Matthew 4: 18-25

            Certainly this is not a strange notion to us - in this day when we are celebrity- crazy. If Jesus was starting out today, there would be a huge marketing machine around him. There would be T-shirts and mugs and bobble-head dolls and action figures. Come to think of it, I have seen all of those things with pictures of Jesus on them. Jesus would be on the tabloids, in commercials, on billboards. Come to think of it, I've seen all those things too. Jesus is still a celebrity, and there is a tremendous amount of marketing around him today. Many people wear crosses because they are devoted to Jesus; but many more wear crosses because it is in fashion to do so. Many people went to see Mel Gibson's movie because they are devoted to the Lord, and were drawn to witness an artistic interpretation of what the crucifixion might have looked like; but many more went because of the hype around the movie.

            The thing is, people who come looking for a celebrity are a pretty fickle crowd. They are likely to go from one celebrity to another. And ones who stay are more likely to stay out of obsession than they are devotion. And, if there's anything we know about our celebrity culture, it's that there are many people who relish seeing the celebrities fall. When Brad and Jennifer broke up a couple weeks ago, the magazines and TV stations were racing to get the scoop; the public eats it up.

            We see the phenomenon in many peoples' religion - they tune in to a particular preacher on television, and then tune in more when that preacher falls to temptation. And is that kind of shallow devotion far from our imagination when we read about the crowd that joined the party and shouted Hosanna! and waved palm branches when Jesus rode into Jerusalem, and then just five days later shouted Crucify Him! when Jesus was on trial for his life?

            There are many people today who follow Jesus for the shallowest of reasons- they'll be around as long as it's fun or convenient. Adolf Hitler paid his church dues for all of his life - but it certainly didn't go very deep. This is the way many people follow Jesus. They are there for their convenience or entertainment. I suspect this was the largest group of people coming to see Jesus, and still is today.

            The second way of following is also in evidence in this morning's lesson - verse 24 says, ".. .his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them." In other words, the second group of followers came to Jesus because of need - they came looking for healing. They're not as shallow as those who simply come to see a celebrity. These come out of the depths of their pain. Many are desperate; many have tried most everything else. They come because of demons that throw them into the fire, or paralysis that won't let them live fully, or pain that they can no longer stand. The need for healing may be physical, emotional, relational, or spiritual. It may simply be an emptiness inside, a longing for peace.

            Jesus loves them with all of his heart. The Gospel of Luke says that when he saw them he was 'filled with compassion, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.' Jesus wanted to be that shepherd. And later in Matthew, he says, "Come unto me, all ye who are heavy laden."

            All of us are here, I suspect, because of some need that compels us - for healing, for fellowship, for inner peace. Sometimes we know what the need is; other times it's just a sense within us that things are not quite complete without him. And there's nothing wrong with that; again, Jesus invited it: "Come unto me."

            The problem is, again, how deep does it go? We have dozens and dozens of stories in the Bible about Jesus healing people. But how many of them stuck around? Some did. Some went off and shared the good news. But most just disappeared. Jesus healed ten lepers. One worshiped him; nine disappeared, leaving Jesus the healer to wonder, "Where'd they go?" I don't think that is unusual.

            Nor is it unusual to see people come to church during a needy time, and then disappear. The highest attendance we've had in the last few years was right after 9-11. But then it tailed off again. We don't judge that; it's in all of us. We are all prone to forget God when things are going well; and to look for a hotline to God when things fall apart. And Jesus' response to that is absolutely gracious and compassionate. "Come unto me." He came into this world because we were needy; he carried the cross because of our need. He longs to be a healer and a Savior. And I think this was the second largest group that came to see Jesus; and it still is today.

            So the masses come - some simply to see a celebrity; some because of a deep need within them. Jesus welcomes them all. But then he invites them to something deeper.  And this is the smallest group, the ones Jesus said chose the 'narrow gate.' The third way to follow Jesus is also in this scripture lesson - it's in the story of Simon and Andrew, James and John. The third way to follow is to become a disciple.

