Disciples of Jesus or Disciples of a man?

John 1:35-42

John was standing with two of his disciples,
and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God.”
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
“What are you looking for?”
They said to him, “Rabbi” — which translated means Teacher —,
“where are you staying?”
He said to them, “Come, and you will see.”
So they went and saw where Jesus was staying,
and they stayed with him that day.
It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,
was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
“We have found the Messiah” — which is translated Christ —.
Then he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said,
“You are Simon the son of John;
you will be called Cephas” — which is translated Peter.

In just the last ten days we have seen violence, hatred, anarchy, and just plain disobedience. Our country is in deep trouble because of how a few followers of one person have acted out and caused such turmoil. These are disciples of a man. A small man. A bitter man. Someone who needs his giant ego stroked and requires praise and worship. NOT TRUE CHRISITIANS! True Christians are those people who follow Jesus, Act Like Jesus, and bring others to Jesus. Riots, mayhem, and violence are not the ways of our Lord.

Who do you follow? Who have you become disciple of? Are you disciples of a certain politician? Are you disciples of money? Are you a disciple of a boy band singer or a movie actor or actress? Do you spend more time searching the internet for videos of these people than you do reading your Bible? If so you need to step back and look at your life and the way you are living it. The last four years in the United States has been the scariest I can remember in my life. Racial violence, pandemics, political violence, and just general hatred to fellow humans seems to be the norm now, but that is not what our Lord wants for us. All these things can go away and all it would take would be for each of us to act and be the Jesus that others see. Love on another the way Jesus loved us – after all – He commanded this of us in John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

What does it mean to be a Christian these days? Who do you follow? Your preacher, the politician with the most charisma, the current popular rock singer, or Jesus? Open your eyes, open your hearts, open your lives. Be a disciple of Christ, not the newest fad or politician. Spread love and peace, not hatred and discourse. Be a fan of Jesus and not that football player or baseball star. John Wesley said: “The church changes the world not by making converts, but by making disciples.” Live your life making disciples and being the Jesus others see.

Heavenly Father: show us how to be disciples and how to guide others to your Son Jesus Christ. Give us the knowledge and wisdom to know that Your son Jesus Christ is the only one we need to follow and be disciples of. Amen