Prison Break!

 The Shawshank Redemption.  The Great Escape.  Escape from Alcatraz.  Papillon.  Stalag 17.  

Who doesn't love a great story of someone wrongly imprisoned busting out?  OK, probably not the warden.  But there is something in our souls that longs to hear these stories again and again.  

I truly believe our love for these tales of escape are in our hearts because God has placed them there.  We long to be free.  And we can only find freedom in Christ.

Well, if you like a good prison break, then you need to sit down and read the book of Acts.  Dr. Luke tells the story of three different escapes (Acts 5:17-21; 12:6-11; 16:23-28).  

Each time, the prisoners got help from the outside.  And that outside help was from the hand of God Himself.

We pick up this particular story as God is working countless signs and wonders through the apostles.  Healing of diseases.  Exorcising from demons.  

The early church proclaims the grace and salvation only in the risen Jesus.  The Sanhedrin had already tried to warn Peter and John to stop all this nonsense, but the two apostles blew them off (Acts 4:17-21).

At this point, the high priest and his cronies had enough (v17).  Most likely, the high priest mentioned here is Annas (Acts 4:6).  He was the patriarch of a family who held a kung fu grip on the high priesthood.  

Annas had served previously in the role but it was now "officially" held by his son-in-law Caiaphas.  Two of his sons would also hold that office.

Annas was the leader of the Sadducees.  This was a small but very powerful sect of Judaism.  These were the wealthiest of Jews that controlled the temple in Jerusalem.  

The Sadducees don't buy all of that supernatural mumbo jumbo that others proclaim.  No angels.  No heaven.  No resurrection.  Let's face it, that stuff is only a crutch for the weak.

Annas and his toadies were "filled with jealousy."  Luke's choice of verb is interesting.  To this point, he describes early believers as being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31).  

But these members of the ruling religious elite were filled (Gr. πλεθω/pletho) with something else completely.  Something darker.  Jealousy.  

Rather than celebrate the miracles God was doing in the lives of people through the First Church of Jerusalem, they burned.  

What fills your heart when you see others succeed?  Do you see them as stealing something that should be yours?  Or do you celebrate their victory?  

I'll be very transparent with you.  In the past, I have struggled as I watched God grow other churches.  For 15 years, I served in small, struggling church plants.  I would watch other churches thrive while we struggled to survive.  

As long as I took my eyes off of what Jesus was doing and felt sorry for poor, poor pitiful me, jealousy would fill my heart.  

I thank the Lord that He revealed that to me and graciously allowed me to repent.  But this is something I must always guard against.

So I ask you, what fills your heart?

So what did the jealousy-filled Sadducees do?  "They arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison" (v18).  

Ironic, isn't it?  These religious leaders were prisoners of the jealousy bubbling up in their hearts so they throw the apostles in the pokey.  The apostles may be behind bars, but Annas and his posse are the real prisoners.

Luke tells us that all of the apostles were tossed in the clink.  Not just Pete and John like the last time (Acts 4:3).  All twelve of them.  And that included the new guy, Matthais (Acts 1:26).  

This was actually a fulfillment of something Jesus had told them earlier (Lk 21:12).  They locked them up "in the public prison."  Think the county jail.

"But" (v19).  You've gotta love any story about someone innocent put in the slammer that includes this wonderful little conjunction.  In other words, they may be prisoners now BUT something is about to happen.  

Do you have hope that Jesus in your darkest hour, Jesus is on the verge of doing something?  Is there a supernatural "but" about to happen?  It's in times like these that God loves to move.  We see it over and over in the Bible. 

  

"But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors  and brought them out" (v19).  Luke doesn't give us many details but here's what we do know.  It was nighttime.  

God sent "an angel of the Lord."  Notice that this is not THE angel of the Lord we see appearing at various times in the OT.  There's a lot of evidence that THE angel of the Lord is actually the pre-incarnate Christ moving and acting.  

This is AN angel of the Lord.  God has used such unnamed messengers many times in the Gospels, especially at Jesus' birth.  This unnamed angel unlocks the jail doors and leads out the twelve.

Jesus promised He would so this.  In the synagogue at Nazareth, He said that His Father "sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives" (Lk 4:18; Is 61:1-2).  Christ has come to free you as well.  From your prison of sin.  

The prison doors are open.  Don't just sit there.  Walk out!  Walk free!  This is why these prison break stories resonate in our hearts.  We're all prisoners in our sinful selves.  Jesus has come to bust you out!

This particular angel gives them instructions.  God has sprung them from the slammer but He has an assignment for them.  "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life" (v20).  

He doesn't tell them to hit the road and lay low.  Get back to the temple.  Get back in the spotlight.  There's work to be done.  There's a message to proclaim.  

Christ has freed each one of us for a purpose.  And that is to tell others about Him, "all the words of life” (v20).

And that's exactly what these twelve men did (v21).  As the sun came up, they hit the temple courts and start teaching.  Don't miss the obedience of the apostles.  

It would have been real easy for them to say they needed the day off.  They were immediately obedient to God's command.  When Christ tells us to do something, let's not waste a second.  

Forget "The Shawshank Redemption."  God has a more breathtaking prison break for each of us.  And I'm SO thankful He set me free to proclaim "all the words of this life.”

©2011

Jay Jennings

Our Savior's Seed Scattering Secret

A Horticultural Hot Mess

My relationship with my lawn is…well…complicated. On one hand, I dream of having a perfect emerald carpet that’s a cross between the golf course like Augusta and the infield at Busch Stadium. Lush. Thick. Green.

But the reality is quite the opposite. My yard is the poster child of what you DON’T want. It’s a crazy combo of crabgrass, clover, and bare spots of clay. You might find a teeny bit of grass fighting for its life in a few spots. Talk about a horticultural hot mess.

