Easter is considered the greatest of all Sundays on the Christian calendar.  It is one of two Sundays where churches across the globe go the extra mile to prepare for scores of guests and members to come dressed in their Sunday best to celebrate the life and resurrection of our Savior.  For some, it’s the first time they set foot in a church building in over a year. For most of us it is a special day where we put our focus and worship primarily on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 
Author and theologian N.T. Wright writes, “At the heart of the Christian faith lies the question of Jesus’ resurrection. Why did Christianity arise and why did it take the shape it did?  The early Christians reply: we exist because of Jesus’ resurrection.” To this we respond, “AMEN!” He continues, “There is no form of early Christianity known to us- though there are some that have been invented by ingenious scholars- that does not affirm at its heart that after Jesus’ shameful death God raised him to life again.” [1] Again, we respond with, “AMEN!”

However, these “ingenious scholars” have proposed that Jesus and those crucified with him did not die. Yet, it is well-known that Romans had mastered the art of killing people and to say that they messed this one up would be a travesty and embarrassment to them. Others claim that he may have died but certainly he did not raise from the dead, thus leaving a vacant tomb behind.
 
1 Corinthians 15: 1 -9, 12 – 20
This passage tells us specifically that Jesus rose from the dead, was seen by many, and if the resurrection never did happen then the apostles were liars, we would have not hope, and our faith would be useless. But, as followers of Jesus Christ we believe, in faith, that Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, he rose from the dead on the third day, and ascended to the right hand of the Father.  This is the hope for every believer, because if Jesus rose from the dead, then we will be raised one day as well. This brings us to today’s passage and that I will speak about for the remainder of our time together. 
 
Matthew 27:62-28:15
He Isn’t Here, He is Risen from the Dead
Today, I want to look at someone who is often overlooked and misunderstood in the resurrection story, Mary Magdalene. We read that on the first day of the week both Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene and a few women went to the tomb of Jesus.  In the Matthean account we are told that there was a great earthquake that rolled the stone away from the tomb’s opening.  Sitting on top of the stone was an angel whose face shown like lightning and clothes as white as snow and tells the women that Jesus is not in the tomb, he is alive! Both Mary’s went in and saw that Jesus was indeed not in the tomb. The next command is important to note as the angel says, “go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” The good news that Jesus was alive was given to both Mary’s and they were called to deliver this news to the disciples.
 
Mary Magdalene
Let’s pause for a moment and talk about Mary Magdalene. We know a bit about Mary, the mother of Jesus, but we do not know much about Mary Magdalene the follower of Jesus. Some have, and I believe mistakenly, associated her with the sinful woman of Luke 7 and is believed by many to have been a reformed and redeemed prostitute. As I stated a moment ago, I believe this to be false.  In fact, it is believed that she is a woman of significance since she is mentioned in all four Gospels as a follower of Jesus Christ, present at the crucifixion of Jesus, and observed the empty tomb.
 
Before she met Jesus we are told, she was possessed by seven demons (Luke 8). Thus, some have taken the fact she was possessed and ultimately labeled her as the sinful woman who anointed Jesus’s feet in Luke 7.  Some believe she is the sinful woman because there is a similar anointing of Jesus account In John 12 when Mary, the sister of Martha, anoints Jesus’ head thus people over time figured the Mary of John 12 and the immoral woman of Luke 7 was the same person, Mary Magdalene. There is no clear evidence that it was Mary Magdelene and, we do not see that a demon possessed person is necessarily considered an immoral sinner. In fact, it could mean just the opposite. According to Wheaton professor Amy Peeler, “The extant of Mary Magdalene’s healing sets her apart.  In his teaching elsewhere, Jesus describes a person with seven-spirits to exemplify a desperate situation.  A number of completion, seven indicates that the demons had invaded Mary’s whole life. If the encampment of one spirit brings terror, seven would be nearly unimaginable. Mary stands, then, as an example of one to whom much has been given in her healing. Consequently, of her much is required.”
 
What many fail to see is that even though she is not mentioned in many of the texts of the Gospel, but when she is, it is always associated with a place of prominence as an eyewitness, as one who cared for Jesus (Matt 27:55), and as a beneficiary of grace (being healed from possession). In the person of Mary Magdalene, we see the redemptive power of God at work. She is a woman delivered from seven demons and thus God uses her to testify of God’s sustaining power to minister to Jesus through key moments of his life. She also is faithful in fulfilling the commission of Jesus by proclaiming the good news to the disciples and to all people.
 
Lastly, New Testament scholar Elizabeth Schrader Polczer has raised the question of Mary Magdalene’s name. She believes her name “Magdalene” should be associated more with her character than where she is from?  It is most likely true that Mary hails from Magdala an ancient city on the shores of Galilee, but more importantly the word Magdala means “tower” and it has been discussed that Mary could be represented as a tower of faith, pointing people to the one who delivered her and gave her a mission.
 
