Being disciples of Jesus today
Luke 6v17-26
INTRODUCTION
Today, many conclude that it is impossible to follow Christ in a sophisticated world. In a world of distorted values, however, it is more than possible; it is desirable. It is more than desirable; it is imperative. It is imperative because only he has the words of eternal life. This brings us to Luke 6:17-26 and Being Disciples of Jesus Today. First, we need to define what we mean by this word disciple…
DISCIPLES DEFINED
Many followers
Luke 6:17 says Jesus came down the mountainside with them (his newly appointed apostles). A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from Tyre and Sidon. With all these people around him, v20 says Jesus began to teach his disciples…
Learning on the job
The word disciple is mathētēs, from which we have mathematics. In maths, we learn core principles and then build on them. This requires discipline. It is like this when we become Jesus’ disciples. We learn core principles and then build on them. Isaiah 50:4 says, “He wakes me up each morning to learn from his teaching.” This is a very close relationship. It is like an apprentice learning alongside an artisan.
Being a disciple today
As then, people today follow Jesus for different reasons. Some follow because they find comfort in his teachings; others seek Jesus for healing. Few, however, become serious disciples who live close to the master. In John 3, Nicodemus came to Jesus because he recognised that he was a good teacher, but Jesus said to him, you must be born again. This is the first step in becoming a disciple. We need to be born again to have a close relationship with Jesus and to live a new life in the Spirit. This takes the idea of being a disciple beyond living with their teacher to having their teacher live in them! This is why Paul said in Galatians 2:20, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” We now need to develop this further…
DISCIPLES DEVELOPED
The blessings of a disciple
In vs.20-26, we have Luke’s version of the beatitudes or the blessings of a disciple. These beatitudes are not a description of what we could be, should be, or will be. They are a reflection of what we are as Jesus’ disciples. In other words, the beatitudes are not a map to show us how to live; they are a mirror that reflects our character and behaviour.
Blessed are the hungry
Verse 20 says Jesus looked at his disciples and said, “Blessed are those who are poor for theirs is the kingdom of God.” The word poor here means to be so destitute that we have to resort to begging. This is how we are before God and why Matthew says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” The issue, therefore, is not whether we are rich or poor, but what is our attitude towards God and towards others.
The problem with wealth is that it tends to make us self-sufficient instead of dependent upon God. Jesus follows this up in v21 by saying, “Blessed are those who are hungry (for God); they will be satisfied.” Like thirsty people in a desert, Jesus’ disciples are desperate for God. Psalm 42:1-2 says, “As a deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs for God. My soul thirsts for the living God.”
Woe to you…
There is a contrast to the beatitudes in vs.24-25. Here Jesus says, “Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.” What Jesus is saying here is that with all our physical wealth, earthly prosperity, and perceived happiness, we could be spiritually bankrupt.
In a way that seems more relevant today than ever, Isaiah 55:2 asks, “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to God, and eat what is good. You will then delight in the richest of fare.” 1 Timothy 6:17 says, “Those who are rich in this world should not put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain; they should put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” We need to weigh up physical wealth and spiritual well-being on the scales of reality and satisfaction. Then we will be deployed as Jesus’ disciples…
DISCIPLES DEPLOYED
Deployed in an alien world
Being deployed as Jesus’ disciples in a world that is alien to his teaching is not easy. In this world, Jesus’ disciples experience poverty of spirit, a hunger for righteousness, and mourning over sin. In this world, Jesus’ disciples are hated, excluded, insulted, and rejected because of their faith.
Grieving about sin in the world
In this world, Jesus’ disciples grieve. They grieve because of the shame, separation, and spiritual death that sin has caused. They grieve because of what sin has done to God, to themselves, to others, and to the world. This does not sit comfortably today, but v21 says that those who weep in this world will smile in the next. Psalm 30:5 says, “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” In Matthew 5:4, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.”
Blessed are the persecuted
In the meantime, Jesus says in Luke 6:22, “Blessed are you when people hate you, exclude you, insult you, and reject you because of me.” The disciples of Jesus have always been persecuted, but today we seem to have blended into the world. If we make a stand as true disciples of Christ, however, we will be unpopular. Jesus said if they persecuted me, they will persecute you (John 15:20). When this happens we should rejoice and leap for joy, because great is our reward in heaven” (v23).
Bernard Cartledge