I Am Not A Fan of Jesus!

I Am Not A Fan of Jesus!

Sometimes when preparing a lesson, I “worry” that it may hit someone in the class or somone who is reading the lesson very hard. I really want people to come to our class or continue to read the lessons on the WhoSoEver “blog” or in an email or on Facebook. I really want people to continue to “Forward” our email lesson to others! But wouldn’t that really be selling Jesus cheap and watering down the gospel in hopes that more of you will read our lessons online, that more will come to hear the lessons? And that's why this Sunday we're talking about whether or not we are prepared to just be an excitable fan of the Lord Jesus Christ, awed by His miracles, caught up in His stories and parables, or have we really made a decision to be committed to the only Lord of Glory, to belong to Him in such a way that it doesn't matter whatever happens, whatever comes, whatever anyone says.

This is one of these “worry” lessons. But here it is anyway! NOTE: Remember that I often say in class that God has done “wore me out” with the lesson before it gets to y’all! 

Today, let’s look at defining the relationship (DTR) between us and Jesus. What exactly is the commitment level? Now some of us may get a little uncomfortable, a little anxious…you may even have a fight or flight response because you kind of like the current arrangement you have with Jesus. He seems like a good guy – and you like having something to do on the weekends – what it comes down to is this - you want to have a relationship with Jesus with all the benefits but none of the commitment. A No Strings Attached arrangement – where you can connect with him from time to time – but it doesn’t really mess with your life. You want to be a fan of Jesus – but not a follower. Have you ever looked seriously at Luke 9:23? Seriously?
In this passage Jesus put it this way: “….If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” NASB
The New Living Translations says: “you must turn from your selfish ways”.

A fan is simply defined as an enthusiastic admirer. And the DTR question is this:

Are you a fan or a follower?

As you read through the Gospels you will find example after example where Jesus will put people in a position where they must choose… Sometimes there were large crowds following him like in Luke 14 and John 6 – and Jesus would preach a sermon that would determine who in the crowd were fans and who were followers.

Jesus was never impressed by the size of this crowd, it’s the commitment level that he cares about. A concern with our churches today is that when we gather together - there is the possibility that instead of a community of followers we are nothing more than a stadium full of fans. Where we may wear a cross, but we don’t bear the cross. You can come to church, know all the songs, open your Bible and take notes, walk out to your car with a Jesus fish on the bumper and say grace before lunch, but that doesn’t necessarily make you a follower.

I believe that for years I was more fan than follower. Mainly because I confused knowing about Jesus with knowing Jesus. But there is a difference between knowledge and intimacy. Many of people think it is their knowledge and their good behavior that makes a good follower. Has this been or is this how we may think? We love Jesus and we know a lot about Jesus – but we don’t know Jesus. We don’t talk to him about our day – we aren’t listening for him to speak into our lives. See, a lot of us don’t mind Jesus once a week on Sunday. We don’t mind making some minor change in our lives but Jesus wants to turn our lives upside down – we want him to do a little touch up work, but Jesus wants complete renovation – we come thinking tune-up but Jesus is thinking overhaul – we think just a little makeup is what we need and Jesus is thinking makeover. We think a little decorating is required, and Jesus wants a compete remodel.

A pastor got an email that informed him of a person who wanted to be removed as a member of the church because they didn’t like his sermons. That was the reason given. After making sure it wasn’t his wife , he decided to pick up the phone and call the person. When the man answered the phone, the pastor identified himself and said, “I understand you are leaving the church because you don’t like my sermons…" This caught the man off guard, there was an awkward silence, and then he started talking, rambling really, trying to express what he meant. But somewhere in his lengthy explanation he said something…and the pastor wrote it down…because when he said it the pastor breathed such a sigh of relief that that tears literally came to his eyes. Here what the ex-member said – "Well…whenever I listen to your messages I feel like you’re trying to interfere with my life." Now he didn’t mean that as but it was a compliment – in fact it’s really more of a job description of a pastor – to teach the Bible in way that interferes with your life.

