This document discusses Jesus' avoidance of large crowds and his qualifications for followers. It describes how Jesus fled from large crowds to spend time alone in prayer. When people expressed a desire to follow him, Jesus emphasized the hardship of following him without stable housing or family ties. The document then summarizes Jesus calming a storm on the sea after his disciples awoke him, expressing their fear of perishing. Jesus questioned their lack of faith and calmed the storm with a command.

1. Jesus flees the ‘Mega-Church’ movement
Matt 8
18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave
commandmentto depart unto the other side.
The crowd is no comfort to Christ
Mark 1:45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to
blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more
openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and
they came to him from every quarter.
Mark 3:9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait
on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.
Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a
mountain to pray, and continuedall night in prayer to God.
John 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceivedthat they would come and
take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a
mountain himself alone.
Qualifications to follow Christ
Matthew 8:19-22
Luke 9:57-62
Mat 8:19-22
19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee
whithersoever thou goest.
20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air
have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Luke 9:57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a
certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoeverthou
goest.
58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air
have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

2. …I will follow thee… Impulsive commitment
Luke 22:32-33 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not:
and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into
prison, and to death.
Luke 22:46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest
ye enter into temptation.
John 7:53 And every man went unto his own house.
John 8:1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
“Foxes have holes, and birds… nests”
Song 2:15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for
our vines have tender grapes.
Luke 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I
cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third
day I shall be perfected.
Rev 18:2 And he cried mightilywith a strong voice, saying, Babylon
the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils,
and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and
hateful bird.
Matt 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and
the fowls came and devoured them up:
Matt 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and
understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth
away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which receivedseed
by the way side.
The wicked may have “contemporary” pleasurebut that is not what Christoffers.
John 7:53 And every man went unto his own house.
John 8:1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
Mat 8:21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first
to go and bury my father. [It is not enoughto study Christ as a disciple,
you need to follow him; a much higher commitment]

3. 22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
Luke 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord,
suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou
and preach the kingdom of God.
… the dead bury their dead…
Eph 2:1-3 1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in
trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked accordingto the course of this
world, accordingto the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that
now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the
lusts of our flesh, fulfillingthe desires of the flesh and of the mind;
and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
1Tim 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise
from the dead, and Christshall give thee light.
Luke 9:61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go
bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, havingput his hand to the plough,
and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
1Kgs 19:19-20 19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son
of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him,
and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passedby him, and cast his mantle
upon him.
20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray
thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And
he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
Luke 17:31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his
stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he
that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

4. Luke 17:32 Remember Lot's wife.
Acts 15:37-38 And Barnabas determinedto take with them John,
whose surname was Mark.
38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who
departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to
the work.
Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw
back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Jesus Calms the Wind and the Waves
Matthew 8:18,23-27
Mark 4:35-41
Luke 8:22-25
John (no reference)
Matt 8:18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave
commandment to depart unto the other side.
Matt 8:23-27 23 And when he was enteredinto a ship, his disciples
followed him.
24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that
the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we
perish.
26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he
arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even
the winds and the sea obey him!
Mark 4:35-41 35 And the same day, when the even was come, he
saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
36 And when they had sent awaythe multitude, they took him even
as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

5. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into
the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and
they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we
perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace,
be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye
have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, andsaid one to another, What
manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Luke 8:22-25 22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a
ship with his disciples:and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the
other side of the lake. And they launchedforth.
23 But as they sailedhe fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind
on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we
perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the ragingof the water:
and they ceased, and there was a calm.
25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid
wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he
commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
Questions for the concerned disciples
 Faith should outweigh imagination.
Matt 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little
faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there
was a great calm.
 Faith replaces fear or fear replaces faith.
Mark 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it
that ye have no faith?
 It takes faith to “believe” fear.

6. Luke 8:25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they
being afraidwondered, saying one to another, What manner of man
is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey
him.
…What manor of man is this! …The God Man, the God of “nature”
Matt 14:25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto
them, walking on the sea.
Matt 17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we shouldoffend them, go thou to
the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up;
and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of
money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
Mark 11:2 And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over
againstyou: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt
tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.
Mark 11:20-21 20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw
the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter callingto
remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou
cursedst is witheredaway.
Mark 14:30 And Jesus saith unto him, VerilyI say unto thee, That this
day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny
me thrice.
Job 38, Ps 104