Matt 8:18-27 Discipleship CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

In this passage, the Lord shows us what’s required in discipleship. Discipleship can be difficult because it can require:

Separation from Home – 8:19-20

Jesus had to leave heaven to come down here to save us, and that meant giving up everything (2 Cor 8:9). When God called Abraham, he told him to leave home and Abraham wasn’t even sure where he was going (Heb 11:8). In a way, being a disciple of Jesus is like being a soldier. Soldiers often have to leave their families, their homes, and their countries. That’s why Paul told us to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Tim 2:3).

Change in Priorities – 8:21-22

This would-be disciple wanted to put his priorities ahead of the Lord’s. He said, “me first.” Now, that may be the way it is with modern discipleship but that wasn’t the way it was with Jesus’ disciples. With Jesus’ disciples it was, “let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me,” (Mk 8:34-35). Like preachers have said before, your cross is where the Lord’s will crosses your will.

Exposure to Peril – 8:23-24

Some of these disciples were commercial fisherman and they were already used to bad weather. But this storm was unlike anything they had experienced because they thought they were going to die. Following Jesus can be like that according to Paul (2 Cor 1:8). After all, Paul was a great apostle and look at the perils he went through (2 Cor 11:26). What’s worse, the Prince of Peace (Is 9:6) was sleeping through the storm. At times it may seem like he’s sleeping through your storms, as well.

Complete Dependence upon Jesus – 8:25

The disciples turned to Jesus and said, “Lord, save us.” That’s the right thing to say to Jesus. Peter said it when he found himself in trouble (Matt 14:30). We said it when we found ourselves in a hopeless condition (Rom 10:13; Eph 2:12). The disciples said, “we perish.” That’s when we realize that we are totally dependent on the Lord, without him we would be goners.

Faith in Fearful Circumstances – 8:26

The Lord allows his disciples to go through fearful circumstances to strengthen their faith. At this point their faith was “little.” But it would grow. Fear is the absence of faith (2 Tim 1:7) and faith is the elimination of fear (Ps 56:3-4, 11).
In spite of these difficulties, Discipleship can be Rewarding – 8:26-27

The Lord rebuked the winds. Not only did they quit blowing but the sea immediately became calm. There is only one person in the universe that can do that miracle. That person is God (Ps 107:23-31; Ps 89:8-9). They found out that Jesus Christ was God because they got to see him manifest his deity.