Making Disciples – May 22, 2022
Psalm 67, Matthew 28:16-20
May 22, 2022
Today we have Matthew’s version of the commissioning of the Apostles. We talked about that the last couple of weeks when we were reading from Luke’s Gospel. In Luke, the risen Jesus met the disciples by the lake, and I believe what took place that day was all part of that commissioning.
Again, I think that was a great scene! Meeting the disciples where he had first called them to be “disciples,” with all the sights and sounds they had experienced that day – even the same miracle – all of that reinforced the new call he was giving them. It was all part of their “commission” to be “Apostles.”
But this is Matthew’s version. And this version contains elements of the story we’re going to be looking at next week, the story of the Ascension.” In this version, Jesus is on the mountain with his disciples. And he doesn’t actually leave them and ascend to heaven, but he does give them these words which sound a lot like parting words. “I will be with you to the close of the age.” That’s how Matthew ends his Gospel. It sounds very final, doesn’t it? And if he had said, “And he rose and vanished out of their sight,” we wouldn’t have been surprised. But Matthew doesn’t tell us about the Ascension. We have to read Luke for that story.
Here in Matthew we have these final words of Jesus – at least the final words Matthew recorded. And they’re great words! “Lo, I will be with you always to the close of the age.” But we also have these other familiar words, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” If you’re familiar with this passage, you know that it’s often been referred to as “The Great Commission.” And you also know that it’s often been used as a call to evangelism. “Go and make disciples.” Over the years, I’ve heard preachers say that “All believers should follow the Great Commission.”
That’s important. Even though those words were given to these special men – and they went out and did what Jesus said – still it is up to every believer to be the light of the world as Jesus called us to be. In everything we do, we show the love God has given us. We are walking advertisements for his grace and redemption. Or, we can be negative examples, can’t we?! It’s up to us. But know that by our lives and our example, we too are called to make disciples.
What I want us to think about today is that word “Disciple.” And I want us to think about how that word is different than the word “Believer.” And remember that’s not the word Jesus uses here. He doesn’t say, “Go therefore and make ‘believers’ of all nations.” He uses the word, “Disciples.”
Over the years, those two words have been used interchangeably. In fact, there are a lot of words in the Christian lexicon that are used interchangeably. Faith and belief. “Disciples” and “Apostles.” Well, “Believers” and “disciples” are two such words. And, as we think of this passage today, we need to think about the difference between those two words, I believe we need to ask ourselves which we consider ourselves to be. Think about that. “Are you a believer?” “Or are you a disciple of Jesus Christ?” That’s why I’m making the distinction between these two words. In other words, do you simply believe that Jesus is the Savior – your Savior? Or are you a follower? It is my hope that you consider yourselves followers.
As you consider that, think about what James says in his letter. He talks about this word “belief.” In chapter 2, he says, “So, you believe that God is one? Big Deal! So do the demons. And they shudder!” (James 2:19.) I added the “Big Deal” part of that. But that’s what he meant. He was saying that, if you just “believe,” big deal! Even the demons do that! And he’s right! When you read the Gospels, who is it that always knows who Jesus is? The demons! And they’re afraid of him!
So, James was right! He was all about us not just believing, but acting on our belief. He’s the one who said, “Faith without good works is dead.” He was all about us having a faith that shows in our lives! I would say that he wants us to be “disciples!”
Now, I know that sometimes we do use the word “believe” to mean more than just “an acknowledgement of existence.” Sometimes we do use it to mean “an intense devotion to.” Sometimes we say, “I believe in Jesus!” And we mean, “I’m all in with him!” And that’s good! But I’m asking us today to think about how we use that word. I’m asking us to think about what we mean when we say we “believe.”
Because there are a lot of people who don’t bother. There are a lot of people who are like the people to whom James was asking the question. “Do you believe?” Because, yes, “Even the demons believe!” In other words, there are people who say they “believe,” and that’s it. They believe there is a God, and they “believe” that “covers them.”
I’m asking that today if you are believers or disciples, because I believe that God isn’t interested in people who just “acknowledge his existence.” God is interested in being in a personal relationship with his people. He doesn’t just want us to be people who know he’s real. He wants to be close to us. He wants to be “with us to the close of the age.”
The great commission says to make “disciples!” That’s what these disciples – who were now Apostles – did! This was their commission! And I want us to think about what that means in our lives.
I’ll bet from this sermon title, you thought I was going to talk about going out and sharing your faith with others. And that’s important. I hope you do that. But I think it’s also important for us, every once in a while – or every day – to think about which we are. Are we believers? Or are we disciples?
Prayer
Eternal God, help us to have the strength we need to be disciples, followers of Jesus Christ. We thank you for the love and Grace you gave us through him. Help us to live that love and Grace every day, for we pray in the Master’s name, Amen!