to follow Jesus to the mountains of Ecuador to wash children’s feet, give them new socks and boots, and share the good news message of Jesus. We have literally seen hundreds of children and their parents come to know Jesus Christ. The goal is that in each of these communities, a Bible study is started and then a church gets launched from there. Through the years, we have been a part of helping launch some 30+ churches in the mountains of Ecuador through our partnership with One Heart Global Ministries.
Why would these high school seniors, youth staff, and parents spend their spring break doing this? What motivates us to go across the street and around the world with this message of good news?
The answer to this question is quite simple and its something we will begin to study today as we launch a new series called 30 Days to Easter. In this study, we will look at four key invitations from Jesus to His followers:
4 Invitations from Jesus
- Come and Follow
- Take and Eat
- Watch and Pray
- Go and Tell
Those four invitations from Jesus answer the question as to why we came to Ecuador this week and if we will bring our hearts to each of these invitations this Easter, we will experience a joy that will culminate on Easter Sunday that will be palpable.
This study also has a small group video series associated with it and is one where you can simply invite someone else to join you as you seek to introduce them to Jesus. If you want to launch a group or connect with a group, please fill out the card in your bulletin this Sunday and turn it in at our Welcome Desk.
Let’s Read our Text together today, as we look at this invitation from Jesus to Come and Follow.
I’m using the New Living Translation today.
Matthew 4:18-22
“One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him. A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
Now, this is at the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry. In the previous verses of this chapter, we see that John the Baptist has just been arrested. Jesus learns of this and that’s when his ministry begins. Verse 13 speaks of Jesus leaving his hometown of Nazareth and going to live in Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, two tribes in the North and Northwestern part of the Sea of Galilee region.
Matthew then indicates that this was to fulfill what Isaiah had prophesied in Isaiah 9:1-3.
Isaiah 9:1-3
“Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder.”
So, as Jesus begins his ministry, joy comes on the scene, as his ministry inaugurates a joy in the region that was always first to be overrun by the Gentile armies when they would invade and bring war.
Today, we are looking at the first of the four invitations from Jesus we will be studying as we prepare for Easter Sunday. This invitation to Come and Follow is the same invitation He places on hearts today. Let’s use this outline as we study this passage today.
Jesus’ invitation is to…
- Come to Him, just as we are
- Follow Him, adopting His agenda
- Go with Him, bringing others into His Kingdom
Let’s look at this first one.
Jesus’ invitation is to…
I. Come to Him, Just as We Are
Look again at verses 18 and 19.
Matthew 4:18-19
“One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”
Now, when you first see this, you might think something like, “Wow! Wait a minute. Is this the first time they have ever met Jesus? They just pick up and leave everything and immediately go to Jesus?”
It’s a great question, honestly. And what we see if we look at the other gospel accounts is that Andrew and Peter have both had some exchanges with Jesus and Matthew just leaves that part of the story out.
But if we look at John’s gospel, we see an interaction between Andrew and Jesus, as Andrew leaves John the Baptist to follow after Jesus. You see, Andrew already had a heart that was seeking after God. He had become a disciple of John, by aligning himself to him.
That’s what they would do back then. They would hear a rabbi teach and they would choose to become one of his followers, or disciples. When we meet Andrew, we are introduced to him as a disciple of John. Look with me at John 1:35 and following.
John 1:35-42
“The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).”
So, Andrew has been following John the Baptist. John points him and another disciple to Jesus as the Lamb of God, and Andrew gets to spend time with Jesus and then he goes to Simon, his brother and says, “We found the Messiah!”
Jesus and Simon then have an interaction and Jesus says, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas, (which means Peter).”
So, when we get to Matthew’s gospel, Andrew already believes Jesus is the Messiah based on his time with Jesus and John’s declaration about Jesus.
Then, in Luke’s gospel, we see the broader interaction of Jesus calling Peter and Andrew from their boats. It’s here that I want us to spend some time together, because, as we see this invitation, we see that we are to come to Him, just as we are.
Turn in your Bibles to Luke 5:1-11.
Let’s read the broader story of Jesus’ call to Andrew and Peter, and James and John.
Luke 5:1-11
“One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.”
Notice in verse 3, Jesus steps into Simon’s boat and asked him to punch out into the water.
You see, it was a great crowd, and Jesus knew that if he could get out from the shore, he could sit in the boat and teach, as the surface of the water would carry the sound and amplify his voice. That’s why, if you are ever at a small lake somewhere and there are kids across the way playing and skipping rocks, you can hear them way across on the other side…the surface of the water carries the voice.