Not Bullets and Bombs

That being said, I’m NOT the one who needs to be giving advice about winning the neighborhood yard of the month. But I know just the Guy who is. Jesus of Nazareth. In His biographies, He gives us a detailed description of just what to do when it comes to agriculture and crop production.

But here’s the deal. His tips for getting a massive harvest aren’t really about lawn care or farming at all. They’re actually a picture of how His Dad’s kingdom will come about. Some countries conquer using bullets and bombs. Jesus tells us how God uses seeds and soils to win His victory (Mk 4:1-20).

Going Viral

Let’s set the scene. It’s around 30 AD in the boondocks of northern Israel. Jesus is teaching next to a big lake we call the Sea of Galilee. Crowds are building rapidly to check out the new radical Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth. He’s all the rage. He’s gone viral.

And why wouldn’t He be? He actually has the guts to claim that He’s the Christ. That’s New Testament language for Messiah, the long awaited Hero God has promised to send to His people for thousands of years.

But that’s not all. Nobody has EVER heard teaching like this before (Mk 1:22, 27). He also performs jaw-dropping miracles like healing people from sickness, disabilities, and disease (Mk 1:30-31, 34, 40-42; 2:8-12). Jesus even exorcises evil spirits who’ve tortured their victims (Mk 1:23-25, 34).

Rocking Their Boat

In Mark’s bio of Christ, the writer tells us the crowds get so big one day near the lake that the Lord actually preaches from a boat (v1)! The Rock in the boat is about to rock their boat with a message from God.

Jesus’ Favorite Teaching Tool

For the first time in Mark’s story of Jesus, our Savior uses a brand new tool from His teaching tool box. “He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables” (v2). Before the Son of God is done, it will become His favorite way of teaching God’s truth.

So what exactly is a parable anywhoo? The Greek word (Gr. παραβολη/parabole) literally means “to place (Gr. -βολη/-bole) alongside (Gr. παρα-/para-).” Think of it as a figure of speech where you put two ideas next to each another in comparison.

Painting Word Pictures

A parable is a metaphor, an illustration, an analogy, or an allegory. It’s a relatively short story with symbolic meaning to something deeper. In other words, Jesus uses something everybody can understand to help folks figure out something they couldn’t otherwise.

The Lord draws on all sorts of stuff from First Century pop culture to make His points. He uses stories about servants, Samaritans, coins, oil lamps, and agriculture. Lots of agricultural analogies. We’re talking goats, sheep, barns, mustard plants, and vineyards.

Connecting with Pop Culture

If Christ shows up to tomorrow, I’m guessing He’ll use a completely different set of parables. Wouldn’t you love to hear Him comparing the kingdom to stuff like the internet, video games, and smart phones?

It’s a great reminder for teachers to utilize things people know to help them understand the truth of God’s Word. Don’t be afraid to use illustrations, analogies, and metaphors from pop culture…Jesus sure did!

The Real Dirt on the Soils

This time, Christ teaches the crowd what happens when the farmer starts throwing seeds around willy nilly. Birds eat some that land on the path (v4). Some sprout and wither without roots (v5-6). Weeds choke out some (v7). But what does grow delivers a ridiculous harvest (v8).

So this particular story is all about seeds and soils. But here’s the real dirt. The original text never actually uses the word “seeds,” and drops a term describing dirt a single time. Yet we call it the Parable of the Seeds. You can’t make this stuff up.

Spreading It around

A literal translation of the Greek goes a little something like this. “A sower went out to sow” (v3). And here’s the crazy thing. Both “sower” and “sow” are just slightly different forms of the very same word (Gr. σπειρω/speiro).

The word means to scatter (usually speaking of seeds), spread around, throw around, disperse, disseminate, or broadcast. In other words, the spreader went out spread. The thrower went out to throw. The broadcaster went out to broadcast.

Remember, in ancient times they didn’t have high tech tractors and farm implements. They simply plow behind an ox or mule and throw the seed around by hand. It’s certainly not an exact science. More on that in a moment.

Jesus Drops the Mic

At this point, Christ ends His seed spreading story by saying, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand” (v9). Huh? This is Jesus’ way of saying there’s more than meets the eye to this story. There’s a lot more here than seeds and soil. A whole lot more.

The Lord tells His listeners that only those God wants to understand will understand. Only true followers get the privilege of knowing what Jesus means. The Message puts it this way. “Are you listening to this? Really listening?” (v9 The Message).

It’s almost like Jesus drops the mic and walks away. You can almost picture the people scratching their heads and wondering what He’s talking about.

What Is He Talking about?

Feeling the same way yourself? You’re not the only one. As a matter of fact, His closest follower really didn’t have a clue what He was talking about. “Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked Him what the parables meant” (v10).

Can’t you just see it? When everybody leaves this lakeside lesson, Jesus’ own posse starts asking each other what He means. I can’t figure it out. What do you think He’s talking about? Why don’t you ask Him? No, why don’t YOU ask Him?!? Nobody wants to admit to Him they don’t understand.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask

We don’t know who finally gets up the guts to ask. Maybe it’s Peter since he’s the so-called leader of the Dirty Dozen. Maybe John steps up because he’s alleged to be Jesus’ best friend. Or maybe it’s not one of the Twelve but somebody else.

Don’t miss the mini-lesson within the bigger story. Don’t be afraid to ask for an explanation when you don’t understand. Too many times I don’t want to look like a knucklehead. Too many times my pride gets in the way. Humility is a big part of being teachable and coachable. That means asking questions.

Hidden in Plain Sight

Which brings us to the turning point of the entire passage. Jesus begins His explanation of metaphor. “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders” (v11).

The Lord basically says that He’s hiding the truth of God’s kingdom in plain sight. There’s something about one of His parables that allows some people to see it while others can’t.

