Discipleship is a process that includes the sending of out of a disciple. In John 13, while Jesus is in the upper room with the disciples, He finishes the explanation of the foot washing with this statement, “20 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” (John 13:20) After the resurrection and before His ascension, John records Jesus as saying, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:21)
We often think of our growing in Christlikeness as though we are a reservoir. We are to take in all the information about God, the Bible, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and so on. With that information we are to begin trying to obey all of it we are able and we struggle with our own application of all the information we are gaining. But we see discipleship ending within ourselves.
We miss the very crucial fact that discipleship is not just something we do or receive, but it is something we give away. Disciples are not disciples until they are helping others believe in Jesus and follow Him as Lord of their lives. Jesus was a teacher and redeemer. He was also a sender. He was in fact a sender of senders.
He did not send perfect people or people who had all the answers. He sent those who committed their lives to Him and then gave them the Holy Spirit to continue teaching and empowering them for the work. We will never be complete until heaven. And no one we disciple will ever be complete until the future glorious perfection of eternity. But if people have committed to Christ, then they too have the Holy Spirit to continue to teach them in all truth.
Our job is to help people follow Jesus and send them out to help others follow Jesus. As a young adult I was not ready for all the challenges of life. But my parents launched me into the world, knowing they had done what they could to prepare me, and then trusting the Lord to keep helping me. They remained as a resource for me to reach back to you, but they sent me. There are days I still wish I could call them and seek their advice and encouragement. Thankfully, Jesus promised that He would never leave us. We always have the Holy Spirit, prayer, and God’s Word to go back to, and so will those whom we are urging to go make a disciple, not just learn about being a disciple.
Discipleship needs to look that way. No fat baby Christians sitting around. Sent soldiers is the goal. Not perfect soldiers, but those who know they have a commission.
By His Grace and For His Glory,
Pastor Mark
