But, Follow Me

Matthew 8:18-34

Key Verse 8:22

But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

In last week’s passage we saw Jesus’ healing ministry. All kinds of people came to Jesus and he had compassion on them and healed them and drove out demons from them. Through this he taught about the kingdom of God. Today’s passage shows how Jesus called some disciples to follow him and how he revealed himself to them. When you commit yourself to something, very naturally there will be costs and challenges involved. No pain, no gain. The same is true with Jesus. Jesus was pleased to reveal himself to his disciples. We can learn from this passage who Jesus is that calls us to follow him and see why we should accept his calling. 

The Son of Man has no place to lay his head (The Way of the Messiah) (18-20)

Look at verse 18. “When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.” Jesus had healed so many people and had driven out demons from them. He set them free from the power of the devil. He had spent a lot of time with the crowds because he had compassion on them. The more Jesus healed, the more crowds came out to him. But he didn’t spend all of his time with them. This time, when he saw the crowd around him, Jesus gave orders to his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. Jesus was not moving around freely and allowing people to tag along freely as well. He commanded a commitment and trust and obedience from his followers. 

It was at this point that one man volunteered to follow Jesus. Look at verse 19. “Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, ‘Teacher, I follow you wherever you go.’” What a surprise! A teacher of the law came to Jesus and called him, “Teacher.” He was like a professor of those days. He was a very respected and honorable man. He endured many years of training and education. He was self-controlled and well disciplined. In fact, the teachers of the law had even come to expect the most honorable places wherever they went. In his sermon on the mount, Jesus had said many things to criticize them. Yet now this teacher wanted to follow Jesus and be taught by him. He must have been so moved through Jesus’ teaching of the law. Rather than be offended by Jesus, he humbled himself and opened his heart and even said such a bold and amazing statement. It looked really good. Most likely he was not part of the group of disciples. So when Jesus gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake, he spoke up so that Jesus might let him join. 

But what did Jesus say to him? 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.’” Jesus didn’t respond in astonishment, like he did at the faith of the Gentile centurion. He didn’t say, “Great! Welcome aboard!” Instead, he said a simple statement about himself. “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” It was kind of like a rejection. He said, “I’ll follow you wherever,” but Jesus replied, “I have no place for you to follow.” 

Jesus taught this man about his way of life. Jesus didn’t have a palace, a lecture hall, a house, or even a small apartment in Galilee. He didn’t have somewhere to go to at the end of the day and relax. He didn’t have any honor or security in this world. In fact, animals had it better off than Jesus. At least a fox has a hole, and a bird has a nest. For most of his public ministry, Jesus was a marked man. The Pharisees were trying to find ways to kill him. 

Jesus’ answer here tells us first what following Jesus is not about. It is not about Jesus leading us to a place of security in this world. It is being led by Jesus wherever. And that wherever is according to his own lifestyle, even to this poor place called “no place”. Jesus referred to himself here as the “Son of Man.” This was an expression that was used to indicate the Messiah, the Savior. It referred to a specific person of power and glory and honor. Using the expression “Son of Man” then tells us that this lifestyle was not imposed on Jesus, nor was it the result of a bad economy or bad family situation or just bad luck. It means that Jesus the Son of Man, the Savior, choose this poor lifestyle as his own. Jesus taught this man the way of the Messiah. It was full of sacrifice and sufferings. 

Why did Jesus live such a life of poverty? 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” Jesus became so poor that he submitted himself to death on the cross at the hands of sinful men. It was so that he could make us rich. Not in terms of worldly wealth or security, but rich in God. Jesus gave up all of his glory and honor above and came to this earth in flesh like ours. He became like us, so that we could become like him, and be with him and God the Father. Ultimately, Jesus did not remain on this earth. After rising from the dead, he ascended into heaven and went back to the Father. His life was not about securing a nice place on earth, but in securing eternal life with God the Father for all who believe in him.

Jesus challenged this teacher to renounce his trust for security in the things of this world and instead trust in Jesus. He challenged the teacher to know his life as the point of following him. He had to renounce seeking honor in this world. He had to embrace Jesus’ life and be willing to be led even to such an extent, to be ready to share in Jesus’ suffering. That is the real way to learn of and learn from Jesus. What Jesus says here seems difficult for anyone, even regular and already lowly people like me to really accept Jesus lifestyle as my own. Who can accept this? What this example shows is the extent of following Jesus. Whether to a lowly fisherman or a dignified professor, Jesus called them to the same fundamental standard, which was his own life. Why? So that we would have the right perspective, motive, and be truly blessed by knowing Jesus. 

Jesus didn’t say that we must live by such a standard of poverty. Instead, it stood as a clear direction and invitation to know the Son of Man. Following Jesus means to follow Jesus’ way of life, even to this extent because that is the extent that Jesus went to; it is to share in his sufferings and life fully. Knowing Jesus deeply and meaningfully comes through living Jesus’ life. To know Jesus is absolutely priceless. You can’t pay a tuition and take a class to know Jesus. You have to live by his leading.

