SERMON, EASTER 5C, JOHN 13:31-35

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations -- Matthew 28:19a.

Why am I starting with this verse from Matthew? I am starting here because I want to look at the word "disciple." This first part of the Great Commission makes clear that all people everywhere are to become disciples of Christ. And it's a little more complicated than 'just' praying that "all Muslims would see the error of their ways and return to you, O Jesus," as someone prayed this past Thursday during the National Day of Prayer.

To be a disciple is to be a follower and a learner. A follower in that we are willing to walk the path Jesus walked. It means we take up our cross daily. That cross is our burden to bear, whatever it may be. My burden to bear is this collar. That's not saying that I resent it or wish I had done something different, but it is saying that in choosing to follow I was given the task, the burden, of wearing that collar every day.

The good thing about this burden, though, is that the burden is light and the yoke is easy. And that's because I know that the heavy stuff is being carried by Jesus. There are hard times, difficult times, times I feel like I can't do this; I'd be lying if I said otherwise. But the burden is shared between the two of us, and he always carries the greater portion. It's kind of like going backpacking with the kids; the stronger person carries more weight.

The frightening thing about taking up that burden and following Jesus, though, is that it always leads back to the cross. If we follow Jesus, we end up being crucified. Somewhere along the line, we will lose our life. That's a scary thing for those of us who like to be in control all the time.

But that's the whole point of Christianity, isn't it? It is death and resurrection. As Christians we have nothing to fear from death. The people who fought to keep Terry Schiavo medically alive were misguided, at best, or were of shallow faith, at worst. Death holds no sway over us. At some point we all die. But it is our faith in the resurrected Jesus that tells us we will live. So as disciples, we follow Jesus into death and beyond.

We are disciples in that we are learners. That means we read, study, discuss, and maybe even change our minds. Try and read scripture daily, either through the Daily Office, or the Day by Day at the back of the church, or read something in scripture that interests you for a time.

Study scripture. St. Paul's does Soup & Scripture every first Tuesday of the month (taking summer off), participate in that. Christ Church did a Lenten study that got our feet wet with a biblical overview, and we had interest in another program like it. If we claim to be disciples, we need to know what we're talking about. And it's always a good idea to study in groups so that you can discuss what you have just studied.

Be open to change, to learning something new. There is too much about being a disciple for any of us to know it all. Be wary of "religious people" who claim to have all the answers. If you have all the answers, you're finished learning. Ever notice how people who have all the answers to the Bible have moved from wanting to learn to wanting to issue edicts? I tell people all the time, "I don't have all the answers, but I'll be willing to search with you." Learning and change can be scary -- are you willing to give it a shot?

So what does all this have to do with today's gospel? How about everything. If we are followers, then that means we will sometimes be led to places where we didn't expect to be. And we may be led into a place where we are the only active believer, or to a place that may question your faith, your sincerity or your honesty. If we are learners, then at some point we will become teachers. Teachers of Sunday school. Teachers of our children. Teachers of our friends and acquaintances. At some point we need to share what we have learned with someone else. The follower becomes a leader, the learner becomes a teacher. We lead and teach other disciples.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you. By this everyone will know you are my disciples.

Those 11 men were instructed to love each other as Jesus loved them. The sinner. The tax collector. The militant. Love each other without question or reservation. Be there for each other. Support each other. Care for each other. Everyone will know you are disciples if you have love for one another.

Go and make discples of all nations.

Disciples aren't just here in this building. Disciples are out there in the world. Some are known to us, as in members of other churches around town. Some are unknown to us, as in someone you bump into at the grocery store. We may not know who is a discple and who isn't. Error on the side of caution and love everybody.

Labeling people heretic or a non-Christian because they don't measure up to your litmus test doesn't engender lots of love. Geting into holy wars over who is and who isn't a disciple isnt' exaclty showing the love of Christ.

Our task is to help people become disciples and love them in the process. They may be in other churches, on the street, in your family, or in the bar -- love them like Jesus loves us. For it is by this that they will know we are Christians -- by our love.