Becoming Disciples – January 22, 2023 – Eddington Presbyterian Church

Isaiah 9:1-7, Matthew 4:12-25
January 22, 2023

Last week, we found Jesus at the Jordan river, being baptized by John. I hope you remember that story. Because there we had that great scene – that Theophany – that appearance of God! The heavens were opened, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove, and the voice of God was heard. “This is my beloved Son!”

This week, we find Jesus by the water again. This time, it’s the Sea of Galilee. And if you know that region, you know that the Sea of Galilee is located at the north end of the Jordan river. At the south end of that river we find, what? The Dead Sea. Welcome to this lesson on Biblical Geography!

Well, in Matthew’s account, the geography lesson isn’t over. Matthew tells us that Jesus left Nazareth and went to where he was this week. He went to the city of Capernaum, which was by the sea of Galilee. And you’ve heard be talk about that city before. Capernaum was the city that became Jesus’ “base of operations” during his ministry. As one author put it, it was his “adopted hometown.”

Well, Matthew still doesn’t end the lesson! He tells us that Capernaum is “in the territory of the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. (And aren’t you glad you’re not a lay reader today!) He tells us that because he then quotes Isaiah 9. And this is actually a familiar passage to us. But we usually skip over verse one, and go right to the part about, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” (Isaiah 9:2) Well, Matthew includes verse one here, because he wants to tell us more about this place where Jesus began his ministry.

And keep in mind here that Matthew wrote his Gospel to prove to the Jewish people that Jesus was their long awaited Messiah. He was always quoting scriptures and telling of the fulfilment of prophecies. And that’s happening here. Here, quoting Isaiah, he tells us about “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordon, Galilee of the Gentiles.” And that is where Matthew is telling us that Jesus began his ministry. He began it in the land of the Gentiles. He began it among the people who indeed “walked in darkness.”

I hope we see that as unexpected that was! This was such an unlikely place for Jesus to begin his ministry, and to choose as his “base of operations.” And it was only the first of many unlikely and unexpected things that Jesus would do throughout his ministry!

So that’s the backdrop of our story for today. It’s a story of Jesus at the sea, in “Galilee of the Gentiles,” choosing his first disciples. And I wanted you to consider this story this week, because it follows right after last week, when we talked about Jesus’ baptism, and recommitting ourselves to him. When we did that, we renewed our own Baptismal Vows. And if you think about it, that was all about our becoming “believers.” Well, today, with this story, we’re talking about “becoming disciples.”

And that’s a tricky thing. Because, when we think of the word “disciples,” we often think of 12 special people “way back when.” And the problem with that is that they were! In the Bible, we’re told that Jesus chose “disciples.” That’s the story we have today. And that’s the word Matthew used. Because that’s the word Jesus used! And it makes sense, because Jesus was being portrayed by Matthew as a new rabbi. And all rabbis would choose disciples. That’s what their special followers were called.

But there was a difference here! And the Jewish readers would have seen this right away! The difference was that, normally, a rabbi would choose his disciples from the best of the best of his students. They would be the ones to follow the rabbi, to follow his teaching, and to learn his “discipline.” (That’s a word from the same root as “disciple.”) They were the ones who would look to become rabbis themselves someday.

So, for Jesus to pick these fishermen as disciples would have been seen as being highly unusual! Fishermen were very low on the social scale. And they would have been the most unlikely candidates to be anyone’s disciples. And throughout his ministry, that would continue to be seen as unusual, and many people would question him about that. As I’ve said before, his critics – his enemies – would really have looked down on him because of it! When they challenged him on his religious practices, I think they would have with cynicism, “Teacher, your disciples are doing such and such!”

Well, the problem with the word “disciple” is that it also became used to describe the great many people who would follow Jesus. Even Jesus himself started to use the word that way. And, at the very end of his Gospel, Matthew gives us Jesus’ famous words, “Go ye therefore and make believers of all nations.” No he didn’t! He said, “Go make disciples!”

Now, in the book of Acts, the 12 chosen ones began to be referred to as “Apostles,” which means “ones who are sent.” And I think that actually made this distinction a little clearer for us. Now we are able to say that there were 12 “apostles,” and many “disciples.” And now, we are able to include ourselves in that!

So, that’s what we’re thinking about today. We’re remembering and reminding ourselves that we are disciples! That’s what it means when we say we’re “followers of Jesus.” That’s what that word “disciple” means – followers. And it’s not a logistical thing. We don’t just follow Jesus around. We are followers in the sense of following his teaching. And as we think of ourselves as “disciples,” that takes us to a new level in faith, doesn’t it? Think about the difference between that word and the word “believers.” In his New Testament letter, James said, “Do you believe in God? So what! Even the demons do that!” (James 2:19) He was saying that “believing” had to be more than just “believing in the existence of God.”

Now, I don’t mean to diminish the word “believers.” We are that. We believe in Jesus. We believe, in that we’ve committed ourselves to him. We rely on all his promises. We put our faith in him. So yes, please do consider yourselves “believers.” But think today that you’re not just “believers.” Be thinking today that you are also “disciples!”

I think this story is great precisely because Jesus chooses this unlikely place to begin his ministry, and he chooses these unlikely people! And that’s indicative of all of his choices! This story sets the pattern – the vision – of his ministry, and of his “kingdom,” where he would say that “the first shall be last and the last first.” And here, all these years later, Jesus even chooses the likes of us! We’re the last who shall be first! We are the “unlikely” people who are called to be Jesus’ disciples.

So, how do we make that transition? How do we go from thinking about ourselves as “believers,” to “becoming disciples.” Well, one way – one obvious way – is by thinking of ourselves as such! That sounds simple. But it shouldn’t go without saying! We need to think of ourselves, and even refer to ourselves, as “disciples” of Jesus Christ! Do we do that? Do we say we are disciples of Jesus?

Last week we renewed our Baptismal Vows. When we did that, we promised “to be his disciples, to obey his word, and to show his love.” And I’m going to end today with the words of confirmation that came at the end of that liturgy. After making those promises, I read this. “You are disciples of Jesus Christ. He has called you. Live in his love and serve him!”

Prayer

Eternal God, help us to think of ourselves as disciples of Jesus. Give us strength to follow wherever he leads us. Help us to follow his example of love and service and Grace. May we be the light of the world, that he called us to be. For we pray in his name, Amen.