The Witnesses
Now as we unpause, we see that once the women were commissioned to go and tell the others what was going on they were both scared and excited about what they just witnessed, and they went to find the disciples to tell them what they had seen and heard. As they went, they encountered Jesus Christ and they worshiped him.  He tells them to go and tell the others to go to Galilee and wait for him there.
​
Luke 24:6 – 11
We read in this account that after the women told the disciples they thought their story sounded like nonsense and did not believe the testimony of the women. Even these people who had followed Jesus for 3 plus years did not understand and found it hard to believe the Jesus was alive. Eventually they go to the tomb and see for themselves and most believe. They witnessed an empty tomb.
 
Witnesses are people who have seen something so they can tell about it. The women, the disciples and all who followed Jesus saw Him with their own eyes so they could give testimony of what they saw and what they heard. Now, I realize Easter is about Jesus and his resurrection and I have spent some time talking about Mary Magdalene, but all of this can be tied together.
 
Mary was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. She was a redeemed sinner whom the Spirit of God empowered and commissioned to tell the good news of the Savior who was murdered on the cross of Calvary was now alive as he has been resurrected from the dead. On this first Easter morning God called culturally unacceptable witnesses to proclaim a message that would forever change the world. 
 
Conclusion
As we reflect on the powerful message of Easter and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are reminded of the profound impact of faith and the transformative power of redemption. Mary Magdalene, often overlooked in the resurrection narrative, emerges as a central figure embodying the essence of Easter hope.
 
Her journey from darkness to light, from possession to liberation, serves as a testament to the redemptive work of God in our lives. Mary Magdalene's encounter with the risen Christ not only transformed her own existence but also empowered her as a faithful witness, entrusted with the sacred task of proclaiming the resurrection to the disciples and to the world.
 
As we celebrate Easter, we are called to emulate Mary Magdalene's unwavering faith and commitment to sharing the good news of Christ's victory over death. Like her, we are commissioned as witnesses to the miraculous truth of the resurrection, called to testify to the transformative power of God's love in our lives and in the world around us.
 
May we, like Mary Magdalene, embrace our calling with courage and conviction, boldly proclaiming that Jesus Christ is risen indeed! And may the message of Easter continue to inspire and uplift us, guiding us in our journey of faith and leading us ever closer to the glorious promise of eternal life in Christ. Amen.
 


[1] N.T. Wright, The Challenge of Easter, (Downers Grove, IL, IVP Books, 2009), 7

Introduction:
Today is Palm Sunday, and thus begins “Holy Week.”  Today, we will look at Jesus’ triumphal entry, more commonly known as Palm Sunday, found in the Gospel of Matthew, and at Jesus’ unusual encounter with a fig tree.  The triumphal entry is one of a few occurrences recorded in all four Gospels. While all four are similar in subject, there are some differences in how the accounts are re-told. I would encourage you to read them all this week and see how they differ. 
 
Matthew 21:1 - 3
Jesus was preparing for his royal entry, and this first Palm Sunday was the first time he publicly accepted praise and worship as the Messiah.   Jesus and his Disciples went to Bethphage, approximately 2 miles east of Jerusalem, to the Mount of Olives.  A great crowd of people followed him and listened to his teachings.  The crowd most likely consisted of people who pilgrimaged to Jerusalem for Passover.  This pilgrimage was an annual event and the most important feast day. Historian Josephus wrote that there was one Passover where over two million people came to Jerusalem.  We are unsure if that was normal, but this holy day had the potential for a large gathering of people in Jerusalem.  As Jesus and his disciples drew near the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples to the town to borrow a donkey colt.  According to the Gospels of Mark and Luke, the donkey should have never been ridden, so it was pure and undefiled. Matthew and John tell us this occurred to fulfill the words penned by the prophet Zechariah.
 
Zechariah 9:9 - 10
This verse is a prophecy about the coming King of Zion or, more specifically, the coming Messiah. In this prophecy, the people of Israel were told to rejoice and shout because the King was coming soon. They are to rejoice because He is a righteous King and will bring redemption and salvation. He will be a gentle, humble, and victorious king, and this will be evident by his riding on a colt’s donkey. 
 
Jesus tells the disciples that when the owners ask what they are doing, tell him, “The Lord needs it.” They do as he says.
 
Matthew 21:9
Jesus rides into Jerusalem, and the people begin shouting and rejoicing, saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Hosanna – Greek transliteration is “Save us!”  It’s an exclamation of exaltation and praise, implying rulership and a king. Again, this is the first time Jesus receives praise from the people. 
But let’s go a few verses down and observe an unusual moment between Jesus and a fig tree and its significance.
 
