Last Sunday we examined four men – Andrew, Simon Peter, Phillip and Nathanael – and the ways in which Jesus called each of them to become His disciples and follow Him. We discovered that Jesus called, and still calls, people to be His disciples in many different ways. Just because your calling may not have been as spectacular as that of someone else, doesn’t mean that you should doubt that Jesus has called you to be His disciple. See, Jesus will call each person no matter who they are, no matter what they are, no matter where they are. That is truly good news! But the even better, even greater news is that Jesus will not leave us who, what or where He finds us! He will take us as we are, then begin to change us into what and who God has wanted us to be from before time began! That is what it means to become a disciple of Christ.
Our Bishop said something this past Saturday that I am in total agreement with. It is something that I have believed to be true for a long time. That something is this:
Even Satan and the demons “believe” in Jesus Christ! That may be hard to understand and difficult for us to believe, but it is true nonetheless. Scripture is seasoned with many examples of the demonic legions showing that they full well know and believe in Jesus as God the Son, the Messiah of mankind.
A great example is given us in the very next passages after the ending passage of today’s Gospel reading. Hear what Mark has to tell us beginning with chapter 1, verse 21. “They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at His teaching, because He taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit (a demon) cried out, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know Who you are – the Holy One of God!’ ‘Be quiet!’ said Jesus sternly. ‘Come out of him!’ The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shock.”
Yes, even the demons “believe” in Jesus Christ and they obey Him! Yet, even though they “believe” in Christ, they are not to be considered as His disciples. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ is not to have said a one-time sinner’s prayer; it is not simply asking forgiveness for your sins; it is not even professing Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Those acts have assured you salvation and given you a place in His eternal Kingdom, but they have not made you His disciple. For discipleship is not a one-time event; it is a lifelong journey. It is becoming more and more intimately related to Jesus through studying His Word, learning His teachings and commands and obeying Him. Being a true disciple of Jesus Christ carries with it some responsibilities on our part.
In this day and age, I fear that there is a gospel of “Cheap Grace” that has permeated Christianity. Many are being taught that once you say the “proper” words of a sinner’s prayer, that it no longer matters what you think, say, or do. You are a disciple of Christ who will enjoy all that God has to offer. That is not what is found in Scripture.
According to His Word, God teaches us that it is indeed possible to be a saved person, yet at the same time not be a disciple of Jesus Christ, and thus miss out on many of the awesome blessings that Jesus has for us. When Jesus Christ calls us for our salvation, He also calls us to become His disciple. He says, “Come and follow Me.” To “follow Him” means more than to just trail along behind Him and applaud. It means to learn from Him, learn about Him, learn to do what He does, obey what He commands us, and do what He would have us do!
The problem today is that far, far too many people who call themselves Christians, let alone those who call themselves His disciples, have absolutely no clue what that means. But, fear not! Jesus has not left us in the dark as to what He expects of someone who claims to be His disciple. He tells us throughout the Gospels exactly what a disciple of His is supposed to do.
A mother was telling her young daughter what manner of person a Christian should be. When she finished her lesson, the mom got a stabbing question from her daughter that she never forgot. Her daughter asked her, “Mommy, have I ever seen a Christian?”
The title “Christian” did not come into being until after the first century church was formed and multitudes of people, Jews and Gentiles alike, had converted to Christ. But understand this: they were not called Christians merely because of their conversion. They were called Christians because of their belief, their conduct and their Christ-like lifestyle. The first believers, including the Apostles, were more often called Disciples. Let’s take a look at definitions for those two terms in this day and age.
Christian: a person who has come to faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. He/she has come to a revelation of God through Jesus the Christ.
Disciple: A person who is a life-long learner and follower of Christ, determined to go where He goes, do what He does, and to say what He says.
Christianity is the position. I am a Christian because of my position in Christ.
Discipleship is the process and practice of being a life-long follower and imitator of Jesus Christ, going where Jesus goes, doing what Jesus does, saying what Jesus says. We need to understand the differences.
You are not a football player because you go to a football game. You are not a car because you go to a garage. You are not a brain surgeon because you go to a hospital. You are not a disciple because you go to church or know Jesus by name. To be a Christian, yet not be a disciple is like auditing a college course. When you audit a college course, you take it, but do not get credit for it. What is the difference between auditing a college course and taking that course for credit? The difference is the cost.
What is the difference between a professing Christian and a disciple? The difference is the cost. The cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ is that we must then become a true follower of Jesus. We must be willing to go where He goes; do what He does, and say what He says. Problem is, we tend not to be good followers, especially in this country. We have become not only a diverse culture, but an unruly culture as well. We are reluctant to follow anyone except ourselves. Kierkegaard once said, “To become an admirer of Jesus is much easier than to become a follower of Jesus.” William Barclay wrote, “It is possible to be a follower of Jesus without being a disciple; to be a camp follower without being a soldier of the King; to be a hanger-on in some great work without pulling one’s weight.”
A person was once speaking with a great scholar about a younger man. The person said, “He tells me that he was once one of your students.” The teacher answered, “He may have attended my lectures, but he was not one of my students.” There is a world of difference between a person who attends lectures and a person who is a student. It is sad that in the Church today we have so many distant followers and so few real disciples.
There is a great story about Alexander the Great that is a perfect illustration of this principle. Alexander often sat in judgment on the battlefield. His word was law and he was judge and jury. Whatever he said, it would be done. Alexander many times would hand down extremely harsh penalties and punishments, especially for desertion of duty. One day a young lad was brought before him. He was young, fair- haired and visibly scared. Alexander asked the officer presenting the boy what the boy’s name was. “Alexander, sir.” came the reply. At once the general’s countenance softened. His men relaxed. Maybe there would be some leniency for this young man.
“What are the charges against this young man?” the general asked. “Cowardice, sir. He fled in the heat of battle.” the officer replied. The soft countenance on the general’s face changed suddenly into an intense, tight-jawed grimace. Looking the boy squarely in the eye, the general said to him deliberately, “Son, what is your name?” “Alexander, sir.” the lad replied. Speaking again to the boy, this time in a louder tone, the general asked again, “Young man, what did you say your name is?” The young man answered in a stutter, “Why, uh, uh, Al, Alexander, sir.” To that answer the general bolted down off his magnificent horse, grabbed the now terrified young soldier by the shoulders, got in his face and yelled, “Young man, change your behavior or change your name!”
Brothers and sisters, Jesus could very well say that to us each time we do something that, far from bringing glory to His name, defames and detracts from it. But you know what? He doesn’t do that. Instead, He says, “I love you. You are forgiven.”
Let’s make a conscious effort to move from the “we are Christians” stage to the “we are disciples” stage. Let’s study His word more. Let’s pray for guidance and wisdom more. Let’s serve one another more. Let’s commit to regularly learn about Christ, follow Him, go where He goes, do what He does, say what he says.
The title “Christian” is a free gift that becomes ours when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. The title “disciple” is given to us when we dedicate our lives to following, learning and imitating the life of Jesus Christ. May we have the wisdom to seek to be known as both Christians and disciples, for those are what Jesus has called you to be. Are you listening? Amen!