A Disciple Can Only Be Like His Teacher

No matter how we count it, Jesus is bigger than we are. He endured more and will always be the example of who we are to be.

“³Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” – Hebrews 12:3 (ESV)

The above verse is a reference one as pertains to where I was led this morning in study of the word “disciple”, Matthew 10. Jesus is sending the twelve out and is letting them know that they will be persecuted in their work. Their journey and work are not going to be easy and they should stick together and rely on their teachings and the LORD to get them through. Jesus also reminds them that they are only like Him, but not Him and certainly not greater than He.

“²⁴A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. ²⁵It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.” – Matthew 10:24-25a (ESV)

This should serve as a reminder to us that no matter how “big” or important we may be or get to, Jesus is bigger than we, and He will always be our teacher. We can only work to be like Him and not greater than Him.

I have to remember that Jesus came to save us all and He endured unspeakable persecution to the point of death, just for existing as who He was. No matter the extent of the work that I do, I will always be the disciple of Christ. Even as I take on the task of being a discipler, I will still only be a disciple myself. Jesus will always be bigger and more than I.

What is your thoughts on who you are in relation to Jesus? Do you feel that you will somehow reach heights greater than He? What if you were to see that Jesus is bigger and better and that no matter how “big” we may get, He will always be bigger and better than we?

Don’t Equate Bigger with Better

Even Jesus was not pleased with all of the large crowds following Him. He new that there were those who were, as known in the sports world, “fair weather fans”. Those that once things got a little difficult or when He would not be around would turn away and go back to the life they had before.

“⁶⁰When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?’ ⁶¹But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, ‘Do you take offense at this? ⁶²Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? ⁶³It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. ⁶⁴But there are some of you who do not believe.’ (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) ⁶⁵And he said, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.’” – John 6:60-65 (ESV)

Jesus had just told the people of His being the Bread of Life and gave some hard truths. The people heard and were grumbling of the difficulty of it all. He did not do this to scar the people, but to inform them that the to be a disciple of His, it would take work and would not always be a winning proposition. To which they turned away as their shallow following was exposed.

Jesus was working to build the church with a strong foundation and that could only be with those who would understand, stay, and carry it forward, even when things were hard and when He would not be there for them to follow. The church is built on Christ, not some charismatic individual that can draw a crowd. When that individual is no longer there, the “fair weather fans” will leave and only the devoted will stay to carry the church forward.

The church is not to be a crowd of people, but a team of disciples. Those who will take what they have learned and carry it forward. Yes, numbers are important, for the larger the numbers, the larger the reach. But, there should not be a sacrifice of quality in the interest of quantity. Beware of large numbers. As they are not a sign of a healthy church.

What is your view on crowds? Are you enamored at them and see them as a sign of great things? What if you were to be cautious with them and looked to devotion as opposed to simply a hoard of “fair weather fans”?

God, There is None Like Him

There are a lot of gods out there in the world that the people worship. They take up all of our time and effort and to what end, what is gained from them? I am not here this morning to debate the different gods, I am here to show from one passage that there is none like my God.

“¹⁸To whom then will you liken God,

or what likeness compare with him?

¹⁹An idol! A craftsman casts it,

and a goldsmith overlays it with gold

and casts for it silver chains.

²⁰He who is too impoverished for an offering

chooses wood that will not rot;

he seeks out a skillful craftsman

to set up an idol that will not move.”

— Isaiah 40:18-20 (ESV)

We see here in the above verses the Isaiah begins by asking to whom is God likened. That question is asked to get the mind to begin thinking and then he begins to lay it out.

There is the idol that is worshiped. Beautiful as it may be, notice from Isaiah’s words that even so, it is still made by man. It is cast then covered and ornate additions are made. And, if such an ornate idol cannot be afforded, it can always be made of wood, but still a man makes the idol.

Think of the other gods in this world money or wealth for instance. Yes it can get you things, but they are just things and only solve the problems of this world (if that) and are still made or created by man. And what about power. It can again get you things, but it is lonely at the top as there is always a search for more of it, or at minimum, others to join you in or with that same position and that power is only good in this world and is granted and taken away by man.

No matter the god of this world, it is always created by and run by man. We are always seeking for that which is more sustainable. That which is bigger than the last and more than before. We are wanting of that which is forever and does not fade with time.

“²⁸Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

his understanding is unsearchable.”

— Isaiah 40:28 (ESV)

The LORD my God is all of those. He is everlasting. He does not fade. He gives us all understanding. There is none bigger or more complete than He. When I am leaning on Him, there is nothing additional I need or desire. He fills me with all. There is no other who can match or even come close to Him.

What is your view of God and/or gods? Are you seeing the man made gods somehow as equal to God? What if you saw God as the everlasting, unfading, understanding, and that there is none other like Him?