Matthew 21:18 - 20
Jesus seems to be doing something that looks a little out of his character.  The one who has taught about loving God, loving others, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion is seen here cursing a fig tree that is not producing figs when, in fact, it wasn’t even fig season. Now, before we go and claim Jesus is a big bully to this poor tree, we need to look at the context and symbolism of what is happening. The first thing we should note is this fig tree did not bear any fruit, but it did have leaves. Figs are a fall fruit, and this account happens in the springtime; however, it is not entirely uncommon for a fig tree to sprout a fruit that is unripe yet edible during the springtime. Fig trees typically bear the fruit first, and then the leaves follow.  So, this tree gave a false impression that even though there was unripened fruit, the tree was still barren. The fig tree, typically when referred to by the prophets of the O.T., is often symbolic of the nation of Israel or the Temple.  Jesus cursed the tree because it appeared healthy and free and produced edible fruit, but the tree only had leaves. This is where Israel and the Temple come into play.  Jesus is making a statement or prophecy of the impending destruction of the Temple, which occurred in 70 A.D. The Temple had become the national symbol of the nation of Israel.  The Temple had become its political, economic, and religious epicenter.  This Temple had become Israel’s identity.  
 
Recall that the original command from God was for Israel to be God’s representative to the nations, and the Temple, which was in Jerusalem, was intended to be a place of sacrifice and prayer for all nations.  It was to be a place to bring people together. Through the Temple, the Israelites would bear the fruit of bringing the nations together with God.  Instead, it became a place that symbolized God’s exclusion from the rest of the world.  There were warnings against Gentiles coming into the inner temple courts.  They were only permitted to congregate in the outer courts. The Israelites were using God (in a sense) to proclaim they were better than everyone else since they were God’s chosen people and, in turn, gave the appearance that the God of Israel was exclusive only to the Jews.  Ultimately, the Temple had become a barren and unfruitful object.  Professor Dr. David Garland writes, “Time can run out for fruitless trees and prayerless temples.”
 
 So, as we can see, the root of the problem was not the poor tree that Jesus cursed.  It is the judgment that Israel will face because of misrepresenting God. Thus, Jesus’ words, “May you never bear fruit again,” have a new meaning.  It is commonly believed that Jesus proclaimed the Temple was no longer a necessary means to meet with God.  The time of the Temple was over. So, as we can see in these two events, Jesus accepts praise as the Messiah, thus showing that he has authority, and the fig tree is a stern warning of the things that are about to come. The Temple had become a national symbol that symbolized Israel’s separation from the nations instead of bringing them together.  The coming judgment was necessary because if He was the God to all people and this place was initially intended to be a house of prayer for all nations, then the walls would come crashing down.
 
What the Fig Tree Can Teach Us
I can’t help as I read this account and ask the question, “Has the Church become like the Israelites and our buildings like the Temple?  Have our worship centers become places where we worship and hide ourselves from outsiders? Has the “Church structure” become one that does not leave its doors open for everyone? Have Christians become like the Jews and think we are the chosen people and God has no room for outsiders in our midst?  

These are questions I ask regularly.  I get so angry when I find that so many in the body of Christ are quick not to welcome the outsider.  We tend to view individuals who may not have their lives all together, and we may look down on them and refuse to accept them in our midst because they are different. We won’t welcome them until they conform to our ways.   Or maybe, Lord forbid, some of us have written individuals off as too far gone and unable to be rescued, saved, or worthy of investing our time. I pray that this church here in Bradenton will never become like this.  May we never become a fruitless tree?  May we never give the impression that we have Christ our Lord, Savior, and King in our midst, but we have nothing.  I pray we will never close the door to those seeking Christ, no matter how different they may seem to us.
 
May we be a fruit-bearing tree?  A healthy tree that blossoms into the tree that produces the fruit of life in Christ.  May we be a tree that nourishes the hungry, a hospital to the sick, and one who introduces the lonely, downtrodden, addicted, and self-absorbed lover of sin to God's extraordinary grace, mercy, and forgiveness through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, and Savior? May this building, this shell of wood and concrete, be a symbol to our community and neighborhood that God is with us, and may it never become a symbol or barrier between the saved and the sinner. May we be a fruitful fig tree not for our glory but for God’s glory! May we be a house of prayer entirely and utterly dependent on the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit! 
 