Cracking the Code

Sounds kinda like one of those freaky Magic Eye pictures. Remember them? At first glance, they seemed to be images of random blobs and goofy patterns. But some people were able to stare at it long enough and suddenly see a 3D image of a unicorn or a great white shark.

For big chunk of the big crowd, the secret is encrypted despite being right in front of their eyes. What’s the key to cracking Christ’s code? What do His followers have that give them the ability to see the deeper truth of His illustration that the larger audience didn’t?

Trust Unlocks the Truth

Faith. More specifically, faith in Jesus. They may not have Him all figured out (then again, who REALLY does?), but at the deepest level they trusted in Him as their Lord and Savior. They took Him at His word and believe what He says. Trust unlocks the truth.

The rest of the crowd couldn’t understand because they refused to trust Him. They don’t get it because they don’t want to get it. Those who don’t think they have a problem and don’t think they need a Savior can’t wrap their heads around what He’s talking about.

Heart Condition

At this point, Jesus dusts off a piece of prophecy from the OT book of Isaiah to explain why He does this. “When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to Me and be forgiven” (v12).

This is His way of saying He’s using the story of the seeds and soils as a way to test the spiritual responsiveness of the individual hearers. In other words, what’s the condition of their hearts when it comes to God? What sort of soil are they?

The other interesting thing here is that Jesus clearly sees Himself as fulfilling a 700-year-old prophecy which God spoke directly to Isaiah. So much for those who believe He was just an itinerant Jewish teacher who never saw Himself as Messiah.

Parables 101

So Jesus teaches a quick lesson. Call it Parables 101. “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables” (v13). Decoding this illustration will go along way in helping His followers figure out the rest.

He backs up, slows down, and explains each section of the seed story. What a great lesson in learning from the greatest Teacher who’s ever walked the planet. If you have the privilege of teaching, make sure you go back over something when it’s clear the folks you’re serving don’t get it.

You may have a killer lesson plan and use all the techie toys at your fingertips, but if the students don’t understand, you’re wasting everybody’s time. You accomplish the mission when the message is heard, understood, and acknowledged. Otherwise, you’re just wasting everybody’s time.

The Satanic Seed Stealer

Jesus starts His review at the very beginning, explaining exactly what sort of seed we’re talking about back in verse 3. “The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others” (v14). Specifically, this is spreading the Good News of grace by faith in His Son Jesus anywhere and everywhere.

Christ then unpacks verse 4. “The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away” (v15). In other words, some people’s hearts are as hard as a cement sidewalk. That’s when the devil dive bombs and snacks on the unused seeds.

Spoiler Alert!

Jesus wants us to know we have a real enemy who’s out to steal, kill, and destroy (Jn 10:10). Some people see a demon under rock. Others make just as big a mistake in thinking Satan is some goofy cartoon character in a red suit with a pitchfork.

He’s very real and very dangerous. John the Apostle says our world is currently “under the control of the evil one” (1Jn 5:19). SPOILER ALERT! I’ve read the end of the book. When it’s all said and done, Jesus and His team crushes the devil and his toadies in the most lopsided victory in history.

Getting off to a Good Start

Jesus moves from the sidewalk to a thin layer of dirt hiding rocks that He first mentioned back in verse 6. Seeds landing in this area get off to a good start and show early signs of life.

“The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word” (v16-17).

Rainbows, Unicorns, and Skittles

He’s talking about folks who are initially stoked to hear the Gospel. They experience an emotional response and things look promising. But the problem is below the surface. Inches below the surface, there’s nothing but rocks. These seeds never stood a chance.

Our Savior says the rocks are a picture of troubles and trials. There’s no long-lasting growth because of it. Too many people try to tell you the Christian life it’s nothing but rainbows, unicorns, and a lifetime supply of Skittles.

Here’s the deal. Following Jesus is hard. When the going gets tough, these folks get going alright…in the opposite direction!

Getting Choked out

The Lord goes from problems underground to those above. “The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all to quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced” (v18-19).

A closer look at the original language tells us that “crowded out” is actually the Greek verb συμπνιγω/sumpnigo. It means to suffocate, overwhelm and cause to die. Think of MMA fighters like Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar who take out their opponents by choking them out.

The Problem of Prosperity

The thorns are heartier and healthier than the tender seedlings. Despite some early growth, this one was over before it started. These stickers dominate and destroy the delicate new sprouts. Good night. Game over. Drive home safely.

Instead of persecution, Jesus says the problem here is actually prosperity. You can easily translate the phrase “worries of life” as “distractions of this age.” Earthly wealth and success take precedence over eternal riches. The now steals our focus from the forever.

Three bleak scenes. Absolutely zero crop production. The farmer has spread a truckload of seed on people’s hearts and has been shut out to this point. 

Three-on-Three

Before you think there’s no hope, Jesus tells us that some of the seed of the Good News finds thick, rich dirt. “And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” (v20).

Here’s something I had never noticed before. It’s pretty obvious that there are three kinds of soils WITHOUT a harvest. What I hadn’t seen was that there are THREE soils WITH A HARVEST! If this is a game of three-on-three, it’s not even close.

Outrageous Output

One area produces a return of 30:1. Another tract doubles that at 60:1. Then there’s one final field that blows them both away with an outrageous output of 100:1!

If you’re like me, you probably have no idea how good these harvests are. According to John MacArthur, the average harvest in First Century Galilee was 8:1. In a great year, it was 10:1. So the kind of production Jesus is talking here is mind boggling!

God’s Fruity Goodness

What sort of harvest is the Lord talking about? I think we can look at it a couple of ways. First of all, Paul writes to Galatian believers about the kind of fruit the Holy Spirit produces in our lives. “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal 5:22-23).

