Two words sum up Christianity. Do you know them?
They are FOLLOWING JESUS.
These two words sum up the New Testament Church.
These two words summarize the essence of the Overcoming, Victorious Christian Life. Do you know them?
Those two words, so full of power, are FOLLOWING JESUS. This morning I encourage you to look at Christ’s call of Matthew in Mark 2:13-17, and see if you also are willing to Follow Jesus!
Working by the Port of Capernaum was a beautiful job. This picturesque fishing village was an ideal spot for the tax booth Matthew ran on behalf of Rome’s puppet, Herod Antipas. From his seat, he saw the world passing by. Galilee was the land bridge between Europe and Africa; all land traffic must go through her. The Land at this time was divided up. Judaea was a Roman province under a Roman procurator; Galilee was ruled by Herod Antipas, a son of Herod the Great; to the east the territory which included Gaulonitis, Trachonitis and Batanaea was ruled by Philip, another of Herod’s sons.
On the way from Philip’s territory to Herod’s domains, Capernaum was the first town to which the traveler came. It was by its very nature a frontier town; because of that, it was a customs’ center. In those days there were import and export taxes and Capernaum must have been the place where they were collected. And that is where Matthew worked. From regiments to caravans they slowly flowed up and down the Roman Road that stretched from Roman Egypt to Roman Babylon. Some traffic even slipped over from the great Roman highway to Damascus. Along these main arteries camel caravans carrying the wealth of the nations.
Gold, silver, precious spices, cloth, silk, ivory, and many more desirable commodities were brought in abundance, and this presented a tremendous opportunity for the tax-gatherers to become wealthy. Determined to reach a financial harvest, Caesar had commissioned his tax-gatherers to get as much money as possible from everybody. The officials were given a franchise; they were expected to reach a certain quota, but anything in excess of the stated figure, they kept.
Many of the more unscrupulous tax-gatherers had become wealthy at the expense of their victims. Everybody detested the tax collectors, for the officials were experts at swindling their own people.
Yet, there was not much that ordinary folk could do about the matter, for the tramp of soldiers was a constant reminder that the power of Rome was there to suppress the insurrection. One of the detested tax-gatherers was named Levi. So the call Jesus gave in v. 14 to Levi (Matthew) has only two words: FOLLOW ME. Those two words encompass all there is to the Christian Life.
This morning we have come to the record of Christ’s call of Matthew. This morning we look again through the eyes of Peter, and read the story written down under the Holy Spirit’s guidance by the pen of Mark in the Gospel by Mark 2:13-17. Please stand with me, and follow along as I read these precious words from God’s Word.
Serving God is FOLLOWING JESUS.
Loving God is FOLLOWING JESUS.
Trusting God is FOLLOWING JESUS.
Obeying God is FOLLOWING JESUS.
Worshiping God is FOLLOWING JESUS.
This morning I ask you, are you FOLLOWING JESUS?
• Following Jesus is THE DESCRIPTION JESUS GAVE OF HIS CALL TO SALVATION:
Mark 8:34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (Also cited in Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:23)
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