Being a disciple of Jesus is difficult business
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Jesus chose twelve men to be His disciples. Jesus’
choice of these twelve particular men – Simon, Andrew, James, John, Philip,
Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddaeus, Simon and Judas Iscariot – are
in answer to Jesus’ prayer at the end of Matthew 9: “Ask the Lord of the
harvest to send out workers.”
God would accomplish great things through these
disciples. But it wouldn’t be Thomas’ inquiries, Peter’s boldness or Simon’s
zealousness that would win souls for Christ.
As if to emphasize this point, Jesus continues with a
description of what they are to do: “Heal the sick,” He instructs. “Cleanse the
lepers. Drive out demons. … And while you’re at it, why don’t you raise the
dead, too.” (Matthew 10:6-8)
As it that wasn’t an impossible list of tasks, Jesus
then gives them a description of how they are to go, and what it’s going to be
like for them out there: “Don’t take any supplies,” He says. “Rely on what you
are given. I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. You will be
arrested. You will be dragged into courts. You will be flogged.” (Matthew
10:9-20)
It just keeps getting worse and worse! First, a list
of impossible tasks to do, and then do them in the midst of an impossible
situation. What had these twelve signed up for? Discipleship never seemed so …
impossible … so deadly … so difficult.
But discipleship is not supposed to be easy. Being a
disciple does not mean that we can say, “Yes, I will follow you, Jesus” and
then sit on our couch all week. Being a disciple does not mean, “I am willing
to suffer all even death for you Jesus … unless discipleship gets, well, um …
deadly.” Being a disciple means that when Jesus says, “Take up your cross and
follow me,” He is being serious.
Being a disciple of Jesus can mean ridicule, loss,
rejection, and even persecution. There will be a constant battle with enemies
who will never give up.
Being a disciple of Jesus meant death for every one of
the disciples, except for John. He endured exile instead of death. According to
church history, the other disciples (except Judas who hanged himself) were
beheaded, crucified, crucified upside down, run through with a spear, flayed
with a knife, etc.
Being a disciple of Jesus is certainly difficult
business.
That is why we need to carefully count the cost of
discipleship. We cannot claim to be a Christian one day, then change our mind
the next. We cannot declare to be a disciple of Jesus, then quit when life
becomes too challenging or the cost too great. We cannot stand in front of
church promising in our confirmation vows to be faithful to the Lord, and then over
time become lukewarm in our faith.
Being a disciple of Jesus is certainly difficult
business … but there is no better business to be in!
Following Jesus also means blessing. It means
witnessing an infant being ripped out of the devil’s clutches and placed into
the protective arms of God’s angelic warriors through Holy Baptism. It means
taking part of the miracle of Christ’s body and blood strengthening a struggling
Christian at the communion rail. It means comforting the depressed with
Christ’s victory over the devil, consoling the dying with Christ’s triumph over
death, calming the repentant criminal with Christ’s conquest over sin.
When being a disciple of Jesus becomes challenging –
and it will – we need to look to Jesus and His work on our behalf. On our own,
we cannot heal lepers, drive out demons or raise the dead. But Jesus can! And
He has!
Though we have no power of our own to save someone’s
eternal soul, Jesus does! It is His holy Word, His soothing forgiveness, and
His almighty power that gives authority and ability to our witness. It is Jesus
and that same Word that keeps us faithful.
Jesus has done everything necessary to make and keep
His disciples. He called the Twelve, as He calls us, to serve Him in His
Kingdom. He sent the Holy Spirit to be a Counselor to the disciples, as He
sends the Spirit to be a Sanctifier for us. He has given His promises to be
with all His disciples in order to protect them from harm. He has given His
assurances to His disciples of all times that when their persecution results in
death, He has already won a home for them in heaven.
When we compare all that Jesus has done for us, given
to us, and promises us, being a disciple of Jesus doesn’t seem all that
difficult, now does it?
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