Discipel Zijn - 3

If anyone desires to come after me - 1 being a disciple - 3 Returning to a text that I cited during the first sermon, I would like to draw our attention to the last words of Christ before he ascended into heaven. He left specific instructions recorded in Matthew 28:19. Go and make disciples. Baptize them. Teach them everything I taught you. Making disciples is part of what Christ taught and so the process continues with a new generation making disciples. “Who do people say that I am?” The text seems to indicate that Jesus asks this question in passing - as they are going along. But no question is of greater importance than this topic. This question places a person on the crossroads. Who is this Jesus? “And what about you? Who do you say that I am?” This question sparks an incredible confession and confirms in the hearts of the disciples that Christ is their expected Messiah and the Son of God. A disciple starts with who Jesus is The emotional high must have been incredible. All of Scripture’s promises come to bear on this moment as they stand there and realize that history is unfolding before their eyes. Peter speaks for the disciples when he makes his declaration. They have all seen the signs. They were in the boat when he stilled the storm, they have witnessed every healing and every miracle, they watched Him walk on water and feed a multitude twice. They’ve hung on every word and when he turns the question to them, their hearts overflow with the only answer that can be given… you have the words of life… we believe in you… you are the Son of the living God… you are the expected Messiah. This is where every disciple starts. Taking a bite of the bread. A disciple keeps discovering who Jesus is And then Christ bursts their bubble by talking about his own murder by the religious leaders and something about a resurrection. It was confusing enough to His disciples that Peter takes it upon himself to correct Jesus’ theology. What Jesus was saying didn’t fit with Peter’s picture of what was supposed to happen. Jesus rebukes Peter sharply. He identifies his problem: worldly thinking rather than Godly thinking. This journey with the Lord begins with the question of who He is, the rest of the journey is discovering who Jesus is. What’s the point here? We continue to get to know Christ. We’re never done. A disciple follows after Jesus The invitation Christ gives is spectacular. The word come after is related to the Greek word for road. He is asking: “If anyone wants to walk this road together”, but then specifically adds “after me”. Jesus invites us to walk the road together… being a disciple is walking on the road together, but Christ leaves no doubt that He needs to be the one taking the lead. He might surprise you at times in the bends and turns in the road or that he picks climbing the rocks, rather than the beaten path… but he expects you to accept that He’s in charge. Jesus finishes with three statements that we will cover next week: deny yourself, pickup your cross and follow. Will you together with Him walk the road behind him?