Conclusion
As we reflect on the events of Palm Sunday and Jesus' encounter with the fig tree, we are confronted with profound truths about our faith and our role as followers of Christ. Just as Jesus accepted praise as the Messiah amidst the shouts of "Hosanna," we are called to acknowledge His authority in our lives and to welcome Him as the true King. Yet, we must also heed the warning presented by the fig tree, recognizing the danger of appearing fruitful while lacking actual spiritual substance. Unlike the Temple of old, let us guard against becoming exclusive and inward-focused, instead embracing the call to be a community that welcomes all who seek Christ, regardless of their background or circumstance. Let us strive to be like the fruitful fig tree, bearing the life-giving fruit of God's love, grace, and mercy for all to see. May our lives and church be a testament to Christ's inclusive and transformative power, drawing others into His abundant grace.
 
 

Today, we embark on a journey into the heart of discipleship, exploring the potential excuses that could have deterred the disciples of Jesus from answering His call. Despite the difficult obstacles they faced, we will witness their unwavering commitment and remarkable transformation as they embraced the higher calling set before them. As your pastor, I am honored to guide us through this exploration as we delve deep into what discipleship truly entails and offer insights into how we can respond to Jesus' call in our own lives. Let us open our hearts and minds to the deep truths awaiting us in our passage, and may our time together inspire us to walk more closely in the footsteps of our Lord and Savior.  
 
My goal for today is twofold. First, it is to help you better understand the scripture text we are using so that you understand you are all called to discipleship. Second, it is to assist you in discovering how this passage in Matthew 10 gives a practical look at what discipleship looks like for you today. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can leave this place knowing, understanding, and owning our call to be disciples of Jesus Christ.
 
Not too long before this passage, Jesus finished preaching his Sermon on the Mount, and then He went out and ministered to the people.  He ministers by serving people, he cleanses a leper, heals a paralytic, restores sight to a blind man, heals a woman with a bleeding disorder, heals Peter’s mother-in-law, calms the storm, casts out demons and evil spirits, and brings a young girl back to life.  He spent much of his time teaching, healing, and ministering to those around him.  It is during this time Jesus models discipleship to His followers.  
 
Chapter 9 concludes with Jesus’ famous call to discipleship where he says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”  He is saying, there is plenty to do and there are not enough workers to accomplish the task, so pray the Lord would send you to the harvest.
 
In chapter 10 Jesus calls his disciples and gives them authority to go out to the lost sheep of Israel and proclaim the Kingdom of God is at hand. As they go out and proclaim the Kingdom, they are also called to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons.  Jesus commissions them to go out and do what He did.  Jesus does what all good leaders do…He models discipleship and then commissions them to go and do as he does.  This model is called “The Law of Replication”. 
 
One of the more frequent questions I am asked in either becoming or developing disciples is, “What are some good programs or models for discipleship?”  I could easily point them to the thousands of resources online, in churches, and in bookstores, but instead, I point them to Jesus and His Word.  Jesus showed us how to be disciples, and I firmly believe that discipleship is caught and not taught.  This means the best way to learn how to be a disciple is to be around other disciples following their calling as disciples of Jesus. 
 
Matthew 10:16 – 25
Proclaiming the kingdom, healing, and casting out demons sounds big.  This commissioning would undoubtedly bring much attention to the cause of Jesus Christ and His disciples, right?  Why wouldn’t people come in droves to see this new phenomenon?  But Jesus sets the record straight by saying this will not be easy; He says, “I am sending you out as sheep among wolves!  You are going to face opposition, you are going to face intense persecution, and in fact, those who you love and trust are going to oppose you because of the truth you represent.  And people won’t hate and persecute you because they don’t like you; they will do this because they hate me.”  He then gives the disciples permission to leave and go to the next town.  Jesus informs the disciples that this persecution is inevitable because a student is not above his teacher… Basically, He is saying, “If I am persecuted for what I say and do, then so will you.”  
 
Matthew 10:26 – 33
Now that Jesus spends much time telling his disciples about the cost of discipleship, he encourages them not to fear the opposition because they oppose the truth.  He implores them not to fear those who can kill the body and cannot kill the soul, but to instead fear him who can destroy both body and soul… or more practically, for us today, this can mean do not fear those who try to control and intimidate, but fear God, because His kingdom, His righteousness, and His truth is what matters most.  This fear is considered a reverential awe.  This means that we know our place before a holy God.  This kind of fear we should have for God reminds me of a conversation in the book THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA by C.S. Lewis, young Susan talks to Mr. Beaver and says, “Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr. Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”  This is a perfect picture of God. He holds the power of death and life, so this does not make him safe, but He is also a loving God who cares deeply for His people.  God cares about the sparrows, so He certainly cares about you.  So, don’t worry and don’t fear.” 
 
Now, Jesus charges the disciples to be bold about their faith. He mentions that there will be opposition, persecution, betrayal, and intimidation. You may lose what is important and precious in your life for my sake. But don’t let that stop you… Be bold because if you acknowledge Jesus before men, then He will acknowledge you as one of His own. But if you deny Him before men, then He will deny you before the Father.
 
