What does it mean to be a disciple? What is a disciple? The basic definition is that a disciple is a learner, a student of a teacher, or even the adherent of a particular outlook in religion or philosophy, or even art and architecture. In the first century, the Jews considered themselves to be disciples of Moses. The Pharisees had their own disciples. Even John the Baptist had disciples. While Jesus was not an officially recognized teacher, he was known as a rabbi and his followers were called disciples. Disciples are more than just students, though; they often embrace and spread the teachings of the teacher. They are imitators of their masters. We are called to be students of Christ and imitators of him, to be doers and not just hearers.
In the New Testament, we know especially of Jesus’ 12 disciples, but in other places all who responded to his message and followed him were his disciples. Discipleship is based on Jesus’ call and involves exclusive loyalty to him. As we heard in today’s gospel, this can result in conflict within the family, and many disciples left their homes, businesses and possessions. Disciples of Jesus are his representatives to the world.
Today’s lessons all have something to say about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
In the Old Testament reading from Isaiah, we are called to humility and away from pride and idolatry in order to that the Lord will be exalted. The reading emphasized the theme of God’s exclusive “glory by contrasting it with every ‘high’ thing in creation. That includes trees (v. 13), mountains (v. 14), fortifications (v. 15), and beautiful, tall-masted ships (v. 16). Noting in all creation can compare to the Lord. He is another order of being all together. So how can mere humans . . . hope to stand up to him (vv. 17-18)?”[1]
Humility . . . is not feeling bad about ourselves. It is not self-denigration or trying to get others to say good things about us. True humility is recognizing who we are in God’s eyes. It is putting God first, and then to know ourselves as children of God, to know that he has a purpose for us and that we are valuable in his sight. He has made us for himself, and called us to himself. It is submitting to God and allowing him to care for us as sons and daughters of the Most High. Jesus said, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted (Matt 23:12).” When we try “to take his place, we become nothing, but allowing him to be exalted alone, we become the princes and princesses of the universe.”[2] True humility is not striving or self serving, but is a gift like grace. It is self-forgetting. “It is the ability to go about the tasks God has given, secure in his love and his valuing, without wondering if others appreciate us as much as they should. It is the ability to see others being praised and not need to belittle them either silently or aloud, in an effort to make oneself look good by comparison. To paraphrase a popular saying: “Humility is to know there is a God, and to know you are not him."
So a disciple evidences humility. In his first letter, Peter said: “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. "(1 Peter 5:5b-7).
In our Psalm selection, we see that disciples sing praise to God, convinced of his love by his faithfulness and his lovingkindness, shown to us in sending Christ as David’s descendent, preserving the throne of David. We are called to rejoice in the Name of God, walking in the light of God’s own presence. God is the glory, the Lord is the King. Disciples praise the Lord for the great things he has done.
In the section from Paul’s letter to the Romans, our Epistle reading, we learn that as disciples, as followers of Christ, we are baptized into Christ’s death, buried with him. Baptism is a sign, a sacrament, representing the fact that we have died to sin and have been raised up to a new life in Christ. We are united spiritually with Christ. We are “in Christ.” There is a death to sin and an experience of new life within the heart. This is a new kind of life. It has a new moral quality and new moral power.” By emphasizing that the Christian is united with Christ in his death and resurrection. Our lives should look different from the rest of the world, different than they used to. This happens at conversion, at baptism, but we spend our whole lives learning what this looks like, to be one with Christ. Just as Christ died to sin once and for all and now lives to God, we also must consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to Christ. We will still sin, because we are human, but the power of the Holy Spirit is available to us to keep us from sinning. Sin no longer rules our lives, no longer dictates our conduct. Our old self has been crucified with Christ.
Our situation is a little like that of the people of Iraq. The old government has been destroyed. The victory is final and will not be reversed. There is a new day. But people still have to choose whether they will live in the old regime or the new. Some people in Iraq choose to live as if Saddam were still in control – because of fear, or lack of faith in the new government, or their identification with their oppressor, or just because it’s hard to change after 30 years. There is a new regime. They have been set free. But they have to choose to live that way. Some of us as Christians continue to live as if sin were still our master even though sin is really powerless and has been defeated forever.[3]
Martin Lloyd-Jones, the London pastor who preached for years on Romans, asked his hearers to picture a scene in the British countryside. There are two fields enclosed by high rock walls. Every person begins life in one of the fields, the one ruled over by Satan and sin. We have no chance of scaling the walls and escaping on our own. But God in his mercy reaches down and picks us up out of Satan’s field and puts us down in the field next door, ruled over by Jesus Christ and righteousness. So we have a whole new relationship to sin, but we can still hear Satan calling across the wall from that old field where we used to live. Out of long habit, we sometimes still obey his voice, even though we don’t have to [cited in Douglas Moo, Romans, NIV Application Commentary, Zondervan, 2000, p. 208]. Our “mortal bodies,” Paul says, are still susceptible to his influence even though we as whole persons have been set free and transferred to a new place. We have to choose not to listen, not to offer our bodies to him but to God, and to move further and further away from the wall. That old master who promised self-fulfillment and freedom from God never did anything for you except produce shame and death. Don’t listen to him. You’re free from him. Listen instead to your new master, Jesus, and do what he says, because his way will produce a life that is holy and eternal.[4]
Disciples are free from sin and death, and are alive in Christ Jesus, united to him, spending our lives learning what it means to be one with him.
In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus promises his disciples not peace, but division. We will face tests even at home and even family members will turn on each other. For most of us this is not the case, at least not to the extreme, but converts from Islam especially are cut of from their family. It took a long time for Jesus’ own family to recognize his true identity and mission; disciples of Jesus “can expect division to occur in their famil[ies].”[5] Even further, being a disciple means that Jesus reigns supreme in the lives of believers. Our allegiance to Jesus must come before our allegiance to parents or children. We are called to give priority to Jesus as God above all other relationships. In taking up our crosses, we take up God’s will for our lives, just as the cross was God’s will for the Son’s life. Then we will find true life. We are called to be missionary disciples, going into the world with the authority and message of Jesus. A disciple carries the message.
As missionary disciples, chances are most of us won’t go overseas. We may not go on a mission trip at home or abroad. But we are called to be involved in mission in some fashion. “The specifics of how one engages in mission should be tailored to ones giftedness and abilities, but a disciple of Jesus will see that carrying he message of salvation to the world is a vital part of our discipleship.”[6] We are to be involved with mission work, within our homes and communities, but we can also support the mission work of the church. We can support missionary efforts financially, perhaps through Anglican Relief and Development or some other Mission agency, and we can also support missionaries through our prayers, which is equally important. “When we stay at home and support those who go, we are fellow workers with them. God gives generously to us, his disciples, so we should likewise give generously to mission-disciples involved in full-time mission.”[7]
So, today we have learned that disciples are humble. Disciples praise God for his greatness. Disciples are buried with Christ in baptism, and raised to new life. Disciples are dead to sin and alive to God. Disciples face opposition, even at home, but are to put their allegiance to Christ above all else. Disciples are missionaries, at home and abroad. Disciples are you and me.
[1] Oswalt, The NIV Application Commentary: Isaiah, 96.
[2] Ibid, 103.
[3] http://www.latoniabaptist.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=24346&PID=104711&Style=
[4] http://www.latoniabaptist.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=24346&PID=104711&Style=
[5] Wilkins, Michael J. The NIV Application Commentary: Matthew, 397.
[6] Ibid, 404.
[7] Ibid, 404.
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