Matthew 28:16-20 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Commissioning of the Disciples

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

What is a disciple?

Miriam Webster defines disciple as this:

– one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another: such as

Christianity : one of the twelve in the inner circle of Christ’s followers according to the Gospel accounts

–  a convinced adherent of a school or individual

a disciple of Freud

That’s always an interesting question isn’t it.  What is a disciple?  We have these definitions, but I think there is much to say about what it means to be a disciple in the lectionary passage this morning.  Especially as we come to this time in the readings after Easter, and in an ever changing world.

Remember, the disciples, Jesus’ followers are in a state of transition.  A liminal or threshold time where they have been following Jesus, listening to him, seeing his example of listening, loving, and including others.  Hearing him talk about community and being in union with God, which brings everyone into restored communion with God.  Into deep friendship.  Remember the words that Paul shares in 2 Corinthians 5:20, “become friends with God, God is already of friend of yours”.  So, Jesus followers had been attracted to this message both spoken and lived out by Jesus.  Jesus demonstrated a certain kind of discipleship, the  discipleship of “with-ness”, not just a witness to something, but coming alongside.  We are called to emulate and model Jesus’ emptying by simply doing what Jesus did: by being “with” others or practicing  “being with” or “with-ness” if you will.

“Being with” is a central tenant of the outpouring, the emptying of God’s Spirit through the Trinitarian flow. 

Author Samuel Well notes, 

“Being with the dynamic of the inner relations of the Trinity – God being with God; it is the essence of God being with us in Christ; and it is the fulfillment of the Spirit’s work in our being with one another.” 

My doctoral research project embodied “being with” from the very beginning as we invited persons into community with one another and then focused on a practical way of how to be “with” the community in a work project that built friendship. Scripture reminds us that Christ resides within humanity: “Christ is all and in all” (Colossians 3:11b). Jesus is the Christ, flowing from the Trinity, residing with us, as well as our neighbors, and in all things. As we live into Jesus being made present with us, we can then be present with ourselves and others, with everything. As we practice “being with” and have a theological understanding that Christ is in all things and people, then we can understand being one, or in communion with others. 

When we come to the farewell discourses in John where Jesus is preparing the disciples for a time of violence being inflicted upon Jesus and for them to remember his words and actions and to stay unified and in friendship, to remember their “with-ness” of God being with them and them being with one another.

Then there’s Jesus’ death, the disciples flee and hide in rooms with barricaded doors.  Jesus appears to them, resurrected.  These appearances are wondrous, but the disciples, the followers, still are consumed with doubt.  They want to go back to “normal”, but know that they cannot, and that “normal” was not working anyway for them.  

But, they stuck together, even though they were hiding.  

Then, we come to this passage where Jesus is physically taken up to be with God.  In essence, saying that he is with the disciples always through his spirit which will empower them to have agency and encouragement.  

When we read this passage, we see that the disciples to the mountain where Jesus tells them to congregate for this occasion.  When they saw Jesus, they worshipped him, but some still doubted….goodness, they were a mess!  Like us.  So many times, we give God lip service, but, inside, if you are like me and most humans, and honest, they (and we) still have some doubts, fears, concerns.  Yet, they stood there.  Watching.  There’s something in that, I would encourage you to look at that messiness in the disciples and our lives, and know that it’s a sign of being spiritual.  Heck, even Jesus struggled.  Yet, there is a power in sticking with it, and even when you can’t stick with it, staying put on the mountain and waiting.  

Jesus then reminds them that he has authority, he has agency, and that this agency also resides in us.  GO!  Don’t be immobilized forever, move!  Go is an imperative, a command.  If you want to grow, get off the couch, get out of the pew, and get into authentic relationships with those around you.  One thing that the pandemic taught us is that as great as our building is, as much as we love Sunday mornings, our faith is much more than those things…we have an active faith that compels us to connect with others.  

And, when we do connect, what does Jesus say?  Don’t try to win arguments, don’t try to make converts, but make disciples!  In other words, show others how to live through word and actions of loving and listening.  The best teachers I’ve ever had are ones that won me over if you will by how well they listened to me, and allowed me to listen to them, and showed concern and belief in their humanity and the humanity of others.

I never will forget when my friend Peter Block told me he wasn’t interested in being my mentor, but he’d be my friend.  And, what does Jesus say to his disciples before this moment, in the upper room?  I no longer call you disciples, but friends!  In that moment, it is is a discipling moment, a teaching moment.  Because, in friendship, in moving to “with-ness” and away from being merely disciples, we experience growth and presence…especially when we enter those friendships with an open heart.  

Finally, Jesus says to us, stick it out.  You need each other, you can’t do this life thing on your own.  And, that he is with us through the power of Christ living inside of us…the presence of Christ through God’s connective tissue, nature, spirit is with us…teaching us each moment if we are paying attention, on how to love and live.  Now, and to the end of the age.

So, friends, or siblings, or disciples, Jesus followers:  we are “with-nessing” to one another…and God is with us.  May we live in presence and in being.  Amen.