We have glanced at this passage, and in doing so, I hope I accomplished my first goal of helping you understand the scripture passage and that you all know that you are all called disciples of Jesus Christ. Discipleship is not reserved for the ultra-spiritual; it is a call for everyone. Now for my second goal: to help you discover what discipleship looks like for you today. I would like to bring to your attention in your bulletin the…
 
Five Truths to Living as a Disciple of Christ 

1. You are sent out to proclaim the truth.  (Matthew 10:5) Jesus calls out his disciples to go to the lost sheep of Israel.  Jesus has called you and me to go out into the world and proclaim His truth (Matthew 28:18)
2. You have authority in Christ (Matthew 10:1). Jesus gave his disciples the authority to heal, proclaim the Gospel, and cast out demons. Jesus has also given us the authority to go out in the power of His Spirit. We can pray for healing, boldly proclaim His Gospel, and expose and cast out evil in our midst.
   
   
3. You will face opposition/persecution (Matthew 10:16-23). Jesus was crystal clear on this point.  There is no getting around it.  There is a cost to discipleship.  You will face opposition and persecution, and you may lose things.  You need to decide if following Jesus is worth it.
   
   
4. You must be bold (Matthew 10:32). You and I have great news that we are commissioned to share.  The news that Jesus is alive, and His Kingdom is at hand.  He is a good King, and His Kingdom is like no earthly kingdom.  We must proclaim this good news unashamedly, and since we will face opposition, we must be bold.
   
   
5. You must be selfless (Matthew 10:9, 38 – 39). The call of discipleship is to the Kingdom of God and not the Kingdom of me.  Jesus did not come to be served but to serve.  When Jesus tells us to take up our cross and follow him, this is a call to selfless living.  It is the call to say to our King, “I want to serve you.  I want to live for you.  I have desires, dreams, and hopes for my life, and I know you are a King who wants me to have good things, but I also know that I want YOU most of all.”

 
Conclusion
In closing, beloved, I urge you to immerse yourselves in the enriching journey of discipleship. As we navigate the complexities and challenges of discipleship, remember that while the path may not always be easy or safe, it is undeniably good. Our lives as disciples are not centered on our own desires or expectations but on the transformative power of Jesus Christ and the profound truth of His death, resurrection, and the coming of His Kingdom. Let us embrace the call of discipleship with courage, knowing that in following Christ, we embark on a journey of immeasurable significance and eternal worth.

Is Jesus merely a healer, or is he in the healing business? The Bible is replete with instances of Jesus healing the sick, the handicapped, and even raising the dead. In fact, all four gospels record a staggering 37 miracles of Jesus. This unequivocally establishes that Jesus is indeed in the healing business. But the question that lingers is, does Jesus continue to heal today? The answer, in short, is yes. But the intricacies of how he heals, the types of healing he performs, the recipients of his healing, and the reasons behind his choices are subjects of ongoing debate. If I were a prosperity Gospel pastor and faith healer, I might assert that God heals all those who possess enough faith. However, the reality is not so straightforward.  The truth is, God does heal, but the specifics of who, how, and why He heals remain a mystery we cannot definitively answer.

Today, we delve into the healing narratives of Matthew chapter 9, witnessing Jesus's many miraculous healing and we will conclude with the healing of a blind man at the Pool of Bethsada in John 5.

Matthew 9:1 - 34
In the preceding chapter, Jesus demonstrated his authority over nature and creation by calming a storm.  He further showcased his power by exorcising a demon, asserting his authority over the spiritual realm.  Now, in chapter 9, Jesus performs a healing that is particularly poignant. A group of friends, filled with faith, bring a paralyzed man to Jesus.  Jesus, moved by their faith, heals the man. This instance is a powerful testament to the role of faith in healing, as it was the faith of the friends that led to the paralytic's healing. Michael Wilkins writes in his commentary on Matthew, “While individual sin is usually not the direct cause of a person’s sickness, at the heart of humanity’s problem is sin. Once sin is forgiven and redemption has occurred, all sickness and death will ultimately be abolished.”[1] This was cause for rejoicing for the paralytic man, but not everyone was overjoyed by Jesus’ authority and statement.  The religious leaders thought Jesus was blaspheming because only God can forgive sins. On a human level, forgiveness is always possible, but only God has the authority to forgive sins. In this instance, the scribes see Jesus as claiming to speak from God in this authoritative manner. Jesus knows their hearts, and he questions why they have these thoughts of blasphemy, and then he has the ultimate mic drop moment.  He says, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 6 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” Jesus’ authority is proven as the man immediately jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home. The response was a reverential awe that fell over the crowd as they witnessed this healing and praised God for this beautiful work.

In the verses to follow, we witness Matthew, the author, being called as a disciple. In response to Jesus’ critics, it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Jesus raised a young girl from the dead, healed two blind men, and cured a man of demon possession.

