Make Disciples of Jesus, not ourselves (Luke 3:15-17)
15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you withwater. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you withthe Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Our culture’s fascination with celebrities and unexplainable loyalty to them has permeated all facets of our society. It seems these days with the rise of social media, a video camera in the palm of your hand, and an outgoing personality, you can build up a following for just about any reason whatsoever. I am regularly equally fascinated and confused by the videos my boys find on YouTube. Did you know that there is a large market of videos on YouTube where you can watch someone give commentary on someone else playing a video game? I guess my fascination and confusion simply show my age, but it also proves my point. We are fascinated by people who build up a following.
This phenomenon has not escaped the church either. It seems regularly there are reports of well-known, well-followed pastors falling from grace for a variety of reasons and indiscretions. I regularly hear people comment on how amazing their pastor is and what a talented preacher they are. We place our pastors on a pedestal and use them as a piece of marketing to bring new people into the building. While we may need to evaluate our part in that process, we must also recognize that these pastors allowed themselves to be placed on the pedestal.
John had an opportunity to launch himself as a “celebrity pastor” as he went around preparing a way for the Lord. Luke tells us that people began to wonder if John was the Messiah. They liked what they saw in John and were ready to throw their support behind him. We have no indication at all that John even considered letting the people believe that he was the Messiah. John was faithful to his calling and the part God had asked him to play in preparing people for the Messiah. And yet, what an unbelievable amount of pressure to take advantage of the people’s adoration and respect. I am left wondering what would have happened had this similar event taken place in our celebrity-loving culture today.
What we do see from John is an extremely important discipleship principle. John knew his mission was to see people become followers of Jesus. In our discipleship efforts, we must remember that we are on the other side of the same call that John had. We are no longer preparing people for Jesus, we are letting people know that Jesus has come, the truth that Jesus has taught and the need to follow Him, and that Jesus is returning. Our calling is to make disciples of Jesus and not ourselves.
There are a couple of ways that I want to suggest we go about doing this. First, let’s stay local. What I mean by that is focusing on those right around us. There are several teachings in Scripture that point to this truth of discipling those right around us. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 says,
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
The Israelites were encouraged to pass on the commandments to their children. These teachings were to be topics of conversation around the house and as they traveled. They were called to discipline those in their immediate context and to set up reminders that they could wear and see around the home. When we think about discipleship, our first stop is those people in our immediate context. The Apostle Paul touches on this in his letter to the church at Ephesus when he says, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord (Eph. 6:4).”
The second principle is one I learned in my high school speech class. Keep it simple! We have all sat listening to a presentation where the one speaking found every word imaginable that they could use to put into their speech. I want to encourage us to teach the words of Jesus. As Jesus was leaving the disciples and giving his commission, He instructed them to “…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:20) Our discipleship curriculum is the teachings of Jesus. We do not need to make it complex. Hear me out. I am not suggesting we treat the Scriptures casually. I am also not suggesting that we not do our homework to truly understand the Scriptures and their deep context. What I am stating is that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father but through Him (John 14:6). If we are making disciples of Jesus, then let us teach the words of Jesus and the need to obey His words. This is true discipleship.