Discipleship
2018-03-31
Introduction
This brief discussion on discipleship will not do the topic justice. I am also not even qualified to speak about being a disciple, as being a disciple of Jesus Christ is far more extreme than the average Christian would admit. I am writing this, however, in an effort to help myself learn what it really means to be Jesus’ disciple, and to spur others on to what the Bible says about being a disciple.
What is a Disciple?
Oftentimes, we can learn what a word means by going to its first occurrence in the Bible. The first time the word disciple is used in the New Testament is in Matthew 5:1-2:
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying... (Matthew 5:1-2)
A disciple is anyone who comes to Jesus, hears His teaching, and does it. Following Matthew 5:1-2, Jesus spends the next three chapters teaching them. His teaching is radical and difficult, and it is impossible without being born again. His teaching exposes our shortcomings and shows us the need for a Savior, but it also shows us that everything we thought we knew about God and religion is totally wrong. The disciple forsakes the ways of this world and devotes his or her entire life to pleasing God.
Leaving Comfort Behind
And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. (58) And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (59) And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. (60) Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. (61) And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. (62) And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:57-62)
Three men come to Jesus, thinking discipleship was something they can do while living their regular, normal life. Jesus’ answer tells them otherwise.
- The disciple will not necessarily have a permanent residence. Following Jesus meant the disciple might not stay in the same place for very long. He may even be homeless. The disciple must be ready to move when the Lord leads him. Luke 9:57-58
- The disciple does not wait for a convenient time to follow Jesus. The second man wanted to wait to bury his father, perhaps because he was waiting for an inheritance. The disciple does not wait for when he feels ready; he follows Jesus immediately when Jesus tells him to, with no means of supporting himself. He relies on the Lord for his needs. Luke 9:59-60
- The disciple does not look back to his old life, but embraces his new life in Christ. Unlike Elisha (1 Kings 19:19-21), the disciple does not even go back to his family to say goodbye. A would-be disciple may be swayed by his family to not follow Jesus, and he may become enamored with the affairs of this life. The disciple forsakes his past and follows Christ, not letting anything stand in his way. Luke 9:61-62
Taking Up Your Cross
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (25) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (26) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (27) For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. (Matthew 16:24-27)
To take up your cross is to deny yourself. The cross was a painful torture and execution device, and that is what it is for us too. Before His arrest, Jesus prayed, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). He did what His Father wanted Him to do; the disciple also must do what the Lord wants him to do. We, as saved people, are crucified with Christ. We now must pick up the cross each day and voluntarily follow Him, leaving behind everything in this life.
- Coming after Christ means denying yourself. If you do not deny yourself, you are not a disciple. Matthew 16:24
- Saving your life means losing it. If you want to live out your new born-again life, you must part with the old life you knew before you knew Christ. Everything you attain in this life is worthless, as it will all one day be destroyed. Why waste your life with this world’s way? Matthew 16:25-26
- When Christ returns, He will reward according to our works. Without denying self and the world, you are left without reward. Matthew 16:27
To be a disciple means to put away everything that even slightly distracts from following Christ. This is more than putting away sin; it is ridding ourselves of anything that is otherwise good but stops us from serving Christ. Nothing is too sacred to sacrifice for the cause of Christ. The Bible tells us that we are “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20); discipleship is taking that spiritual reality and putting it into practice in this life.