The Pool
One of my favorite healing accounts in the N.T. is found in John 5:5 – 12. 

Vs 5:  The story focuses on one man who had been handicapped for 38 years.  We do not know what his infirmity was, many speculate he was paralyzed.  It is possible that for 38 years this man could have been coming to this pool with the hope that one day he would be the first one in the pool and be healed.  Yet, for 38 years he has left the location disappointed because he had not been the one.
 
Vs 6:  Enter Jesus.  Jesus knew this man had been there for a long time and for an unknown reason, out of the multitudes of handicapped people Jesus picks this man.  A deeper reading could suggest this, like the meeting of the Samaritan woman at the well, was a divine encounter, with the ultimate purpose of glorifying God. Jesus approaches the man and asks, “Would you like to get well?”  One version reads, “Do you want to be healed?” This seems like a silly question to ask a person who has been handicapped for his entire life; but we see Jesus is a gentleman.  He doesn’t just go up and force himself on the man and heal him; he asks him directly if he wants to be made well. A question he still asks us today.
 
Vs 7:  The man had no idea who was speaking to him.  He had no idea that Jesus was God in the flesh, and he was offering to heal him.  In his response you can hear his hopelessness, “I want to be healed but every time I try to be the first in the water someone else gets there before me.”  He sounds like a defeated man who had given up hope.  Here is a man who for 38 years was putting his trust in a legend, myth or tale and for 38 years left disappointed.  The legends, myths and traditions had failed him.  But when Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed, he was hoping Jesus would assist him to get to the water.  He believed there was no hope for getting to the water… Yet he still determined to try all the time.  He was hopeless but determined.  All the while he was unaware that the great healer was standing before him, engaging him in conversation and offering to make him well.  
 
In this short encounter I am reminded of people who are pessimistic life, much like this man.  These are people who are hopeless, giving up and seeing no turning around of their situations.  Some are this way for good a reason and some are not.  I have a friend who is the ultimate pessimist… He is never happy, never satisfied, and is always looking at the negative side of life.  People like this remind me of Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh… His attitude is this "After all, what are birthdays? Here today and gone tomorrow."  They have no cause for celebration, see no purpose in rejoicing and forget about seeing the bright side of life.  There are many Christians who are like this as well they are always negative; nothing ever works out for them.  Their motto could be, “I can never get a break.” Or “Why bother (Fill in the blank), I’ll just fail anyway.”  These are hopeless individuals who focus so much on the hopeless situation(s) that they forget they serve a God who is willing and able to bring hope and healing to any situation they may face.  There is so much focus on the negative that they lose sight of the solution… God.
 
Vs 8 & 9:  In one fell swoop this hopeless man is given hope!  Jesus speaks (even his words are powerful) and the man is healed instantly. In this passage we witness a miracle of God and in this instance a man who was handicapped for 38 years is now made well!  Now the pessimists would respond, “Why did God wait 38 years to heal this man?  It’s not fair he had to be invalid for this long.”  Or “Why did God choose to heal that person and did not choose me?” But the hope filled believer in Jesus Christ rejoices because God healed someone, and we should praise him for his faithfulness and healing.  My friends there is hope in Jesus! 
   
Vs 9b:  Now, there is another supposed problem as this was the Sabbath.  This is significant. The Jews kept a strict Sabbath.  Nowhere in the OT does it prohibit one from carrying a mattress on the Sabbath (maybe the closest they could come was not to carry a burden on the Sabbath).  However, the Jews had developed traditions throughout history regarding the Sabbath.  There were 39 classes of work that were prohibited on this day one included carrying something from one place to another.  This was an added law (tradition) to God’s command.  There was an exception for carrying something on the Sabbath if it was an act of compassion.  
 
Vs 10 - 12:  The Jewish authorities see this man carrying his mattress on the Sabbath and confront him.  The man responds by enthusiastically saying a someone healed him of his infirmities of 38 years and told him to get up, take his mat and walk. 
And we read “they responded by rejoicing and praising God for the wonderful miracle that He performed!”  Well, maybe not. They wanted to know who told him it was ok to break their traditions.  They didn’t care that the man was healed, they didn’t care that God did a miraculous deed.  Their only concern was someone dared to break the Sabbath by healing someone and then telling the healed person to go and continue to break the Sabbath by carrying his mat. 
 
With this encounter I am reminded of a second group of people who are the law makers and enforcers.  These are people so consumed with enforcing and keeping the rules and following traditions that they completely miss God at work.  These individuals are quick to dismiss what God does because either it was done in an unorthodox way or because it breaks certain traditions.  We need to be careful to not place such a high value on human traditions that we refuse to see God at work.  This happens so often in Christianity today.  We have so many human traditions (which are not all bad) but we sometimes place more value on our traditions than we do on God.  Just because something is done in an unconventional way or goes against human tradition does not mean that God is not in it (just as it also doesn’t guarantee that He is… we must be diligent in discernment).  But may we not be so focused on human traditions that we miss a movement of God.
 