The more we allow God’s Spirit to change us from the inside-out, the more He produces God’s fruity goodness in our lives. Who couldn’t use a lot more of these?!? For some of us, it’s a massive harvest!

Disciple-Making Disciples

The other way of looking at it is from the perspective of Jesus’ famous last words to His followers. He tells them to make disciples (NOT just converts!) of folks from every demographic group on the planet (Mt 28:19-20).

In other words, He calls each one of us to be a disciple-making disciple. If His process stops with us, then there’s no harvest. We’re to keep passing on God’s grace with the idea that it keeps on going. The Gospel is certainly the gift that keeps on giving!

Another Perspective

The usual way of looking at this particular parable is that Jesus is talking about the receptivity of four different kinds of people. Nothing wrong with that. But maybe, just maybe, there’s another way to understand these seeds and soils.

Is it possible that Christ could also be talking about four different times in one person’s life? Or could it be that we have different kinds of soil conditions in different parts of our lives?

For instance, do I have fertile dirt when it comes to serving but lots of rocks when it comes to generosity? Maybe I’m crazy about my small group but never tell anybody about Jesus. Let’s do what we can to have rich soil in every part of our lives.

Start Spreading the News

So what do we do with this parable? How do we apply it to our lives a couple of thousand years later?

Well just like the farmer, the followers of Jesus have the responsibility to spread the Word. Anyone. Everywhere. Don’t worry your pretty little head about where it lands. We just need to understand and explain the message as creatively and effectively as possible. In the words of ‘Ol Blue Eyes, “Start spreading the news.”

It Doesn’t Happen Overnight

We need to remember that our job isn’t to produce the crop. Just to spread the seed. Leave the production to God. We’ll recognize the folks who receive the seed and grow a harvest. It will be obvious. VERY obvious.

Don’t be discouraged when we don’t see immediate results. Just like in agriculture, the process of planting, growing, and harvesting spiritual produce takes time. It doesn’t happen overnight. Seed that’s been planted in soil may look unproductive now. That can change quickly when God is involved. Be patient. Expect a harvest. A very BIG harvest!

I’m still not sure there’s much hope for my lawn. In the meantime, why don’t we all start spreading some seeds? 

Are You Gonna Go My Way?

Lyrics about the Lord

I was born long ago,
I am the chosen, I’m the one.
I have come to save the day,
And I won’t leave until I’m done.

But what I really want to know is…
Are you gonna go My way?

Back in 1993, Lenny Kravitz hit it big when he asked the musical question “Are You Gonna Go My Way?” Did you know Lenny wasn’t extending the invitation to join him on his next tour? He’s actually singing about Jesus.

Yes, THAT Jesus. The lyrics are all about the same itinerant, homeless Jewish Preacher/Teacher/Healer described by Mark in his bio of the Son of God.

Leaving Stuff Behind

Lenny got the idea for this single from an invitation Christ made to four commercial fishermen while walking lakeside in the boondocks of Israel (Mk 1:16-20). Two pairs of brothers. Simon and Andrew. James and John. These boys drop all they’re doing and gain…well…everything.

This all goes down the day the Son of God asks the four fishermen if they’re willing to go His way. But in order to follow Him, they have to leave stuff behind. To keep up and we have to put stuff down. In order to go this way we have to put something down.

Buckle Up

Let’s get a running start at our story by catching up with Mark’s look at the life of Jesus. And when I say “running,” I’m not kidding. The particular bio doesn’t mess around. It’s no frills and pedal to the metal. John Mark gives us the original Fast and Furious. You probably want to buckle up.

First of all, Christ’s weird, bug eating, leather wearing cousin John the Baptizer does the work of getting folks ready for Messiah (Mk 1:1-8). As folks flock to John for baptism, the prophet is shocked to the One he’s prepping people for standing in line to get wet.

A Rare Public Appearance

My guess is John isn’t expecting what happens next. The Spirit tears apart the sky and soars down like a dove. The Father’s voice booms from heaven with the ultimate “attaboy!” (Mk 1:9-11).

Ladies and gentleman, I give you the Trinity. We see the Father, Son, and Spirit making a rare public appearance together at the Jordan River. It doesn’t happen often. But when it does, it’s a very big deal.

Playing a Road Game

Jesus’ first day on the job of His public ministry is actually a private one. The Spirit sends Him to play a road game in the most hostile environment possible (Mk 1:12-13). The place is the wilderness. The opponent is the devil.

Forty days later with a “W” under His belt, Christ rolls into Galilee broadcasting the Gospel of God (Mk 1:14-15). Repent from sin and believe in the Good News. Turn and trust. It’s Go Time.

Jesus Doesn’t Need You but He WANTS You

Jesus is about to assemble His team. It’s interesting when you think about it. As the Son of God, He really doesn’t need one. You do realize He could do this all by Himself, right? Christ doesn’t need them. He doesn’t need me. He doesn’t need you. But He WANTS us to be part of His mission. He’s still inviting us to join Him in His work today.

Now if you were putting together a small squad of spiritual ninjas that would change the world forever, where would you go? Who would you choose? What skills would you be looking for? I don’t know about you, but I’m heading to Jerusalem in order to draft the best and brightest from Jewish seminaries.

Average Joes

Once again, Jesus does just the opposite of what we would expect. Instead of climbing the ivory tower, He makes a beeline for blue collar boys. Instead of bright lights and big city, Christ takes a casual stroll in the boonies. Instead of looking for Bible scholars, He sees working stiffs. Average Joes.

As a matter of fact, religious bigwigs are blown away by just how average these guys were. After Jesus’ resurrection and return home to heaven, members of the Jewish leadership council describe Peter and John as “ordinary men who had no special training in the Scriptures” (Acts 4:13).

