Jesus Take Care of His Followers

The person who does decide to follow Jesus finds wonderful assurances in the Gospel that Jesus will be there to give help all along the way. In this lesson we will look at two passages that encourage disciples to be confident.

A Lesson For Frightened Disciples

The first passage to read is Luke 8:22-25.

22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."

Much of Jesus’ activity was carried out around the Lake of Galilee. This lake is about twenty kilometers long and ten kilometers wide. It is surrounded by mountains and because of this there are often violent storms.

One day Jesus was crossing the lake in a small fishing boat. His disciples, the twelve men he had chosen to be with him all the time, were also in the boat.

1. What danger threatened the disciples?

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2. Were the disciples confident that Jesus could help them?

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3. What lesson do you think they learned from this experience?

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4. Do you think that someone who wants to follow Jesus today can learn anything from this incident? If so, what?

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A Promise To Worried Disciples

The second passage is Luke 12:22-31.

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Jesus told those who wanted to follow him that they must put him first. Some of those who heard Jesus’ demands probably began to ask themselves, "If I don’t devote all my efforts to meeting my own needs, how will I be able to live? Who will take care of me?"

Jesus knew that some of his followers were worried about these things.

5. What promise do you find in this passage? (See verse 31)

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6. This promise was not made to everyone, but only to those who fulfilled a certain condition. What is the condition?

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7. Jesus often told his disciples that God loved them as a father loves his children. What did he say that God, their Father, knew?

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Jesus told his followers that they could learn lessons from nature. He told them to think about both birds and flowers.

8. What lesson can we learn from the way God treats birds?

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9. What lesson can we learn when we consider the way lilies grow?

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10. Jesus spoke these words to his disciples long ago. Do you think he also meant these words for those who follow him today?

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Go to Lesson 12