Discipleship
The Qualifications Given by Jesus of a Disciple
Jesus impressed upon those who would follow Him that it was a life of hardship, inconvenience, and a matter of urgency. Unless all the demands of Jesus (to deny one’s self, to take up one’s own cross, to lose one’s life, to count the cost of total commitment, to love Him in such a manner in which all other love pales in comparison —even of one’s own life— and that one must forsake all that he has) are met, one cannot be His disciple. To even forsake the very necessities of life that are held to be so critical is included in the list of qualifications for Jesus’ disciples. Without a doubt, much of the instructions given in the Sermon of the Mount were directed towards discipleship. To renounce everything for His sake alone had never before been insisted by any man. No such qualification for a disciple in secular life had ever been demanded. Christ’s disciples were different from all others.
The demands of Jesus upon His disciples were severe and called for a decision of total commitment. Jesus confronted the people directly and made it clear to them as to what it takes to be His disciple, even to the point of counseling them to consider carefully the personal price and involvement required. We could expect no less demand from God.
They have to continue in His word, keep His commandments, abide in His word, abide in Him, thus bearing much fruit glorifying the Father and so shall they be His disciples. The New commandment to love one another was given to the disciples to further delineate the difference between the disciples of Jesus and all other previously known disciple relationships. While love or affection may have existed within the bonds of secular disciples it was never considered as an intrinsic part of being a disciple. The most that could be said about disciples in general (as the term applies in its usage with the customs of the people) is that their common bond was that of agreement only. This was an entirely new aspect introduced by Jesus for His disciples with regard to their intimacy with each other. Thus by this love all men will know whose disciples they were.
Christ’s Disciples are Servants
Jesus was not hesitant to command His disciples to perform mundane services for Him. They apparently had the task of making provisions for their travels. We see the servant service when Jesus had the disciples distribute the food among the multitudes and later collect the remnants. Also, when He sent His disciples on the two occasions into Jerusalem, first to secure the foal of the colt, and second to prepare for Him the Passover, gives us further evidences of the Disciple relation as consisting of the servant/master status. This servant role was never seen in the Rabbinic disciple/teacher, master, relation.
It is worthy to note that Jesus never resorted to ploys to recruit disciples. He did not use material values, personal charisma, or rabbinic wisdom. His message was simple and revealing. The use of miracles certainly attracted attention to the fact that He spoke with authority, but even that was not the inducement for discipleship. As we have seen, the requirements were strict, and the enlistment to His following was by invitation or acceptance only. Equally worthy to note was the readiness of men to follow him unconditionally. This display on their part was both inward, by their belief in Him and outward, by their obedience to Him. As it also has been seen, the fact that disciples (of Jesus) can be likened to “slave, bondman” (Mat 10:24) is quite alien to later Judaism. The drive of the disciples is not merely respect for the person Jesus, but their conviction that He indeed was the promised Messiah and Lord!
He Regards Them as His Friends
The role of the disciple can be seen in John’s Gospel. It was that of obedience. From the requirements already observed above the disciple is regarded by Jesus to be a servant. But it does not end there, for in John 15:14, this “slave, bondman” is elevated to be His friend if the disciple keeps His commandments. Coupled with that is the sharing of knowledge which Jesus has received from the Father to His disciples, friends. And further, the statement that they, the disciples, had not chosen Him but rather Jesus had chosen them (John 15:14-16) shows that this was all a matter of Grace. However this did not put a disciple on equal footing with Jesus, it was a gift to them.
Consider the calling of Jesus. To accept meant that one must have absolute dependence upon Him and that in one’s own life there is nothing apart from Jesus. Jesus did not hide the fact from His disciples that to follow him was a life of jeopardy (John 16:2). For what was about to happen to Him, they could expect no better (John 15:20). The apostle is as his master. If Jesus suffered then they also will suffer. Whether they fully appreciated this at the time is of no consequence, for in the preceding years many of them did suffer and even cruelly die because of their commitment to Jesus.
The Conclusion – Let Us Evaluate Ourselves
Putting It Together
Investigation of the statements of the Gospels about the disciples of Jesus leads us to two conclusions. As we read these conclusion we should challenge ourselves as to how we measure up to the standard of Christ’s discipleship.
—(A) Apart from the student/scholar standing of a disciple in the world there is no other formal relation between the disciples as is found among those of Jesus. There is a radical departure between the rabbinic disciple and the “Christian” disciple. The disciple of Jesus acknowledges Him as LORD and the duty of absolute obedience, faithfulness and dependence upon Him. This relation is founded on inner commitment and is intrinsically based on faith in Jesus and the love of Him and fellow disciples. Further it is that element within the disciples of Jesus that theirs is the servitude status and attitude of bondmen-slaves. Their highest honor is to serve and to be a servant. The love, which Jesus has, and His willingness to lay down His life for them is not a part of any other existing disciple/master relationship. This love and willingness is reciprocated on the part of the disciples.
—(B) Stewardship is the key to understanding the role of the disciples of Jesus. They are called to bear witness of all the things which they had seen, experienced and been taught. They are not scribes, soon to be masters, nor “embellishers” of God’s revelations. They do not glorify themselves, nor seek their own disciples/followers, or establish their own traditions, or maintain their own independence. All these traits are found within Rabbinical disciples. The Principle of Traditionism is not a part of their reason for existence, or mission. The fact that certain authority and commissions has been appointed to them also sets them apart from the world. A responsibility has been assigned to them, which must be obeyed—they cannot go beyond the limits of that responsibility nor can they lessen it. Jesus is Lord in all things and never will any disciple be co-equal with Him! In the New Testament only two spoke with the authority of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. The disciple is a steward and witness only.
The Application of the Term Disciple.
A study such as this would not be complete unless it includes an application of the disciple of Jesus. It is demonstrated that there are four articles of qualifications of discipleship to Jesus Christ.
First: discipleship must be based upon Faith, an explicit faith in the person of Jesus Christ and in all which He claimed of Himself. This faith must be based upon the correct understanding of the role of the “Messiah” in God’s eternal purpose: (1) That the Messiah is the Messiah of the Kingdom of God/Heaven and not that of the political nation of Israel, or any other cause; (2) That the Messiah has purchased the redemption of sinners, and repentance is required and not penance; (3) That the first step of a disciple is a personal attachment to Jesus Christ through an unqualified faith in Him as The Savior, the grantor of Eternal Life.
Second qualification is twofold: the absolute commitment to God, and the total dependence upon God. The disciple will have place all his confidence and trust in God. Inseparable from this is the unhesitating obedience to the commands of God on the part of the disciple.
Third, is the issue of love. The disciple relationship is based upon the love of fellow disciples of God, and for the brotherly fellowship among all disciples. The New Command of Jesus is that among His disciples each is to have unconditional love for one another.
The Last qualification is that it is God who has called men and women into the discipleship of Jesus Christ. It is God who has chosen and is not a human choice. It is God who makes the determination as to who composes the body of disciples, we cannot call ourselves to this position but we are to qualify ourselves. The action and choice on the part of any person called is that of a favorable response, to respond to the call/invitation initiated by God, to follow Christ.
Can any truly have total belief and thus total obedience to the word of God if it is not coupled with total dependence upon God? Jesus did not teach anything less than total response to Him and His word. All three of these attributes coexist in the heart and mind of the Disciple. The disciple of Jesus offers no excuses, no hesitation, no divided loyalty, and no hint of disbelief or disobedience to his Lord. Failure may occur, but a persistent dedication commands the disciple to continue in his quest to follow his Lord.
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