A closer look at the original language of the passage tells us this was actually a serious put down. They actually call them “illiterate idiots.” I’m not kidding. Not even one bit. They also made another powerful point that is just as important. There was no doubt that these men “had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

Knuckleheads, Goofballs, Weirdos, and Losers

Two thousand years later, Christ is still looking for average folks. Oh sure, He can certainly use highly trained scholars who have more degrees than Fahrenheit. On the other hand, He loves using the ordinary. And the Lord specializes in using knuckleheads, goofballs, weirdos, and losers. That’s exactly Paul’s point to that incredibly jacked up bunch of Jesus followers in Corinth (1Cor 1:27-28).

A New Kind of Fishing

Meanwhile, we see our Savior walking along the shore of Lake Galilee (v16). He spots a couple of those average Joes we’ve been talking about. Meet Simon and John. They’re fishing. This is no hobby. It’s their job. Their career. And it’s VERY hard work. Early mornings. Late nights. If something smells fishy, it’s probably these two.

As they’re throwing their nets, Jesus throws them a line. “Come, follow Me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” (v17). Stop what you’re doing, boys. The radical Rabbi/Carpenter has a whole new kind of fishing He wants to show you. But you’re going to have to drop what you’re doing in order to find out.

Get Over Here!

Christ’s invitation to “follow” is actually a pair of words in the Greek. The first is δευρο/deuro, which is an adverb meaning “come here” or an urgent call to come now! It draws one toward a goal at or near the speaker and implies movement. It’s Jesus’ way of saying, “Get over here!”

The second word is οπισω/opiso. It’s another adverb which means after, in back of, or behind someone or something. The term describes location, place, or position. The Lord invites the boys fall in behind Him so that He can show them where to go and what to do.

The Lord Leads

I’ve always got to remember that following Jesus means He’s in front. Our positions in this amazing relationship are critical. The Lord leads. I follow. He’s in front. I’m behind. Too many times I find myself behind the wheel or at least acting like an annoying backseat driver telling Him where we should go and how to get there.

He IS God. He knows exactly where He’s going. He knows EXACTLY when we need to get there. On the other hand, following is what followers do. Leave the leading to the only One who’s qualified. The Lord leads. I follow. Am I gonna go His way?

The Long Process

Jesus then makes a very interesting invitation to these dudes. He says if they will follow His lead, “I will show you how to fish for people!” (v17). Actually the folks who translate the ESV have a different take on our Savior’s words. “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men” (v17 ESV). If you think you’re a pro when it comes to fishing now, just wait until Jesus gets done with you!

Mark phrases it a little differently from Matthew (Mt 4:19) and Luke (Lk 5:10). He drops in a Greek word (Gr. γινομαι/ginomai) which means to be or become something. It emphasizes the long process involved in learning how to fish for people. It won’t happen overnight. Following Jesus places us in His process. It’s a process He promises He’ll finish (Phil 1:7).

Jesus Does the Heavy Lifting

In other words, all we have to do is hang with Jesus and He’ll do the rest. He’s the One doing the real work. He’s the One doing the heavy lifting. Our role in the process is to simply be obedient, simply do what He says. When we spend time with Him, hang out with Him, He’s the One who transforms us.

That’s what happens when we go His way. Jesus talks about it like a gardener over John’s Gospel. “Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). As branches, we don’t make anything unless we’re connected to the Vine. He’s the One that gets it done when we go this way.

You probably know what happens next. “And they left their nets at once and followed Him (v18).” Another example of things happening fast in Mark’s Gospel. Simon and Andy don’t waste any time. They take Jesus up on His offer. I can picture these two brothers chucking their gear and running home to pack.

Leaving the Family Business

Jesus doesn’t stop there. He moves on up the beach and has a similar conversation with another pair of commercial fishermen. James and his kid brother John are working for their dad Zebedee and fixing holes in their nets (v19). Well, not for long. Not when Jesus asks them to go this way.

“He called them at once, and they followed Him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men (v20).” Darned if Zeb’s boys didn’t bail on him to spend time with Jesus. Jim and Johnny didn’t just give up a career but turned their back on inheriting what appears to be a successful family business. Note that their dad has other employees.

The Rearview Mirror

Both sets of brothers leave something behind in order to hit the road with the Rabbi. Before we can follow Jesus, there’s a pretty chance we need to put something in the rearview mirror. Simon and Andy leave their nets and their careers. Jim and Johnny turn their backs on success in business.

When I walk His way, I need to put something down. And it’s probably something significant. Something big. Something of value. Something that has the potential to compete with affection for Jesus.

Distracted Discipleship

Have I left everything behind? Have I dropped it all in order follow my Savior? You’ve heard of distracted driving. We’re talking about distracted discipleship. I need to dump anything that might distract me.

What could possibly steal my focus from Him? Well, let’s take a look around. Maybe it’s a destructive habit? How about a hobby that’s gotten out of control? The drive for success, money, and security? It might even be a relationship you know is wrong and would lead you farther from where God wants you to go.
 
What am I trying to drag along with me while I follow Jesus? It’s a good idea to travel light when I go His way. I can’t let anything slow me down. Don’t worry about what you abandon. Christ came to give His followers “a rich and satisfying life” (Jn 10:10). When I leave stuff behind, He has something so much better to replace it.

Hitting the Road

All four fishermen become Jesus’ first followers. In both descriptions, Mark uses the same word we translate as “followed” (Gr. ακολουθεω/akoloutheo). It describes accompanying another and allowing them to determine the direction. It’s going behind someone who takes the lead. They’re going His way.

Interestingly, this comes from a root word meaning a road or journey. If that’s the case, being a follower paints a picture of a traveling partner. Few things deepen a friendship more than hitting the road with a buddy. It really doesn’t get any better when that buddy is Jesus.