This part of the passage challenged me personally as well. I suffered a lot of disappointment because of this matter. I thought Jesus would make me successful in this world. I worked hard. I have a degree. I tried for graduate studies. But when people asked about my job, I was embarrassed. I sell used shipping containers. Once my boss said to me, “When I write your paychecks, I wonder how you make it every month.” But this passage showed me that I am truly rich in Jesus because he called me to know him and have heavenly riches. I could know his poor life, even just a little bit. Thank God!

If we are poor, we thank God because we can know Jesus was who poor, and who called us to live such a humble life as he did. If he calls us to be rich, then we can also know Jesus who used his riches to make other people rich in the kingdom of God and knowledge of God. May God help us to share in his sufferings so that we can know him and experience his power. We thank God for Jesus, the Son of Man, who chose to become poor and to suffer for our sake. We also thank God that he invites us to know him and experience his power. May God give us his grace to follow Jesus and embrace Jesus’ life daily. 

But, follow me (The Value of Life in Jesus) (21-22)

Look at verse 21. “Another disciple said, to him, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’” Here was another disciple who spoke up, but he was not as zealous as the first man. He was hesitant. When he considered the cost of following Jesus at that moment, he asked Jesus if he could first take care of his family obligation, and then follow Jesus. 

What he requested seems very reasonable. He had only once chance to bury his father. But he thought he could just pick up on following Jesus at a later time. Maybe he expected Jesus to say, “Yes, honor your father and your mother. I understand. You can come follow me afterwards.” But that’s not what he said. Let’s look at Jesus’ reply in verse 22. “But Jesus told him, ‘Follow me, and the let the dead bury their own dead.’” 

Jesus didn’t say “Yes” or “No” to this man. Jesus did not put down the importance of taking care of our families. Instead, he rebutted with what was more pressing and obliging to him at that moment that he should choose, and that was Jesus’ invitation to follow him--the way of life. 

“Let the dead bury their own dead.” Jesus came to give life. In the gospel, in Jesus, this man could find the true value of his life. This is why Jesus is the first priority. It’s a matter of finding the true value of life and pursuing it wholeheartedly. Jesus is the author of life and in him is eternal life, life to the full. Following Jesus first does not abolish our responsibilities in the world. But we have to put following Jesus as first priority. Following Jesus first is the way we can live with a right priority and value system.

We say, “Lord, first let me do this...I have to do just this one thing first, and then I’ll follow you.” We can make a long list of very reasonable things we need to do first. They will demand our commitment and time until we die. When will we have time to follow Jesus then? When will the circumstance be the perfect condition for us to follow? Never, according to this kind of thinking. But following Jesus is more about should I do this right, or should I do this? It’s about the priority of the value of life. The moment that Jesus calls us, that really is when the conditions are perfect, in circumstance and timing, for us to follow him. At those critical moments, we have to choose to follow Jesus which is to choose life, not death. Following Jesus is the most important thing. And this passage again shows to what extent we have to choose to follow Jesus at any given time. 

When I was a teenager l I was a huge Smashing Pumpkins fan. They had announced that they were breaking up at the end of the year 2000 (I was a freshman in college) and they also announced their final concert date because they were breaking up. I had to go to that show. The news was like hearing a family member was dying. Somehow, I was one of the lucky ones to get tickets. I spent about $500 dollars and the concert was going to be in Chicago. Now that summer I had attended the Summer Bible Conference and it changed my life. For the first time I heard and accepted the gospel message from Matthew 9:12-13. For the coming Fall Bible Conference, I was chosen to participate in a symposium based on The Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan. Then I found out that the Bible conference was going to be on the same date as the final Smashing Pumpkins concert. At first, I thought that I was at a crossroads. But I asked God what I should do, at that moment I heard Jesus’ call to follow him and it became clear which I should do. I threw my tickets away and went to the Bible conference and joined in the symposium. I let the dead bury the dead. It was one of the best decision I made when I was a teenager. God blessed me so much through that symposium, because I had to share on the character named Faithful, who was faithful to death. In fact, pretty all I remember from that conference was the symposium I shared. And it was through that symposium that God gave me vision and clear direction to serve the campus ministry. Before that, I just shared the gospel with some of my friends or classmates, because I felt a sense of urgency. God gave me a clear mission and joy through that symposium.

Verse 23 says, “Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.” Those who followed Jesus into the boat were considered his disciples. We don’t know if the teacher of the law or this other disciple were of those who got into the boat. But we can see that the author has presented two common and real challenges we face as we follow Jesus. Now that we have heard Jesus’ answer and invitation, we have to decide to follow and get into the boat and let him lead us.