Vs 13:  The man didn’t know who had healed him because Jesus had slipped away into the crowd.
 
Vs 14 & 15:  Later on, Jesus seeks out the man in the temple and says, “See you are well!  Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.”  You see when Jesus heals, he not only physically heals but he also deals with the sin issue in one's life as well.  Whenever Jesus encounters a sinner, he always deals with the sin issue.  The man is now physically made well… He is healed from his infirmity.  Now Jesus tells him to stop sinning.  This could imply that his infirmity is related to his sin but is not definite and certainly does not mean that all infirmity is related to sin in one's life.  He tells the man to stop sinning which could mean pursue holiness or pursue God so that when the Day of Judgment comes nothing worse will happen.
 
After this last encounter the man goes to the Jews (probably thinking it was the right thing to do) and tells them that it is Jesus who healed him.
           
Application/Conclusion
The healing of the lame man at the pool is very similar to Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well.  In both instances Jesus gives hope to individuals and also deals with sin.  In this instance I have two observations to take home with us that we can use in our everyday relationship with Jesus Christ.

1. When we focus on the hopelessness of a situation we will fail to see God at work.  

• There is no doubt many here today are faced with hopeless circumstances in life (Whether it is finances, relationships, work, school, family, life, health etc.) we cannot allow our focus to be diverted from Jesus.  
• God is a God of hope and healing.  He can and will (and it may take 38 years) bring hope and healing to any crisis you may be facing.

​     2. When we focus on keeping tradition or on what God won’t do then we limit Him.

• As I said already… Traditions are not bad; they also are not the Gospel truth either.  When we fail to see God’s hand at work because we think God wouldn’t do such a thing or it goes against our traditions then we have placed God in a box and God cannot be contained by a box.
• God is a God of surprises.  He will sometimes use unconventional means to accomplish His will.  We must be mindful to not discredit something just because we don’t think He would do it a certain way.  Just as well we need to be diligent in discerning whether God is behind the movement or not.

 
[1] Wilkins, Michael J.. The NIV Application Commentary: Matthew (p. 355). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

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Introduction
This Fall marks my 30th year in Pastoral ministry. It’s hard to imagine that for thirty years I have dedicated my life to teaching and leading God’s people in His ways and in His Word.  In those years I have had some great experiences and I have had some horrible ones. I have witnessed the greatest qualities of Christians and I have seen the worst. I have been hugged by many and yelled at by some and a few were the same people. I have been to countless conferences, read innumerable theological books, leadership books, books on how to have a successful ministry, books about the ins and outs of church growth, and books on the importance of discipleship. I have had success and I have faced failure.  All this to say is, in thirty years I have learned a lot.
But as I sat down to prepare this message I thought back on all the years of ministry and experiences, and I came to a somewhat cynical conclusion about church and pastoral ministry. As church leaders we are great at building buildings.  We love to design programs and come up with clever sermon titles. We have mastered the art of staffing churches. We are great at putting on events and coming up with gimmicks. We are visionaries as we rally people around new initiatives and strategies. And if God blesses our churches with growth, we become increasingly skillful in a multitude of other things from branding to facility management. 
But my cynicism comes when I get down to brass tacks and contemplate and ask the most important questions, “Are we making disciples of Christ?” And “do we really know and understand what discipleship looks like?” I hope to shed some light on these questions today.
 
­Discipleship
Matthew 8:18 – 22
Jesus gets away from the crowd to be with his disciples and this directly contrasts Jesus’ normal routine of ministry.  Ironically, the crowd that Jesus is getting away from are the reason for Jesus’ ministry of proclaiming the good news, healing, and inviting them into the kingdom of God to become his disciples. Before he was able to cross over, he was approached by a religious teacher of the law and proclaimed, “I will follow you wherever you go.” In this encounter the teacher of the religious law desired a discipleship relationship with Jesus.  However, his idea of discipleship and Jesus’ form of discipleship were not the same.  The leader was seeking prestige and honor.  According to commentator and theologian Michael J. Wilkins, “This man has in mind the kind of master-disciple relationship in which a potential disciple examines various masters and then enlists himself with the most popular or the best-equipped one.”  Jesus’ discipleship does not look like this.  Jesus’ discipleship does not include schooling or training in the synagogue.  His discipleship is relational, humble and comes with a cost.  A disciple of Jesus will not result in prestige and comfort, instead it will be one of loss and abandonment.
 