The Back Story

I have to admit there was something that has always bugged me about these “Come, follow Me” Jesus stories. Anybody else think it’s just a little weird that four dedicated, hardworking commercial fishermen would ditch their careers just like that? Some random Rabbi makes a crazy offer out of left field and you chuck it all just like that in order to walk this way!

Well, as we said before, Mark’s story moves quickly. He’s not much for details. John’s Gospel helps us fill in the back story. You see, Jesus had met at least a couple of these guys before (Jn 1:35-42). Andrew was a follower of John the Baptizer (Jn 1:40). And given the way John never names Andy’s fellow disciple, he probably was too.

After the two hang out with Jesus for a bit, Andy gets his big brother Simon and brings him to meet the One he believes in the long promised Messiah (Jn 1:41). Andy has this habit of bringing of bringing people to meet Jesus (Jn 6:8-9; 12:22). Not a bad rep, huh?

The First Four

So when we read the story on the shore of with Jesus and the four fishermen, we need to remember they already had a relationship. They already knew each other. When Christ was ready to build His team, He knew exactly who to ask. These two pairs of brothers would be the first four to go this way. They’ll eventually have another eight guys on the team.

The Original Rocky

Jesus gives Simon the nickname Peter which actually means Rocky (Jn 1:42). As the Christ’s original first round draft pick, Pete becomes the leader of the Discipling Dozen. Unfortunately, Rocky crumbles under pressure and denies Jesus three times at the very worst time.

But in one of the great examples of grace you’ll ever see, the Lord restores Pete after His resurrection (Jn 21:15-18). And what are Jesus’ last words of restoration to this former fisherman as they walk along this very same beach? “Follow Me” (Jn 21:19).

There’s also an important connection to Rocky and Mark’s story of Jesus. One of the earliest church pastors says Mark’s Gospel is actually Peter’s eyewitness account of what it was like to say “yes” to Christ’s question, “Are you gonna go My way?”

Two Thousand Years Later

Fast forward a couple of thousand years. Jesus is still extending that same offer. The offer to follow. If we take Him up on it, there’s a good chance we need to do something first. We need to leave something behind. In order to go His way, we need to put something down.

It’s a decision we need to make each day. Are we going to follow Him diligently and without distraction? If so, what do I need to ditch? I promise you, whatever He gives you is WAY better than what you put down. You will not regret it.

So, Jesus has a question for us. Are we gonna go His way?

The Final Four

“As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2Tim 4:5).

Famous Foursomes

Pop culture is loaded with famous foursomes. The Beatles. The Ghostbusters. The cast of Seinfeld. The A Team. Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen (some of you involuntarily let out a “WOOOOOOOO!”, didn’t you?). Marvel’s Fantastic Four. Don’t forget Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion.

But a couple of thousand years before any of them, Paul gives Timothy his Final Four. No, not his prediction or picks for his March Madness pool. Near the end of his last letter, the apostle lists the final four points which sum up everything the young preacher is to do once as his mentor passes him the baton of ministry.

“As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (v5). Look closely. There are four points. Four bullet points.
-Always be sober-minded.
-Endure suffering.
-Do the work of an evangelist.
-Fulfill your ministry.
Four takeaways. Four big ideas. If you don’t remember anything else, Tim, remember these.

The Final Four.

Famous Last Words

And when we say “final,” we mean FINAL! Paul writes to his protege from Death Row (2Tim 4:6-7). His appointment with the executioner isn’t an “if” but a “when.” As a result, he fires off one last letter to his spiritual son Timothy (2Tim 1:2). The apostle has a pair of simple purposes in this epistle. First, he begs the young buck to drop everything and see him one last time (2Tim 4:9, 21). Second, the man from Tarsus hands off the servant/leadership of ministry once and for all (2Tim 2:1-4:5).

Paul has written ten other letters that made their way into what we call the New Testament. Most are letters to churches (Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians). A couple of others are to friends (Philemon and Titus).

He already written a previous note to Timothy. But this one is different. This one is urgent. This one is personal. This one is raw. When we read 2 Timothy, we’re reading the final words from the great apostle’s pen. Talk about famous last words!

No Ear Tickling Allowed

Here in verse 5, Paul sums up his instructions to Timothy in this final letter with four final points. One, stay focused. Two, hang in there. Three, stay on message. Four, finish the mission. The apostle originally wrote to the lead pastor of the Ephesian church, but these four points certainly come in handy for you and me a couple of thousand years later as we follow Jesus.

Before we get to the first of the final four, the apostle gets the ball rolling when he writes “as for you” (v5). He wants to make a clear difference between folks who are simply looking to get their ears tickled (2Tim 4:3-4) and his protege from Lystra. Too many teachers and preachers compromise the message of the Gospel to meet the demands of the audience. Tell people what they need to hear, not just what they want. No ear tickling allowed!

A Clear Head and Clear Eyes

This brings us to the first member of the final four. “Always be sober-minded” (v5). The Greek word here (Gr. νηθω/nepho) certainly can mean not to be drunk or under the influence, but it’s so much more. It pictures someone with a clear head and clear eyes. They won’t freak out. They don’t panic. Instead, they’re calm and collected. Most of all, they’re vigilant. Awake. Watchful. Alert.

Calm, Cool, and Collected

A few super smart Bible scholars can help us here. Matthew Poole says it’s Paul’s way of saying don’t get lazy. Patrick Fairbairn feels like the apostle encourages Tim to have eyes wide open while being calm, cool, and collected. John Gill pictures a shepherd watching over his flock during the night or a sentry on the city walls.

Jesus gave an unstable hothead named Simon the nickname Rocky (Mt 16:18). If that’s not crazy enough, the Lord made the volatile former fisherman the leader of His personal posse. Pete even bails on Christ in the clutch, not once but THREE times! Not exactly the kind of guy a search firm would recommend for the job. I doubt his references would ever use the term “sober-minded” when describing him.