So, Peter, lends Jesus his boat and apparently, Simon wasn’t just going to let him have it by himself. No, he got in the boat and took Jesus out where he could teach. I’m sure he is tired, he is cleaning out his nets from all that they have picked up the night before, and he is like, “I’m just ready to get home.”
And Peter finds himself somewhere he didn’t anticipate that day:
- out in his boat, with this Rabbi
- who has captured large crowds pretty rapidly,
- having interacted with him once before,
- and his brother believes he is the Messiah.
And he is stuck there with him…He can’t escape.
Is that how you came to Jesus? Someone invited you to an event you didn’t really know what it was about and you were given the gospel…you really hadn’t intended to give your life to Christ that day, but somehow, he came and found you…
Well, that’s what Jesus has done with Peter here. He came and found him and drew up really close to him.
Then, notice what Jesus does. He turns to this business man…this fisherman, and says, “Hey, I noticed your nets were empty…want to go fishing again? Put your boat out into the deep.”
Luke 5:4-7
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.
There are a few things about this that we need to note.
- First, Jesus calls us in our weakness.
Quote: One writer says…
“Jesus determined the best time to call Peter to himself was when he was at his weakest. Having done his human best at the thing he was best at, Peter’s nets were empty. Plus, exhausted, having worked all night. Now, why was this the best time? Peter needed his pride, unbelief, and weakness exposed. He needed to see himself as someone who, apart from Jesus, could do nothing (John 15:5). He needed to know who rules the fish and who fills the nets. Then he would be able to fish in faith.”
- Second, it really doesn’t take great faith to drop the nets. Even though Peter was skeptical that anything was going to come from the fishing trip, he responded, “at your word, I will let down the nets.” Peter is willing to do it for Jesus’ sake…it wasn’t a bold faith. It was probably a reluctant faith, but it was a faith that was willing enough to obey.
Kids sometimes do that with their parents…especially, teens. They don’t necessarily want to do what their parents want them to, but they do it because of who they are…Peter is like, “Okay, we are here…let’s see what happens.”
- Third, it is Jesus who knows how to move the heart. Here, He does it through generosity. He overwhelms Peter in the marketplace. He gives him a catch that doesn’t make sense and that he certainly didn’t earn. He overwhelms him with such generous provision he calls for help…his boat and James and John’s boat begins to sink as well.
What a combination…exhaustion, an awkward moment where he is playing host to the Rabbi for him to teach…failure as a fisherman when he was really good at this…willingness to give it a try, “I mean, really, what could he lose if they let down the nets one more time,” … and there it is.. Jesus moved his heart.
Friends, Jesus knows exactly what we need to engage our hearts with an invitation to come to him.
The last thing I want you to see here is Peter’s response. It’s found in verse 8.
Luke 5:8-10a
When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.
Notice what happened to Peter. He encountered the majesty and glory of God. And when we encounter God, we also encounter our own sinfulness and this makes us fearful. He says, “Oh, Lord, please leave me, for I’m such a sinful man.”
He recognizes Jesus’ identity — He is Lord…if he could do that with the fish…it didn’t make sense, except that he was Lord.
He recognizes his identity — a sinner.
And notice what happens, Jesus give him grace and extends the invitation to follow him.
Luke 5:10b – 11
Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.”
Jesus comes to him in his sinfulness and applies grace.
Essentially, he is saying, “Peter, your past doesn’t define your future. Follow me and I’ll give you a purpose and a platform to really go fishing.”
Some of you need to hear that today. You are letting your past keep you from your future and God’s invitations to you to take your next steps as His disciple.
Peter could have, like the Rich Young Ruler, said, “No, I just can’t. I can’t receive your grace. I won’t follow.”
Instead, he said, “Ok…where do I sign up. You have absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way…let’s go!”
And that’s the second part of Jesus’ invitation.
Jesus’ invitation is to…
- Come to Him, just as we are
- Follow Him, adopting His agenda
- Go with Him, bringing others into His Kingdom
II. Follow Him, adopting His agenda
Look back at Matthew 4:19.
Matthew 4:19
Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me…”
Some translations leave out the word, “Come.” That’s why I wanted to use the New Living Translation today. We see Jesus’ invitation to us when he comes to us and invites us to come to him…just as we are…sinful, weak, exhausted and willing.
Then he says, “Follow me…”
Now, don’t be confused with following Jesus and following other famous people on social media.
