When Jesus was preaching Gods message, he met with all types of opposition. Jesus main opposition was the Pharisees council, not because Jesus was afraid of them, but because they were very powerful and could if necessary kill him. The Pharisees were unhappy that Jesus was breaking their ancient rules that they were following for centuries and rules that they expected Jesus to follow, just like everyone else. On the Jesus was preaching and healing, which to the preachers of the law was forbidden. The teachers of the law maintained that the Sabbath was made for the good of human beings, that they were not made for so the “Son of man” and certainly not made for the Son Of Man to change their ancient law. Despite the problems he faced with the Pharisees, Jesus still called them hypocrites and explained… people come first, not laws, laws can be harmful. . He can make or break the laws. Not the teachers of the law/Pharisees. Being a disciple is dangerous, they constantly make sacrifices and stand up to the Pharisees who could have them killed for simply disobeying their laws. The Pharisees/Teachers of the law disagreed with people working on the Sabbath, this made Jesus unpopular with the Teachers of the Law. After warning Jesus several times to stop breaking their laws the Pharisees stopped him and asked, “Why is it that your disciples do not follow the teachings handed down by our ancestors? but instead eat with ritually unclean hands?” Jesus had already received enough aggravation from the Pharisees, but this was all about he could handle. At this Jesus called the Pharisees “hypocrites!” and said “They teach human rules as if they were Gods laws” Jesus then explains “what makes a person unclean is what comes out of his heart!” for example “if you kill someone, commit adultery, commit slander this is what makes a person unclean”. This shows Jesus was quite a loyal person toward his disciples. Jesus was setting an example for the apostles which was a good example, however the Pharisees thought different!!
!This meant they were making easy targets for them selves.!
Jesus had many examples to set his disciples and had many stories to tell in order to spread the word of god successfully. When Jesus is trying to tell the disciples stories about God and the Kingdom of God, and who can get into the K.O.G and who cant, we see where the disciples do not immediately apprehend the meaning of Jesus’ stories and there fore he has to explain the stories in parables (Jesus explains the growing of the kingdom of god and explains it with the parable of the sower, Jesus also explains that it only those who are rich of heart get into the K.O.G see the rich man (C10:V17-25) this show us that he disciples are human and need to be taught just like ourselves. It also gives us a feeling like Jesus is a teacher and the disciples are his pupils.
“Turn away from sin and believe in the message”, a significant declaration preached by Jesus in the opening lines of Marks gospel. It basically reads what it means, even though we are challenged as Christians and disciples today we should still practise our faith and overcome evil, despite the fear of persecution and find our way back to the gospel/Gods message. In marks gospel we read many examples of incidents where the faith of Jesus’ disciples have been challenged. E.g.: the calming of the storm, (C4:V35-40) and Peter’s denial. Even in today’s society disciples are still challenged or persecuted for their beliefs through criticism, and opposition e.g., questions about the Sabbath (C2:V18-27). Clean and unclean (C7:V5-23). The attitude toward
money/greatness/service (9:33-37).Jesus and the children( C10:V13-16 ).Money (the rich young man (C10:V17-25) Jesus said it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man enter the K.O.G
to be a disciple is to know what’s important in life. They must be selfless. They must put others first, they must carry ones cross. For a disciple it means thinking about what is important in life, and in spiritual life. Jesus had to carry his cross (burdens) and so must they. As said before Jesus is teaching the disciples and it is he who is responsible on teaching them abut the K.O.G . In order to be t true disciple you must not be ashamed of Jesus or his message don’t feel burdened by it. Following Jesus obviously must have some sort of reward, the reward being family. Even though when the disciples decided to follow Jesus, they believed they were giving up their mothers, sisters, brothers, wives, children etc. when they left for the mission they only took what clothes they wore on their backs, they had to beg for food, money, and lodgings. But what they didn’t know is that once they began their mission the gained 100xs more family (brother, mothers, sister, wives, children etc…the disciples belong to a new community a FAMILY!
The nature of a disciple is one of service, not only service but also a life long commitment to Jesus. In c4-35 James and John we learn Jesus also came to serve and to give life for others. This also outlines a lain and simple point. Jesus is great but even he serves others. Examples of people helping/serving others today are Mother Teresa to name but one, but the most obvious. She served others all her life. Mother Teresa worked both at home and abroad for those in need during her life. In marks gospel turn to “a widows offering” This is a story about a widow who gave all she had had o (two coins) to a treasury in the temple. Jesus and the twelve disciples are standing near by and see this. They also see some members of the public putting their spare change in the same treasury, but Jesus makes the point, the members of the public threw their spare change into the treasury. But the widow gave all she had. Jesus is basically telling the disciples the widow gave all she had 100% and so should they!!!!!!
“If you own nothing it doesn’t mean you are nothing”
After analysing St Marks Gospel I can give an outline as to a disciples qualities. A
disciple must be selfless, honest, hardworking, determined they must be able to take
instructions and carry them out, they must be independent and a dependable person
also as we read that the disciples lean on each other in many situations.
On analysing this I also notes that the disciples all have childlike qualities.
Children are innocent and pure and are quite easily lead astray because they
know no better, the have an angelicness about them. In Today’s world evil is all
Around and like the disciples they must try not to get corrupted by the evil. The
children could get abused or hurt by the evil. The disciples may loose faith in the
message because of evil. Jesus states “let the children come to me and do not stop
them because the K.O.G belongs to such as these”
That explains itself, and everything Jesus is trying to tell his followers!
THE NATURE OF A DISCIPLE
A disciple must be selfless, honest, hardworking, determined they must be able to take
Instructions and carry them out, they must be independent and a dependable person
also as we read that the disciples lean on each other in many situations.
A disciple a true disciple should not be burdened by Gods message and not burdened
by their childlike qualities.