Yet that’s EXACTLY who our Savior chooses and uses. Jesus LOVES to flip the script by picking the least likely to pull off the unexpected (1Cor 1:27). That being the case, there may not be anybody better to talk about being calm and clearheaded in a crisis.

A Lion on the Loose

So when Peter uses “sober-minded” three times in one little letter, we ought to pay attention. He tells us to get our head right “being sober-minded (Gr. νηθω/nepho)” by focusing on the grace of Jesus (1Pet 1:13). He tells us to get our prayer life right and
“be self-controlled and sober-minded (Gr. νηθω/nepho)” (1Pet 4:7). He tells us to keep our head on a swivel and “sober-minded (Gr. νηθω/nepho); be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1Pet 5:8).

It’s critical that Timothy keeps it together. His mentor is walking the Green Mile. He has to shut down a team of spiritual hucksters who are spreading a theological cancer throughout the Ephesian church (2Tim 2:14-25). Don’t freak out in fear (2Tim 1:7). Focus on following Jesus (2Tim 1:8-14).

Stay Composed and on Your Toes

That’s all summed up in the command, “Always be sober-minded” (v5). Pay attention. Stay on high alert. Don’t let your guard down. But don’t panic. Keep your mind clear. Focus. Stay levelheaded. Paul calls us to a constant state of readiness. Not sometimes vigilant. Not part-time vigilant. Always vigilant.

First up in the Final Four: Stay composed and on our toes.


Endure Suffering
In his second bullet point, Paul encourages Timothy to “endure suffering” (v5). Paul actually uses single Greek verb here (Gr. κακοπαθεω/kakοpatheo) which means to suffer affliction patiently or bear up under hardship and trouble. A closer look at the original language reveals a compound word that describes “evil or bad (Gr. κακο-/kakο-) troubles or emotion (Gr. -παθεω/-patheo).”

It’s the idea of suffering painfully and intensely as the result of evil. The apostle warns us that we will not simply be inconvenienced. It’s not like our caramel macchiato doesn’t have enough foam. He’s talking about suffering real physical and mental anguish. The term carries the idea of endurance and perseverance. You don’t it enjoy it but also don’t run away. Jesus’ little brother James tells us that God uses these trials to actually grow our faith and make us more like our Savior (James 1:2-3, 12).

The Stress of Combat

Ancient writers use it several times when describing the hardships of serving in the military. Not only do you experience the stress of deployment but there’s the danger of combat. There’s an enemy out there that wants to kill you. Same when it comes to following Jesus. We also have an enemy whose objective is “to steal and kill and destroy” (Jn 10:10).

We already know Tim faces a tough battle with spiritual snake oil salesmen inside the Ephesian church. If that’s not bad enough, this is just the beginning of a long, slow slide into selfishness and sin (2Tim 3:1-9). Paul pulls no punches when he writes, “Indeed, all who desire to a godly life in will be persecuted” (2Tim 3:12). It’s not if, but when.

The Furnace of Affliction

Tim Keller writes about the importance and inevitability of hard times his book “Walking with God through Pain and Suffering.” He pulls no punches and doesn’t propose some pollyanna, pie-in-the-sky view of pain. No greeting card answers here.

Instead Keller sees affliction like a furnace. Is suffering painful? You betcha! But it also burns away our sinful inclinations. It’s all part of God’s process of purification if we will only turn to Him as both the Victor and the Victim, the Lord and the Servant. The bottom line, we can suffer well because our Savior has suffered well. Those are the times when grace shines the brightest (2Cor 12:9-10).

The Secret Sauce of Sanctification

What if bearing up in suffering is actually a key ingredient in the secret sauce of sanctification? Take Job’s story. Something very strange happens when you read what happens to him. Despite all that’s going on between God and the devil, Job never finds out. God never clues him in on the why of his incredibly hard times.

Job’s emotional pain and internal heartbreak drives him closer to God. He asks his Creator for answers but never receives a reason. In his book “Glorious Ruin,” Tullian Tchividjian believes this is the key to Job’s story. Suffering drives us to a Who not a why. God uses pain to deepen our trust in His goodness. Hang onto Him because He’s never let go of you. 

Second point of the Final Four: Hang tough and watch God work.

Scared out of Hell by a Blow-Dried Mullet

Next, Paul encourages Timothy to “do the work of an evangelist” (v5). Now if you grew up in a Southern Baptist church like some of us, this word has a steamer trunk full of baggage with it. I have a picture of some slick dude wearing a white three-piece polyester suit and a blow-dried mullet. They tended to get you into heaven by scaring you out of hell.

Let’s just say God’s Word has a slightly different view. The Greek word behind “evangelist” (Gr. ευαγγελιστης/euaggelistes) describes one who brings or announces good news. It literally means “good (Gr. ευ-/eu-) messenger (Gr. -αγγελιστης/-aggelistes).”

Breaking News from the Battlefield

Believe it or not, this was NOT “church” word or religious job description back in the First Century. An evangelist was actually the person who would hightail it back home from the battlefield to break the awesome news that your army has won the war. These folks got the incredible privilege of getting the party started!

The writers of the New Testament describe evangelists as the ones with the privilege of spreading the news of Jesus big win over sin. Luke records the time Paul’s team is headed to the home office in Jerusalem and they stayed with “Philip the evangelist (Gr. ευαγγελιστης/euaggelistes)” in Caesarea (Acts 21:8).

In a letter to his Ephesian friends, the man from Tarsus describes how Jesus provided gifted servant/leaders to the local church to prepare His followers for the mission ahead. “He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists (Gr. ευαγγελιστης/euaggelistes), the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Eph 4:11-12).

Sending out Invitations

Many hold the opinion that God gave the world evangelists in order to spread the word to unbelievers. In other words, He uses them to extend the gracious invitation for new folks to be a part of His kingdom. I mean it does make sense that evangelists would play a key role in evangelism. No doubt about it.