When it comes to measuring social media, we think in terms of followers. Celebrities, musicians, athletes, and politicians have a lot of “followers,” or who people who pay attention when they speak or share content.
Let me share with you the top 5 most followed Instagram accounts.
Top 5 Most followed Instagram accounts:
- Cristiano Ronaldo, footballer in Portugal (400 million)
- Kylie Jenner, model (309 million)
- Lionel Messi, footballer from Argentina (306 million)
- Selena Gomez, singer/actress (295 million)
- Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, actor/wrestler (295 million) [1]
[1] https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/celebrities/2022/02/07/62010ac646163fe0678b45b2.html
A follower in our day and age is someone who tunes in on social media and pays attention to what the influencer is saying.
But a follower for Jesus was an invitation to be his disciple. It means, “set your agenda aside and pick up mine.”
You see, most “disciples” chose their Rabbi. But not Jesus. Notice what David Garland says…
Garland says…
We must also recognize that the master-disciple relationship portrayed here is very different from the accepted pattern in that day (as seen in Rabbinic literature), in which the disciple was to choose his own master. The disciple’s commitment was to learning the law, and therefore he might even transfer from one master to another in an effort to continue learning more. By contrast, Jesus selects his own disciples and requires absolute allegiance to himself. They will not learn the law, but learn to fish, for “The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind” (Mt. 13:47).[2]
[2] David Garland, Reading Matthew: A Literary and Theological Commentary on the First Gospel, 48.
But not everyone would set their agenda aside and pick up his. We see this in Luke 9.
Luke 9:59-62
“He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.” Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
So, not everyone who was invited, took Jesus up on it. And the same holds true today. Many want Jesus’ salvation, but they don’t want his Lordship.
But embracing his lordship and becoming obedient leads us to the center of his will, and there is not better place to be than in the center of his will.
David Garland also points out that the task of mission that is central to the disciple’s role in this gospel (fishing for men) is so significant that it is introduced as soon as these men are introduced. We cannot properly understand what it means to follow Jesus without also considering this task to fish for men![3]
[3] Ibid., 48.
Which leads us to our third point in our outline today…
Slide: Jesus’ invitation is to…
- Come to Him, just as we are
- Follow Him, adopting His agenda
- Go with Him, bringing others into His Kingdom
Jesus’ invitation is to
I. Go with Him, bringing others into His Kingdom
You see, when you experience this amazing grace that only he can offer, you want others to experience it. Like Andrew going to Peter and saying, “We have found the Messiah…” come and see, we should do the same.
When the grace of God touches our lives, we find purpose and fulfillment in going to tell.
Notice the rest of Matthew 4:19-20.
Matthew 4:19-20
Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.
He is saying to these fishermen, I have something even better. As you follow me, and learn from me, I am going to use our journey to teach you to share with others about me.
But all too often, we stop short of ever inviting people to experience the Jesus we know. Instead, we say, “That’s for someone else to do.” But do you see how intrinsic it is to being his follower. As Garland said, its embedded in the call itself.
Notice, as Jesus gives these disciples a new identity, he then gives them a new purpose. The invitation is to come…come and be my disciple, that will be your new identity.
The commission is to go…go and tell others about me and what I did for you.
Now, I had the privilege to go with a team of 16 others — high school seniors, youth staff, other parents, and Jerry Edrington to the mountains of Ecuador, and we did this very thing. We went from village to village in the mountains and we told boys and girls and their moms and dads, “God sent us all the way from Houston, Texas, in the United States, to talk to you today and tell you about Jesus.”
And these high school seniors got it. They got it and they were filled with Joy…
We would go out to the adults and share with them, and those who were there…they would all pray the sinners prayer and ask Jesus to be their Savior.
We went to homes and prayed for the sick, asking God to heal them…
We went to the end of the earth…and maybe 30 miles more…and we told these wonderful people that God loved them and gave His son for them.
We left them with Bibles and encouraged the pastor.
And we helped fulfill the great commission in our day and time with these who were willing to go and share the good news about our Lord.
When you come to this church, you are going to be a part of a fellowship that takes following Jesus very seriously. We love to have fun and we do. But we also realize that time is short and we have a responsibility in our day and time to share His love with others because we have experience his love first hand.
If you have never experienced his love and you feel him calling you to be Come to Him, come as you are.
A — Admit
B — Believe
C Prayer… — Confess
Make him Lord…
Begin to pray about who you will invite to experience 30 Days to Easter with you.