Being a Disciple According to Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary, the word disciple is a learner, one who follows. A disciple is not only a pupil, but an adherent; hence, they are spoken of as imitators of their teacher. We call ourselves Disciples of Christ. This would mean that we are imitators of the Christ. This is a term that was later changed to a term of mocking when, in Acts 11:26, we read that the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. When we say that we are Christians; when we say that we are Disciples; what are we saying about ourselves? What does Jesus expect of us when we sign up to be a Disciple of Christ? Perhaps the best way to answer this question is to go to the source. Let s see what Jesus said about being a disciple. Let s open our Bibles to Matthew the 10 th chapter and begin our reading with the 24 th verse. A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul (ruler of demons), how much more will they malign the members of his household! Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. 1
Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; and A MAN S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 10:24-39 NASB) There is a lot of meat in this passage for us to chew on for a long while. We will spend just a few minutes looking at some of the more obvious points this morning. First, Jesus is preparing those of us who will follow Him as a student and imitator (disciple) to understand our place in His plan. He tells us that we will not exceed His position even though we are to become more like Him. A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. When I read this, I remember a mathematical term: asymptotic. An asymptote is a value that approaches certain limits but will never achieve or surpass the limit. 2
Second, Jesus prepares us for a bumpy ride. Look at the next thing that Jesus tell His disciples: If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul (ruler of demons), how much more will they malign the members of his household! At this point, many of us may think that we understand the word Beelzebul. Let s spend a few minutes digging deeper into this word. Obviously, Jesus is referring to himself as the head of the house. The detractors of Jesus (mainly the Jewish leadership) were calling Jesus names to denigrate him in the community. So they called him Beelzebul. Beelzebul was the god of the Ekronites, as we read in 2 Kings 1:2. In Hebrew, the word signifies "a masterfly" or the "lord of a fly. In the Septuagint (or Greek translation of the Bible), it is rendered as "Baal the fly", the god of the Ekronites. And this idol was so called, either because it was in the form of a fly: or else from the abundance of flies about it, by reason of the sacrifices, which it was not able to drive away; and therefore the Jews contemptuously gave it this name. In the Arabic version, it is read Beelzebul; that is, as it is commonly rendered, the "lord of dung." None of these terms are very complementary toward Jesus. Jesus is telling us that we will be denigrated in similar manner when we follow Him as a disciple. Knowing these things, we should not become discouraged. Jesus tells us of our worth. Jesus tells us how to prioritize our life: Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. 3
As disciples, we are to proclaim the good news of Jesus to all with whom we come in contact. We are not to be ashamed to make our discipleship known. Most of us have certain sports team we follow and support. We have placards on our vehicles and flags at our homes that tell the world which team we support. Yet, many of us like to live our Christian life quietly. Jesus addresses this too. Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. I rather doubt that this refers to how quickly we share a posting on Facebook. However, we should live in such a way that people see God reflected in our life. We will reflect our master whether Jesus or Satan. Third, Jesus tells us not to expect a peaceful life when we follow Him. Many of us read where Paul talks about the peace that passes all understanding and we expect our Christian life to be a life of calm contemplation. The peace that Paul refers to is our own peace of mind and not of a peaceful serene life on earth. In fact, Jesus paints a rather different picture. Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. Jesus then tells us that our own families may be against us when we become followers of Jesus. Jesus goes on to tell us that our own families may oppose our decision to be a disciple and follower of Jesus. In the days of Jesus, He went about calling people from their stations in life to follow Him. Some did and recorded the exciting life that they enjoyed as a result of becoming a disciple of the son of God. How do we become a disciple today? Why would we chose to become a disciple? Perhaps some of the best arguments to become a disciple are found in the letters that Paul sent to various individuals and churches. Paul often laid out background and the rational for choosing to become a follower of Jesus. For some, Paul s writings are difficult to follow. However, our 4
patience in reading from the Pauline letters will reward us with a clear understanding of the reason for discipleship. When we consider Paul s letter to the church at Rome, we see that Paul lays out the reality that everyone has sinned. He covers the Gentile world and told them that by observing nature, they should have some knowledge of God. He addresses the Jews and shows them they are without excuse because they had the Law of Moses. Yet, even the Jews sinned. He paints the picture that through Adam (the first man) sin entered the world and through that sin, we have been separated from God. He then lifts up Jesus as the means through which we are reconciled back to God. Let s read some of Paul s letter to the Romans. We will begin in the 5 th chapter and verse 18 and read through into the 6 th chapter and verse 11. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if 5
we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 5:18-6:11 NASB) When we chose to become disciples, we agree to follow Jesus in the same manner that He talked about. We take up the cross and follow Him. We put to death the sinful desires and habits to live a new life in the example of our great teacher and leader: Jesus. 6