“Disciples of the Triune God”

From the Latin root meaning “to learn,” “to comprehend,” a disciple is a follower of a teacher or of a school of thought.  Jesus from the beginning until now has disciples.  Those eyewitnesses of Jesus’ baptism and resurrection, immediately called and sent by Jesus, were also known as Apostles.

Regardless, the Bible tells us what a disciple is and what he does.  Certainly, he is a student but he is learning nothing less than “all [Jesus] taught.”  He knows that, if we abide in His Word, we are His disciples… and we shall know the truth… that makes us free.”  Yes, “blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep, [believe, ponder and follow] it.”

A disciple, as found in the New Testament, is one who is willing to sacrifice everything. He will take up his cross, and forsake other paths, perhaps forfeit his career, his very last penny, even honor among his peers, perhaps leaving behind family and friends, to go after this Man who at the time seemed to be only offering words… sometimes confusing words, but nonetheless they were words of eternal life.

A disciple is one who takes up the plow and doesn’t look back.  He is a laborer in the harvest of the Lord.

To those who would be disciples complete loyalty is demanded.  An excuse to hang on to what we love in this life for a little while longer cannot make a person a better disciple.  Our hearts, devotion, and service cannot be divided.

However, there have been fleshly and disappointing results when people were asked to forsake the world.  The rich man, told to sell all he had, turned away.  The man whose dead father needed burying was shockingly told, “leave it to the dead to bury the dead.”  Those who love father, mother, son, or daughter more than the Lord are branded unfit for the kingdom.  Jesus offers no guaranteed worldly gain.  The foxes have their holes, birds their nests, and the Son of Man has nothing… no place to lay His head.  Deny yourself!  Whoever loses his life for Jesus’ sake will find true and everlasting life!

These are several reasons why most of the world would rather be “Sunday morning only” disciples.  Biblical discipleship is too demanding as made evident by Jesus’ own hand-picked followers, even St. Peter.  We aren’t perfect humans let alone perfect disciples.  Some shrug and ask themselves, “Why even bother?”  Yet, there is every reason to become more faithful disciples.  Jesus said so; he commanded us.  Do we need any other reason?  We shouldn’t.

Still, are we the disciples that would make Jesus proud? I’m not… not yet having attained the height and depth of my calling, not yet having loved God with all my heart, soul, body, and mind, not yet having rightly and righteously earned those words of praise, “Well, done, good and faithful servant!”

How is your loyalty undying and single-minded… your dedication undeterred… your faith unwavering?

Yes, in some way we all fall short of our own ideals, and of God’s most definitely!  That’s why it is good to know where we stand with Him.

On the basis of the perfect life of the Son of God, the cruel, innocent death of the Son of Mary (one and the same person), in rising from the grave He received a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus redeemed all mankind from their inadequacies, all their faults and failures, sin, doubt, and denial.  He paid the saving price for such wavering, impetuous, and far less than perfect disciples like former tax collector, Matthew, hot-headed, knee-jerking Peter, and troubled and murderous Saul, St. Paul, and in these latter days, you and me.

Jesus even died for the likes of Judas the betrayer, if only that poor sinner had not despaired of that sacrifice meant for all, that reconciliation meant for the whole world.  What a difference there might have been in the Gospel narrative, if only Judas had caught the truth of what Jesus had done by becoming the fleshly and moral payment for the sins of the world.  For former disciple Judas it is too late.  He took himself out, away from a forgiving God, whose blood bought him. For us the Gospel, and all its glory and power, are ours as we believe, trust, and rely on our Savior’s mercy.

Jesus has, can, and does rescue less than perfect disciples today!  By that same Good News, He says, we’re forgiven and it’s so.  When the called servants of Christ absolve us, it holds true in heaven also!   Jesus has proven it is true since He bears the marks of forgiveness in His hands, feet, and side.  We must hold that the redeeming Gospel is true for us too!

Today, disciples are being made of all nations, among every tribe, tongue, and people in the exact same way as they have since the beginning of the Christian Church.  In being brought to the only true and Triune God, He turns our hearts toward Himself in abiding faith, even if it is of a mustard seed size.  It is Spirit-produced through His Word and Sacraments. 

Disciples are made in Baptism, by water and His Word.  In this sacred and generous act of God, we take on His name, become His children, our sins are forgiven, and we become heirs of eternal life.  He makes us authentic heavenly royalty.

Without subsequent feeding life grows weak and dies. Without subsequent teaching being born again has a short term influence.  It’s like planting a seed and failing to fertilize, prune, and water it. Further and continued teaching is necessary or death will be the result.  Disciples are made and sustained by baptism, and by being taught all that He commanded.

  Jesus wants us, as His disciples, to believe something, and not just anything.  He wants us connected to the God who is a “triple-singleness,” as we confess in our Creeds.  He is a God who is three persons and still one God.  “Not three Gods, and not three Lords, but One,” yet still the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.  We may not understand the mechanics of it, or draw a schematic of it, but we are obliged to publicly confess Him as the true (and our only God). He said, “Let us make man in our image.”  He revealed Himself in both the Old and New Testaments as the Lord God who is One, yet thrice holy.  Not to believe this is to be eternally condemned as the Athanasian Creed pronounces.

This is the only God.  This is the God who loves us so much, who spared no expense to deliver the creatures He made from the dust of the ground and His own divine breath, creatures who had gone so terribly wrong.  This is the God who exchanges His righteousness for our iniquity so that those who were meant to die would instead have life and have it to the full.

As disciples, touched by truth (now justified rather than condemned as we deserved) we are to grow in learning and life.  This is not of ourselves, neither our breath and existence, nor our Christianity and discipleship.  Our Triune God is the One “who works in us both to will and to do according to His good pleasure.”  “In Him we live, move, and have our being.”  Our discipleship began, continues, and will ultimately end as His work and to His glory.

It should be for this reason only that we become His disciples and remain such.  He is our God, only because in every respect, though He could have demanded our allegiance arbitrarily, in His position as Lord and Master, yet, in the highest sense He has earned our love and loyalty, our faith and faithfulness.

It is only possible to remain a disciple, a Light in this dark world, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, because He is present with us in His mercy.  Jesus promised to be with us always.  The Triune God promised never to leave nor forsake us.  He has promised grace and every blessing to all those who love Him and seek to keep His commandments.  The Father, by a Spirit-produced faith brought about through His Word, has promised to save all who call on the name of His Son!

“Lo, I am with you always” aren’t some idle words, some trust or promise not yet kept. These words make life as a disciple worth living in light of every way we can fall short and He can rescue us. This is the real and sufficient truth necessary for Jesus’ followers in every stage of our pilgrimage. 

We are born again as members of the royal household and citizens of His kingdom.  As we walk, we walk with Him.  As we live, we live through His life.  As we work, we do so to His glory.  We serve, learning servanthood by His example.  If we suffer, He sweetened suffering by His glorious truth and with His own torments experienced on the cross.  When we die (in His name, and by His victory) we do not die but live as we rely on our risen Redeemer in every respect.  To God, the Father, Son, and Spirit… not to us, but to His name goes all the glory!

Amen.