3. Why Are You Afraid? (Lord of the Physical World) (24-27)

Jesus blessed their commitment. But the blessing came in disguise. Look at verses 24-25. “Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’” Here the disciples were not just overreacting to turbulent waters. Many of the disciples were professional fishermen. They knew a storm when they saw it. It was a real life-threatening storm. The danger was real. Their fear was real. They pleaded with Jesus, thinking that he had led them to drown at sea.

But what was Jesus doing during the storm? He was sleeping! How could anyone sleep during such a storm? He could sleep because he was not concerned about the storm at all. It was not the storm that woke Jesus up but his disciples who were so afraid for their lives. So, Jesus got up and replied to his disciples, in verse 26, “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. He revealed and demonstrated his authority over this physical world. 

Why did Jesus reveal himself in this way? Clearly, he wanted the knowledge of him to bear fruit in them and to mean something practically. The knowledge was to come with faith in Jesus. It was a beginning point for them to know him and grow in a real and practical way. Jesus wanted them to have faith in him who is the Lord over this physical world. When they followed him, they should believe firmly that the physical world obeys Jesus. They do not have to be afraid when they follow Jesus who is Lord over this world. Fear really makes us crazy. And it is because we have nothing to trust in, to have faith in, so we are really anxious about everything. But the winds and the waves obey Jesus! It means that can put our trust in him. Further, it means that Jesus wants his disciples to grow up to his level through knowledge of him and faith in him, so that they can brave all the challenges and impossible situations for the glory of God. It means that with faith, with fear gone, they could be brave and serve the Lord with great boldness and determination in any situation. 

Let’s consider the disciples’ reaction to this event. Look at verse 27. “The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!’” Their answer shows that the revelation of Jesus’ person and power here, was going to bear the fruit of meaning and practical faith in their lives. It proved to be a good beginning point for them to know Jesus and grow in practical faith that overcomes this world. 

We can hear great or profound teachings and be moved. The teacher of the law who came to Jesus was one of them. And we can even witness miracles and be moved, like those who experienced Jesus’ healing ministry. As we saw, more and more crowds came out to Jesus. Although they were so impressed with Jesus, for the most part they didn’t follow him or put their faith in him. 

But when these disciples experienced a real challenge, a real practical situation, they were also challenged to know who Jesus really is and based on that put their faith in him. Through the challenge they were able to see and experience Jesus’ person and power and know that really Jesus is not just a great teacher, or a miracle worker, or a free clinic, he is the Lord of this physical world. That is why it was a blessing in disguise. 

When practical and real storms hit us, we tend to act like the disciples. Usually, it is during storms that we find that we pray the most. But in calm waters, we don’t pray. Real practical problems are actually real blessings to help us know Jesus who is the Lord of this world and grow up in faith in him.

Go! (Lord of the Spiritual World) (28-34)

Lastly, let’s look at verses 28-34. These verses further demonstrate Jesus as the Lord. He is the Lord over the invisible, spiritual world as well.  

When Jesus reached the other side of the lake they were met with another very scary situation: two demon-possessed men came to Jesus. And these demons do most of the talking in this passage. The disciples didn’t say a single word, probably still in amazement about what happened during the storm. And Jesus only says a single word. 

Let’s look at what the demons said to Jesus. Let’s read verses 28-31. “28When 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. 29’What do you want with us, Son of God?’ they shouted. ‘Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?’ 30Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31The demons begged Jesus, ‘If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.’” 

They were scared to death of Jesus. They recognized his authority. He was their Judge. They were confused because they thought that he came early to judge them “before the appointed time.” Jesus was not merely a man with some authority to drive out demons. He was the authority over them and they immediately recognized him with great fear. Demons are indeed real and scary creatures that are at work today, possessing people who open their hearts to their influence and to sinful desires. We don’t have authority over them, but Jesus does. Jesus is scary to scary demons. In him we have victory over the demonic and satanic forces in this world. Here Jesus simply said, “Go!” He gave them permission to go into the pigs. They listened and went into the pigs. Demons are invisible creatures. So when the pigs committed mass suicide at once, it was clear that the demons really had left the men and went into those pigs. Even these unseen forces were under Jesus’ authority and word, just as the winds and the waves obeyed. 

Today’s passage shows that Jesus is the Lord of all creation, both what is seen and unseen. Everything is under his authority. The Lord of all creation invites us to follow him and to know him and his power in our own lives. He helps us to grow up in faith so that we can live as powerful children of God and reach the kingdom of heaven and eternal life. Oftentimes we are so negative about following Jesus. We are scared of storms, we want to take care of our busy schedules, but we miss out on who he is and why he calls us to follow him. May God give all of us the grace and courage to follow Jesus and face the difficulties involved by faith so that we may grow up as children of God--all the way to Jesus’ level, beginning by embracing his life here. May God help us to go out and invite people to Jesus, just as we were invited to such a blessed fellowship. May God especially bless us to invite many people to our Spring Bible Conference that they may meet the Lord Jesus and begin on the path of life. 

One Word: Follow Jesus

---