Church leaders today easily fall into the trap of gauging success in the church by the ABCs of growth: Attendance, Buildings, and Cash and not the in discipleship. What pastors shifted the focus from running out and grabbing as many people from outside of the community with gimmicks and programs to attract people to the church and Jesus and instead, spend more time discipling the people whom God has already entrusted to them? What if we decided to invest in those already attending week after week? This is what we call discipleship.
 
The word Disciple simply means “learner or student.” Some would define a disciples much like this religious leader, as someone who follows a leader.  But a disciple of Christ is not just a follower.  A disciple of Christ not only follows Jesus but…

1.  Is led in a direction.
2. Trained in truth.
3. Formed in character.

 
The distinguishing mark of a Christian disciple is a transformed heart and transformed life.  When someone becomes a disciple, Christ radically changes the person’s life.
 
A Disciple is…
Led in a Direction – In regard to being led, a disciple is led by someone and follows someone, often in a new direction.  It is a choice that is made.  It is a response to a call.  Disciples are followers; however, they must make the decision to take the hand of the guide and go where they are led.  It is not merely following blindly, it involves following one who knows where they are going, how to get there, and one who they will model their lives after. We see this in the calling of the disciples of Jesus.  They responded to Jesus’ call and made the choice to follow Him to places they never would have gone and to model their lives after. Every disciple of Jesus is walking somewhere and following someone. So, who are you following? Where are you headed?
 
Trained in Truth – If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, you must be guided in His ways. Being trained in truth is not about gaining head knowledge and it is not about picking and choosing what to believe.  When you agree to be a disciple you are seeking to allow God’s truth to work through your life all your life.  Life is not a classroom, so the process of discipleship is intended to train and guide you through everyday circumstances, which ultimately leads to…
 
Formed in Character – Disciples of Jesus are people who no longer want to simply be all they can be on their own.  Instead, they want to be like Jesus.  It is about transformation.  You have joyfully surrendered your life, demolished borders, and are happy to have a life that is shaped to look like Jesus.  Discipleship is not about behavior modification. If a church. Pastor, or Christian views discipleship as merely tweaking behavior, then their work is contrary to the content of the gospel and the way of Jesus.  Go after hearts.  God does not desire to tweak our behavior.  He desires to transform our lives.
 
Jesus modeled discipleship and trained his disciples to go out and make disciples.  Jesus gradually released his disciples into ministry through a four-step process that looked like this

1. Jesus ministered, and the disciples watched him.
2. Jesus allowed the disciples to assist him in ministry.
3. The disciples did the ministry themselves, with Jesus’ assistance.
4. Jesus watched as the disciples ministered to others.

If we want to be disciples, those who live under the rule of the King, we need to know him personally, live in his power and look forward to the day when the kingdom of God on earth is as it is in heaven.
 
The Cost of Discipleship
Discipleship has an end goal: to be conformed into the image of Christ — to talk the way he talked, walk the way he walked, and respond the way he responded. As a disciple-maker, all you’re doing is pointing at the One you’re following and saying to those around you, “Come with me; I’m following him.” However, discipleship comes with a cost.

• The discipleship process always begins with a personal relationship with Jesus which involves loss.  Matthew 16:24 – 25 says, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
• You can’t promote what you don’t participate in. In the same way, Jesus expects us to be a disciple before we can be a maker of disciples.
• You cannot know the God of the Word unless you know the Word of God. In order to understand God, you must know Jesus — the walking Word (John 1: 1, 14) — which is impossible apart from the Scriptures.
• The kingdom of God is not just an invisible place in a spiritual realm; it is a movement among God’s people in the here and now. You don’t need to wait for the kingdom of heaven to arrive. It’s already here, in part, and will fully come when the King returns.
• If we want to be disciples, those who live under the rule of the King, we need to know him personally, live in his power and look forward to the day when the kingdom of God on earth is as it is in heaven.

 
Conclusion
Discipleship begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ.  It is imperative that we have a relationship with the Savior before we can fully follow him in the direction that He calls us.  Disciples of Christ allow Jesus to be the center of all they are and do and this affects every aspect of their life.  More specifically this centrality affects the way we view ourselves and how we treat others. As a disciple you are part of God’s mission and you are called to participate in God’s mission which is “Disciples making disciples”.
HOW?

• Go:  Jesus commands us to go and share His story.
• Baptize:  To baptize means to make a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ.  Our mission is to proclaim the good news and help others realize their need for Christ.
• Teach:  Discipleship does not end at conversion.  This is just the beginning.  Learning and teaching is a lifelong process.  As disciples we are students and we are teachers.  We must always be continually learning but we must also be teaching others what it means to live as a disciple of Christ.

How different would your life be today if you had an opportunity to be engaged in a Christlike, biblical discipleship relationship?