Following on from this, even the terminology use din marks gospel names followers of Christ apostles and disciples. The Greek translation of this (the language in which the bible was written) has a fuller meaning. An apostle means ‘ one who is sent out.’ Similarly, we can notice the use of ‘sent’ and, in the context that this first appears, it says that Jesus calls them apostles, showing a belonging to god and a deliberate calling for the mission. The word disciple has other meanings. Its literal meaning is ‘One who learns ad follows’. Disciples, therefore had to learn from Jesus and live a life in close relationship with him. These are both backed up throughout mark as he constantly uses the words ‘disciple’ and ‘apostle’. A deeper meaning of this is to notice that all followers are disciples, but not all disciples are apostles. This shows how although all are called, not all are sent out- there are many other vocations to being a disciple in Mark.
One of the most important factors of discipleship in Mark is referred to constantly, and that is the main mission of the apostles he is sending out. In Mark 3:14-15, he lists these three main missions. Firstly, to ‘be with me’, because every Christian must live their close to Jesus. Secondly, to ‘ drive out demons’, because at that time, a sickness was considered to be a possession by demons, and it was a disciple’s job to heal and remove this evil to bring about the Kingdom of God as the Essenes saw it must come about. This is also backed up in Mark 3:15 ‘authority to drive out demons’ was given to the disciples. Lastly, Jesus outlined another mission of the apostles that is considered by many to be the most important. In Mark 3:15 he states that ‘I will also send you out to preach.’ It was essential to the new Christian faith that the message of God’s word was spread and this became a key mission for all disciples and was mentioned many times later in Mark’s Gospel. Jesus speaks of the spreading of the ‘good news’ in great detail. Mark 16: 15-16 states ‘He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.’ This conveys the importance of the mission to preach. If they are not disciples, they shall be condemned, and if they never get the message and the chance to become a disciple, they shall still be condemned. The baptismal and preaching role of the disciples is essential to save souls.
It is also clearly stated that disciples need help along the way throughout their mission. After Jesus’ resurrection, he ‘scolded them because they did not believe’ (Mark 16:14). Jesus highlights the need for faith and understanding in the role of a disciple. They had been told for years about Jesus’ resurrection, but had not believed and trusted in God. They need these gifts of the spirit to help them. They also need the spirit’s gifts of fortitude and loyalty to stay by Jesus. Peter proves this in his denial of knowing Jesus. Jesus had said that ‘ when the shepherd is lost, the sheep are scattered.’ (Mark 14: 27) This shows a disciple’s total reliance on God and his providence to keep them focused on the mission and to keep them strong, therefore, God must be kept at the centre of their mission to give them strength they will always need. The last gift and strength they need is the strength to be ready to die. Mark 14:68 talks of Peter’s denial of Jesus at the threat of death, whereas on the other hand, Jesus says a disciple should be ready to make this ultimate sacrifice, for a disciple can only be a true disciple if their faith can come before their life. Peter proved this in Mark 14:29 and 31 where he says that he will never disown Jesus. He is resentful, headstrong and sure of his faith and believes he can hold the devil without this help from God. He had the fortitude to make these promises that disciples, according to Mark should be willing to make but he did not have the fortitude a disciple needs to carry them out.
God will also glorify disciples and give them other gifts on their mission i.e. in mark 16:18, disciples will be given the power to perform miracles, pick up poisonous snakes and drink poison, speak in tongues and drive out demons. This can be interpreted as a literal translation that god will give you superhuman powers or that faith and god’s power will protect you, and will be blessed with the gifts of the spirit and the power of miracles. They will receive some of the power of God, and some authority over the devil (‘to cast out demons’).
It is clear form Mark that a disciple must make these sacrifices. The woman at the Treasury gave ‘all she had’ to God- all of two pence (Mark 12:44). Disciples should listen to this teaching and have the same truth that God will provide for them by giving all they can to God, even their own life. This selflessness is expanded on in Mark 8:34 where Jesus says disciples must suffer and ‘forget self’. Calling everyone to take up their cross and follow him, he says that disciples must forget themselves and follow him, living only for him and those they serve. However, several verses later, Jesus expresses the rewards of discipleship. God will glorify in heaven those who have glorified him on earth. Giving your life to god now will grant you and eternal life in heaven: ‘whoever looses his life for me and the gospel will save it.’ The rewards of discipleship are also recorded by mark at another point I have studied. In Mark 10:28-31, the Rewards of Discipleship, Jesus states that whoever ‘leaves home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and for the gospel will receive much more in the present age.’ It then goes on to say that you will be rewarded 100 times what you have sacrificed for your vocation, and you will also receive persecutions that will gain you eternal life in heaven. Then comes a very well quoted text- ‘But many who now come first will be last, and many who are now last will be first.’ God will glorify all who reject themselves to become a disciple and become the servant of the other, but all those not willing to take up discipleship will be condemned.
Another part of the gospel portrays discipleship as not only worthwhile, but as the only worthwhile thing. Mark’s gospel implies that everything else is short term, and loosing your life is not worth whatever is gained by loosing it. Being a disciple is the only thing that brings eternal life, so should be the only thing a Christian peruses, for without it, you are poor and powerless. One place in Mark where this teaching is demonstrated is in mark 8:36-37: ‘“Do people gain anything if they win the whole world but loose their life/ of course not. There is nothing they can give to reclaim their lives.” ’
The last key point shown in Mark’s Gospel about discipleship is that a disciple must be an imitation of Jesus. They are almost an extension of Jesus, spreading the word and healing and so on to spread Christianity further. They must also keep the key meaning of God’s call- it is not forced. They were told in Mark 6:11 to ‘shake the dust off their feet’ when they leave a place where they are not accepted: this was a common Jewish practice when leaving Gentile territory. The free will involved in God’s call was very important and they can only do so much to save a soul.