But the truth is that it is only in letting Jesus interfere with our lives – that we find real life. Jesus didn’t come to this earth so that you would be better behaved or to tweak your personality or fine-tune your manners or smooth out your rough spots. He wants total transformation. The objective of the gospel is not to make you a well-behaved person but to turn your life upside down. When we quit fighting for the controls of our lives and surrender everything to him – when we “give up our selfish ways” and live for him, we find life that that is truly life.

In Luke 9:23, Jesus says that if we want to follow him we must deny ourselves and take up our cross daily. But at the end of this chapter Jesus gives three examples of people who are potential followers, but are shown to be fans – just enthusiastic admirers. And here’s what we find – what keeps them from following – is really what keeps most of us from following.

We find the 1st fan verse 57. As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." He’s at least talking a good game. But look at verse 58. Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Jesus draws attention to the fact that this man loved comfort more than following him. And maybe that’s what’s keeping you. Because the call of Jesus to take up our cross and follow him – is in direct conflict with our desire to be comfortable. We are by nature comfort seekers.

A follower is not asking the question “How can I be comfortable?” Many of us are not following Jesus – we’re following comfort. We’ve made comfort our God – it’s what we live for – work for – and sacrifice for. But there’s nothing comfortable about the call to follow Jesus.

So as you determine the relationship we have with Jesus, let’s ask ourselves a question:

Is the relationship one of convenience, or is it committed?

This man in verse 57 spoke words of commitment, but when Jesus painted him a picture of what that commitment looked like the man seemed to back off. There are a lot of people who have made a decision to believe in Jesus – but never really committed to Jesus.

Many of us are committed until it becomes inconvenient and uncomfortable. Many Christians approach their commitment to Jesus and Bible. I really like Jesus – but I don’t really like serving the poor – I like the idea of going to church – but my resources (time and/or $) are spoken for. I love Jesus but this area of my life – but when I’m with these friends – when I am at this place...I’m not 100 percent committed.

And so they will say, I want to follow Jesus but don’t ask me to forgive the person who hurt me. Don’t ask me to release that bitterness and resentment I’m not going to let that go. I want to follow Jesus but don’t ask me to give a percentage of my money. I worked hard for that. I’ll follow Jesus but don’t talking to me about my sex life –. I can’t help my desires. We wear the name Christian and then we pick and choose - the teachings of Jesus that we’re going to follow – as if the teachings of the Bible were a buffet, where you just take what looks good to you and don’t worry about the rest.

We would never do that – but that is what fans do.

Most parents want their kids to have a little bit of God – they want their kids to have some Biblical morals. But one of the most dangerous ways to be raised is with a little bit of Jesus…it’s like an inoculation. A little bit can make you immune to the real thing.

In verse 59-60 we meet fan number 2. “He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." One of the first words out the guy’s mouth is “First.” The first thing he does is put Jesus off. I want to follow, I really do, but not right now. And so we say I’ll start tomorrow…this is my last time…when I’m out of college…when I get married…when we have kids…when I get a less demanding job. Instead of getting out of bed we just keep hitting the snooze alarm – just 10 more minutes we tell ourselves.

Maybe you hear this man’s excuse for putting Jesus off – he wants to go bury his father – and think Jesus is being a little too hard core. Let the guy go bury his dad. Well, most likely he father wasn’t even sick. This was a way for the man to say – when my parents die…then I will follow you. When I get the inheritance…when I know they won’t disapprove – then I will follow you. But his excuse isn’t enough for Jesus. I’m not sure what is holding you back. It may be something that seems very legitimate – but Jesus says the time is now.

And the third fan is in verse 61-62. “Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Jesus isn’t looking for half-hearted followers. Following him part-time isn’t an option. He has no interest in Sunday Christians that say they will follow him but are always looking over their shoulder wondering if they are missing out and second guessing their decision. Jesus explains that following him in not something you do part-time or half-way.

And so the invitation hasn’t changed since Luke wrote his Gospel. Jesus still says, “If anyone would come after me he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” A great word in this invitation is ANYONE. No matter what your story – no matter what you’ve done, this is the relationship Jesus wants to have with you. Anyone…Anyone who has ever laid awake in bed and thought I would give anything to undo what I’ve done. Anyone who has looked at themselves in the mirror and said I can’t believe what I have become. Anyone is an all-inclusive term – Anyone means everyone. Anyone means me and anyone means you.

Based on lesson by Kyle Idleman