            We don't know what's behind the scenes in the story of Jesus calling the four fishermen to be disciples. We don't know if Peter and Andrew, and James and John, even knew who Jesus was. Had they heard him preach? Had they spent time getting to know him? In the Gospel of John, the introduction of the disciples to Jesus is told in a much different way. But Matthew and Mark tell the story in a way that makes it appear that everything happened on the spur of the moment. Jesus was walking by, and he saw the boats, and impulsively called the disciples to follow him; and they do not seem to know who he was, or to much care - they dropped their nets and went with him, just as impulsively.

            We are left to fill in the blanks with two factors - Jesus' appearance, and Jesus' words. His appearance we know nothing about. Maybe it was something in his voice, or in his eyes, or in his confident walk, that made the disciples leave everything. We can only guess at that part.

            But his words we know. "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Of course, we update that word with our inclusive sensitivity. Jesus meant 'people,' and you have to wonder what that sounded like to those four fishermen. Day after day they cast out their nets. It's not just sheer chance - the fishers on the Sea of Galilee would know the ins and outs of that lake like the backs of their hands - they would know how to maximize their chances. And you would think it would be a good, hardworking life - a good way to make a living, especially from our perspective of recreational fishing, where we have bumper stickers like, “A bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work any time."  But if you do it every day, sunrise to sunset, there just may be moments when you wonder if this is all there is. When you wonder if there isn't something deeper and more meaningful in life.

            And here comes Jesus. And Jesus says, "Follow me, and you will be catching people." Let's unroll that phrase a little bit: Follow me, and you will make a difference in somebody's life; Follow me, and you will bring people into the circle of God's love; Follow me, and you will be part of the greatest project the world has ever seen - the kingdom of God; Follow me, and your life that can go no deeper than the nets you cast into the sea, will suddenly be as deep as the very heart of God.

            There are as many reasons for people to seek God as there are people, I suppose. One of the things we try to do as a church is offer a high-quality program - the very best our abilities and God's blessing will allow - to give people as many reasons as possible to want to be here. I think it's a great place to be for whatever reason.

            But sooner or later, it's got to be about something more than liking the preacher, or the music, or the people sitting around you, or the good feeling you get, and the guilt you avoid. Sooner or later, it's got to be something deeper, something bigger. I don't know just when that happens, but I've noticed it has something to do with getting past asking, "What am I getting out of this?" and asking instead, "What can I give to this?" Or getting past asking, "Did this make me happy?" and instead asking, "Did this make God happy?"

            I confess that I'm not there yet. I am a long way from the place where my love for God is deeper than my love for self. But I pray each day that God will continue to draw me to that deeper life. And I take heart that it took those disciples a long while before they had stopped thinking about their own purpose, and started thinking about God's purpose.

            But at least they followed! That's where it begins. And the paradox is that the more willing you are to follow Jesus, to leave the past ways behind; to step out in courage; to forget yourself and live for God - the deeper your joy can be; and greater your sense of purpose and wholeness; the more blessedly assured your salvation and inner peace.

            So many people today are missing out on this joy, because they are just skimming along the surface of faith. That's not where the grace is - the grace is in the deep, rich sea of God's infinite love. What would it take for each of us to go deeper? That's the question we need to ask ourselves as the Lenten season approaches. There are some wonderful Bible studies to help us find that deeper life; I hope each of you will sign up for one of them. The services will be geared to helping us on that journey to discipleship. Those disciples didn't know what they were in for at first; but slowly Jesus gave them the recipe for a life they'd never thought possible. In the sermons over Lent, we will look at the ingredients Jesus provided.

            But it begins here in the boat; it begins with the call of Jesus, "Follow me." It begins with a personal decision you make about your life. Will I stay in the safe, shallow waters; or will I step out in faith to greater joy and peace?