This passage shows what Disciples were expected to give up to follow Jesus, the main point is that to be a true disciple you must respond immediately to Jesus’ demands even if that means giving up all you have to follow him.
In chapter two of marks gospel Jesus is once again back to the shore of Lake Galilee where he started to teach a crowd of people.
As he walked along he saw a tax collector, Levi son of Alphaeus, sitting in his office. Jesus said to him, “follow me”. Levi got up and followed him.
This shows that Jesus treated everyone with equality even if they were hated by the people. Jesus said that only sick people needed a doctor and this was a classic example of his word in practise. It also demonstrates how Disciples have to respond to Jesus call immediately even if they have to leave everything behind.
Jesus knew that it would be difficult for the disciples to follow him, to give everything without thought of reward. This is all shown in Mark’s gospel- 10: 29- 31, where peter tells Jesus “look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus tells them that he knows they have left everything and reassures them that they will get 100 times as much in return in the Kingdom of God. This shows that Jesus’ disciples will be rewarded eternal life for the goodness they create in the world. Jesus tells us more about what it means to be a disciple when he chose his 12 disciples.
“I have chosen you to be with me” he told them “I will also send you out to preach, and you will have authority to drive out demons.” Mark’s gospel – 3:14 –15
The first disciples needed to have absolute faith in Jesus even though they might have been frightened. Mark shows how the disciples learnt to have faith in Jesus in his gospel 4: 40.
One evening went out in a boat with Jesus to Cross Lake Galilee. Suddenly a strong wind blew up and waved began to spill into the boat. Jesus commanded that the wind “be quiet”, and told the waves to “be still”, the wind and the waves died down. Jesus then said to his disciples “why are you frightened? Have you still no faith?”
This story shows how important it was for the first disciples to have faith in Jesus, and it also shows the power Jesus commanded over nature.
Jesus wanted his disciples to take pride in their beliefs,
Then Jesus called the crowd and his disciples to him. “If anyone wants to come with me”, he told them, “he must forget self, carry his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his own life will loose it; but whoever looses his life for me and the gospel will save it. Do people gain anything if they win the whole world but loose their life? Of course not!”
This was particular relevant as the Christians were loosing their lives as martyrs to Christianity.
The disciples had to learn that being around Jesus wasn’t going to be an easy ride. In marks gospel in the passage ‘Jesus is rejected at Nazareth’, the disciples have to Watch Jesus being turned away and ridiculed by his hometown.
“Prophets are respected everywhere except in their home town and by their relatives and their family.”
Jesus needed his disciples so he could teach them to follow his work, without them there would be no basis on which to built his Church. But he needed to be able to trust his Disciples totally to do this. In chapter 6, in the passage of “Jesus sends out the twelve disciples” mark writes about the disciples being trusted to follow the work of Jesus, they heal the sick, drive out demons and preach the word of God. On this occasion Jesus’ trust had been well placed.
Jesus was constantly teaching the disciples how to be come better followers of Christ, indeed the very name Disciples means Student or a learner. On one occasion he had to teach them about the true force of Gods power. This is in the story of the five loaves and the three fishes. Jesus has to feed a large crowd with only this. He gives thanks to God for a little food they have them sends out his disciples to distribute it.
“Where in this desert can anyone find enough food to feed all these people?”
“How much bread have you got?” Jesus asked. “Seven loaves” they answered. (Mark’s Gospel 8:4-5)
… Jesus gave thanks for these and told the disciples to distribute them too. Everyone ate and had enough – there were about 4,00 people. Then the disciples took up 7 baskets full of pieces left over. (Marks’ gospel 8:7-9)
Here Jesus teaches the disciples the power of God and to share everything that have, even if they need it themselves.
One of the main lessons the disciples have to learn is how to pray properly, as this was one of the main aspects of Jesus’ existence. Jesus went to Gethsemane and said to his disciples “sit here while I pray”. He took peter, James and john and said,
“The sorrow in my heart is so great it almost crushes me. Stay here and keep watch.”
Jesus prayed that all God wishes be done. This was to teach the disciples that they had to base their lives around Jesus and prayer and religion.
So we find that the meaning of discipleship is to learn and to become devoted to Jesus and the Christian Church.