But every single one of us needs regular reminders of the Gospel. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been walking with Jesus for decades or days. We desperately need the Good News. According to Paul’s words to the Ephesians, an evangelist’s assignment is getting folks ready for ministry and play a central role in their spiritual growth.

Not Just the A-B-C’s

While this certainly includes telling unbelievers all about who Jesus is, what He’s done, and will still do, it’s not limited to that. The Gospel is for everyone. Unbeliever. Believer. Seeker. Baby Christian. Longtime disciple. Senior Saint.

Nobody outgrows the Good News. Not Paul. Not Tim. Not me. Not you. Tim Keller knocks this idea out of the park. “We never ‘get beyond the Gospel’ in our Christian life to something more ‘advanced.’ The Gospel is not the first ‘step’ in a ‘stairway’ of truths, rather, it is more like the ‘hub’ in a ‘wheel’ of truth. The Gospel is not just the A-B-C’s but the A-Z of Christianity. The Gospel is not just the minimum required doctrine necessary to enter the kingdom, but the way we make progress in the kingdom.”

That being the case, we ALL need the Good News. We don’t outgrow it. We don’t get past it. We don’t get past it. The Gospel isn’t just the entrance into faith. It’s not simply the kiddie pool of following Christ. The gracious message of Jesus is THE WHOLE POOL! Come on in, the water’s fine!!

What’s So Good about the Good News?

That being the case, let’s all take a moment and take a swim. In an act of incredible love, God created a perfect world and placed us in it. We rebelled against Him and corrupted His creation. Our gracious God did two things. One, He promised One to come who would make all things right and fix what we broke. Two, He gave us commands that would show us our need for rescue, kind of like a cosmic MRI or CT scan.

God personally came to save our bacon as Christ Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity. God takes on human form. Fully God. Fully human. Taking on human flesh, Jesus does what we could never do for ourselves. He lives the life of perfect obedience to God’s rules that we failed to live. He then dies the brutal death for our sin that we should have died. If that’s not enough, God raises Christ to a glorious new life that we don’t deserve. Talk about Good News!!

The Gospel is the amazing message of what many like to call The Great Exchange. In one of his letters to an incredibly dysfunctional church in Corinth, Paul put it this way. “For our sake He (God) made Him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him (Jesus) we might become the righteousness of God” (2Cor 5:21; FYI, I added the little explanations in parenthesis because, as they say, sometimes you can’t tell the players without a scorecard).

God saves us when we stop trying to save ourselves and trust in who Jesus is and what He’s done. That includes believing in Him not just our Savior but our Lord. In other words, we trust in His leadership by doing what He says. We don’t save ourselves by doing good things (Eph 2:8-9). We do good things because He has saved us (Eph 2:10)!

Keep Spreading the News

When Frank Sinatra sings about heading to the Big Apple, Ol’ Blue Eyes tells us to “start spreading the news.” Evangelists are to KEEP spreading the news. The Good News. Spreading to anybody and everybody who will listen. Believers. Unbelievers. It doesn’t matter. We ALL need to hear it. We need the Gospel everyday because we forget it everyday.

And that’s why Paul includes it in the Final Four: Keep spreading the news.

Full Speed Ahead!

Batting cleanup in this list is the apostle’s command to Tim, “Fulfill your ministry” (v5). “Fulfill” is the Greek verb πληροφορεω/plerophoreo, which means to carry to completion. Some scholars see this as a picture of a big ship with its sails full and cutting through the waves. In other words, it’s full speed ahead for the young pastor! Put the hammer down! I can hear Scotty from Star Trek now. “I’m givin’ her all she’s got, Captain!”

The success of the ministry is crucial. The mission is monumental. The message is essential. People need to hear about Jesus. There’s no giving up. There’s no giving in. It’s like the legendary words of Jimmy V. “Don’t give up! Don’t ever give up!” Paul wants to leave his spiritual son with the sense of urgency. It’s full speed ahead!

The Ministry of Silly Walks

What exactly is this ministry Paul’s talking about? Let’s be honest, this is a word we slap on anything that happens at church. Sure, names like children’s ministry and music ministry do the trick. But yoga ministry? Fantasy football ministry? We might as well follow in the footsteps of Monty Python and their Ministry of Silly Walks! We may have lost sight of what ministry is all about.

When the apostle uses the term “ministry” (Gr. διακονια/diakonia), he’s actually referring to something very simple. It’s service, assistance, or help. Back in the First Century, this word usually described humble or menial duties like waiting tables. Being in ministry is being in the service industry. It’s making sure people get what they need.

Me Third

When Luke tells about the time Jesus and His crew drop by a friends’ home in Bethany, Martha freaks out when her little sister Mary won’t help with the dinner party. Martha couldn’t enjoy the Savior’s visit because she “was distracted with much serving (Gr. διακονια/diakonia)” (Lk 10:40). In his sequel, the good doctor talks about how some of the older women in the early church “were being neglected in the daily distribution (Gr. διακονια/diakonia)” of food (Acts 6:1).

So the kind of ministry Paul describes to Timothy turns the org chart upside down. We find the minister at the bottom rung, not the top spot. God calls those in ministry to servant/leadership. It’s a “me third” perspective, as in “God first, others second, me third.” Arrogance and ministry should be mutually exclusive.

The final of the four bullet points: Full speed ahead and finish the mission of serving others.

Passing the Torch

So there you have it. The Final Four. Paul has now officially passed the torch of spreading the Gospel to the young pastor in Ephesus. You can sum up this last letter in these four simple points. One, stay composed and on your toes. Two, hang tough and watch God work. Three, keep spreading the news. Four, full speed ahead and finish the mission.

The Final Four.