After the crucifixion of Jesus, many of Jesus’ disciples were plunged into despair. However, upon his resurrection, Christ began to meet with these beleaguered followers to help them understand what had actually transpired. He appeared to two of these disciples on the road to Emmaus, explaining to them how his death and resurrection fulfilled what had been written in the Old Testament. In this message we will consider the grand story Jesus invites us into and what it means to follow him into his mission to heal the world.

Of all the disciples of Jesus, Mary Magdalene had one of the most troubled pasts. The gospels of Mark and Luke tell us that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her when he called her to follow him. It is little wonder she become one of the most devoted of his disciples. Upon the death of Jesus, it is Mary Magdalene, weeping at the tomb, who first encounters the risen Lord. It is Mary who is first sent out by Jesus with the good news that he has risen from the grave. What can we learn from this remarkable woman about what it means to follow Christ? And what is God’s invitation to us this Easter as we consider not just what God has done for us in the past, but who he longs for us to become in the future?

A week before his crucifixion, Jesus enters Jerusalem to great fanfare, riding on a donkey just as the prophet Zechariah had predicted (Zechariah 9:9). Was it possible that the coming of this Messiah was exactly what everyone had been waiting for? Was Jesus going to lead Israel to military victory over the Roman occupiers? These questions must have been ringing in the disciples’ ears as they wrestled with Jesus’ earlier predictions of his own imminent death at the hands of Rome. Which was it going to be? Victory or death? This moment of cognitive dissonance is a wonderful invitation for us to consider what kind of Messiah we are following. Is the Jesus we follow victorious by human standards, trampling down everyone we disagree with? Or is he the one whose victory lies in his self-sacrifice and surrender, and the grace he offers even to the despised?

In the days leading up to his crucifixion, Jesus accomplishes one of his most spectacular miracles: the raising of his friend Lazarus from the dead. Although we often talk about the moment of the miracle itself, in this message we will focus on the words and reactions of Jesus’ disciples throughout the experience. What they see and say gives us fresh insight into the person of Christ and what it means to follow a savior with power over the grave.

Although it was clear to Jesus that his path would lead him to a lonely cross in Jerusalem, his disciples struggled to understand. Peter, the “rock upon which the Church of Christ would be built,” struggled most of all. In a rather shocking moment with Jesus, Peter rebukes him for saying that his destiny lay in crucifixion. Peter is rebuked by Jesus in return, whose famous words, “Get behind me, Satan,” still ring in our ears today. How is it possible for disciples of Jesus to become agents of the enemy? And what does it mean for us to set aside our “human point of view” in our attempt to follow Jesus into the unknown?

Long before the “Great Commission,” Jesus sends out his disciples to participate in his kingdom mission. His call to them and instructions for what to expect when they go is a fascinating glimpse into what it means to be his messengers of hope and healing in this broken world. Not only is being Christ’s agent a step of tremendous trust and faith; it is also an opportunity to see, as the disciples did, that we have tremendous authority in his name.

Although lauded in much of the Church for her character, wisdom, and holiness, Mary is not as often recognized for the tremendous burden she carried in being the mother of Jesus. Faced with confounding experiences of a son whose relationship with God went beyond her comprehension and bearing the grief of knowing her little boy was destined to suffer, Mary’s experience of the person of Jesus was wholly unique, as was her steadfast loyalty and love. In his book, The Lord, Romano Guardini says of Mary, “Not understanding, never was she to lose heart, never to fall behind. Inwardly she accompanied the incomprehensible figure of her son every step of his journey, however dark. Perseverance in faith even on Calvary—this was Mary’s inimitable greatness.” What can we learn from a woman who willingly sacrificed it all in her faith for the Messiah she once held in her arms?

Although not often thought of as a “disciple” of Jesus, John the Baptist was one of the first to confess his faith that Jesus was the Messiah. In this message we will explore the unique vantage point John had as “the prophet” who would “prepare the way for the Lord.” Specifically, we will explore his deathbed request to have confirmation that his faith in Jesus was not misplaced. Jesus’ response to him was all the proof John needed that the Son of God had truly come. What might it look like for us to have hope in Jesus even when we don’t know exactly how our story will end?

When Jesus first calls his disciples, his invitation to each of them is unique. He calls Simon “The Rock” (Peter), inviting this uneducated fisherman to a life of greater purpose than he could have ever imagined. He shares intimate knowledge of the private life of Nathaniel, who had expressed doubt that anything good could ever come from Nazareth. And he calls Matthew, a hated tax-collector, demonstrating that God’s love and grace extends even to those the ‘godly’ despise. In every case, Jesus calls his disciples to follow him from exactly where they are and into exactly who he sees them to be. How amazing that the same is true for us today!

Despite the fact that we are more “connected” than ever, we are facing chronic loneliness and isolation like never before. Perhaps this is because the “community” we have online is not real community! We are seeing one another’s curated, sanitized selves. Even those who are “authentic” online are more often than not curating and crafting even that so-called authenticity. If we want to experience healing and community, we must seek a different kind of connection with one another. Additionally, if we want to discover the truth of our world through real, genuine wisdom instead of algorithm-driven fluff, we must find that wisdom in lifelong relationships built on trust.

This will mean pursuing the discomfort of actual, face-to-face relationships and opening others up to the un-sanitized brokenness of our lives, trusting they will love us as we love them. Only then can our online interactions grow out of a place of health and fruitfulness, and not out of insecurity and a need for affirmation.