This is week 4 of our series "The Real Jesus." Everything God wanted to say to humanity was said in the person of Jesus. Everything He did while on earth exemplifies the will of God toward us. When He healed all the diseases, it showed He wants our lives to be healed. When He set people free, it showed He wants us free from oppression. When He taught, it showed that He wants us to know truth. This week we will discuss the meaning in His calling people to follow Him.

Matthew 4:18–22 ESV - 18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Ecclesiastes 1:1–2 NLT - 1 These are the words of the Teacher, King David's son, who ruled in Jerusalem. 2 "Everything is meaningless," says the Teacher, "completely meaningless!"

Three statements of purpose from Christ:

1. Follow Me - a purposeful CALLING

• Greek word, akoloutheo: "join me, accompany me, attend to me"
• Our ultimate purpose is to know God and be with Him.
• There are three things involved with following Jesus:
  • Leave something = "Follow Me" means to depart from something.
  • Learn something = "Follow Me" means to learn from Him.
  • Last through something = "Follow Me" means to hang on through the bumps!

2. I will make you - a purposeful CHANGE

• No one followed Christ and wasn't changed.
• Our purpose is to be changed by Christ.
• Our actions change - "Go and sin no more."
• Our names change - "You are no longer Simon; you are Peter."
• Our identities change - "I know longer call you servants; you are friends."

3. FISHERS of men - a purposeful CAUSE

• Christ redirected people's ultimate mission to match His own.
• The purpose of Christ: Luke 19:10 NLT - For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.
• Five types of causes people give their lives to:
  • Selfish cause
  • Sinful cause
  • Silly cause
  • Social cause
  • Supreme cause
• Jesus wants to take what's in your hand and cause it to rescue people.
  • "I will make you fishers of men" was spoken to fishermen.
• The mission of Jesus is simple: it's about others. He is inviting you to leave what is comfortable and follow Him, be changed by his power, and join the mission of reaching others.

Application:

We are one week from Easter. Who is one person you can reach out to and invite to celebrate the resurrection of Christ?