Sermon 'Disciple' - Marissa Rohrbach

7/29/2019 Sermon 'Disciple' - Marissa Rohrbach

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This year Ive read two fascinating and very different booksabout Jesus.

The first is called Imaginary Jesus.

Author, Matt Mikalatos, describes in a hilarious narrativewhat it has been like for him to look for the real Jesus.

Not the versions of Jesus we make up in our headhe detailshis search for the real Jesus and the many imposters hefinds along the way

He works his way through a version of Jesus who looks alittle like a hippie its all about love, he says.

A version of Jesus who would fit in well in Portland wholikes to garden and spend time outside.

Then of course theres hipster Jesus who sits at coffeeshops, sipping his latte, talking in hushed tones and listeningto Passion Pit.

Even a version of the historical Jesus who has dust all overhis sandals.

Every version of Jesus you can imagine.And finally, having disposed of the imposters his hilarioussearch leads him to knowing Jesus the real Jesus better.

He is able to look past the Jesus that he has created in hisown image.

The second book is Zealot. That book made famous in the

news because its author, Reza Aslan, is a Muslim a scholar,and a Muslim.

You might remember that awkward Fox interview where theanchor suggested it was ludicrous for a Muslim to write abook about Jesus Christ.

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[*Shameless plug:* Alan will be responding to this book in afew weeks and well be using it as our first Young Adultbook this fall.]

Its a fascinating read now surrounded with controversy

but a book that also hunts for the real Jesus.

Historically, factually.

As you know much ink has been spilled across thecenturies trying to outline and profile the real Jesus both bythose who believe they have found him undeniably andby those who dont know

Every author you ask will have their own evidence andprofile of the real Jesus

Even denominations disagree.

We have created for ourselves personal versions of Jesus.

So how do we find the real one and how do we know himwhen we see him?

In the Gospel today, Jesus continues to make his way back toJerusalem.

And hes being followed and accompanied by great crowdsof people.

People who call themselves followers.

And he tells them these cautionary talesto illustrate tothem how costly it is to truly follow him

The trouble was they didnt really know himand many ofthem followed him because of who they wanted him to bewithout realizing who he was and the real demands hewould make of them.

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Hes not a hippie, a comedian, a drummer, or a pundit.

He has no need of groupies.

He is the Christ. And following him is harder than it looks.

The word disciple in Greek is a word we use a lotin English.

But it doesnt indicate much meaning does it? We tend tojust use it as an identifier to talk about the 12-or otherearly disciples of the Church.

The word itself literally translated, refers to a pupil, alearner someone associated with the beliefs and practicesof the Teacher.

Someone dedicated to the mission of the Master

It implies a process an order and a desire to learn fromand be like the Master.

Walking the path of faith involves this quest after arelationship with the real Jesus.

Not just who we want him to be but who he is and was and will be.

And the most fool-proof way to find him?Well thats tofollow him.

To walk the path. To practice putting your feet in the right

place

To use the clues we havethe more indisputable clues leftfor us by scripture and traditionto use them as guides forour feet and heart as we try to follow

To be a disciple is to follow the clues to be changed by

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taking on the views, beliefs, and mission of the Master

And to, with other Christians, dispose of the imposters while helping each other to see and serve the real Jesus.

And this morning we have some very important clues.

Clues from scripture that reveal some more of what the pathlooks like and what Jesus expects from us.

A lesson in what not to do.

Jesus tells us three important things this morning.

Rarely, is Jesus so clear.

Three times today, Jesus tells us what we CANNOT do if wewant to be disciples.

Its a little obscured in the English its tucked away, almosthidden in the translationbut in the Greek its hard to miss.

Jesus uses the same formula three times

If you do not do _______________, [then surely you are notable to be my disciple.]

First we are told that God must come first our followingChrist must come first EVEN BEFORE those we love.

Before our parents, children, family, friends.

Always, Christ is at the head of the Body.Always Christ first.

But the word hate is hard to get past, isnt it?

The good news is that the Greek here is a little ambiguous.

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It could be hate. It could also be words like disfavor ordisregard.

Its also possible that this refers to a Semitic expression,ancient hyperbole- not to be taken literally but to remind

us of our priorities.

Of what must be most important.

Most scholars believe the word to be closer to this idea thanhate (especially as we understand the word today) thusrequiring us to prioritize to order our lives and ourallegiances correctly

God gives us relationships with each other - so that we mightdelight in each other. So that in loving each other we canparticipate in Gods love.

But in all of these cases, our delight in God is meant tooverflow more than the rest so that our relationships witheach other are nourished and inspired by our relationshipwith God.

You cannot be a disciple of Jesus Christ if Christ is notforemost in your heart.

For a second time Christ insists not on what is in our hearts but on the importance of what we do.

The cost of discipleship.

Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot bemy disciple.

There is a cost to living this way a concrete, visible cost.

Picking up our various crosses may look differentbut weknow its a cross by its effects.

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By the sacrifices required.

By the transformation that takes place.

By the death of sin, of wickednessby the raising up of

Gods love.

Following around ones own version of Jesus instead ofseeking after relationship with the real Jesus will notsuffice.

If your image of Jesus doesnt require anything more of you then hes probably not the right one.

Jesus tells the crowd in Jerusalem today and us that to bea disciple comes with expectations.

And finally if you do not give up all your possessions, thensurely you cannot be my disciple.

For many of us, that would be a high price.

It reminds us of folks who have paid this price and foundthemselves more free and closer to God. Im thinkingspecifically of St. Franciswho lived a life of poverty but alife filled with the presence of Christ.

Jesus calls us this morning to a radically free completelychanged way of living.

This text begs us to realize that to really follow Jesus is an allor nothing search after the Christ.

You cannot be half in you cannot be a disciple if youre onlywilling to put your feet in the water.

Instead we must be baptized. Wholly changed.

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And once changed, we do not have the luxury of puttingJesus off til tomorrow or of feeling like weve already doneour part.

We are to come back to this table regularlyto participate in

the life of the Church and the work of God.

In or out all or nothing.

Dont settle for someone elses version of Christ dontsettle for your own version

Follow him and find him.

And along the way youll find yourself free unburdened

transformed.

Take up your cross and follow him- to be a disciple; to be aChristian, is to live life following the real Christ the onemade known to us in scripture, tradition, and the breaking ofbread.

To be a disciple is to know the difference, to take up yourcross, and to help others do the same.

Amen.

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Sermon 'Disciple' - Marissa Rohrbach