Discipleship in the New Testament is used to describe the followers of Jesus especially the twelve. Discipleship revolves around following Jesus both physically and spiritually. Both the first disciples and Christians today

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

DISCIPLESHIP.

Discipleship in the New Testament is used to describe the followers of Jesus especially the twelve. Discipleship revolves around following Jesus both physically and spiritually. Both the first disciples and Christians today are followers of Jesus. A disciple of Jesus would be expected to respond immediately to Jesus, love his neighbour, be willing to forgive sins, show generosity, give their life up to God for their faith and live their lives using gospel values in everything they do and say. The first disciples of Jesus were expected to give up everything to be real followers of Jesus as this was shown clearly in Mark’s Gospel when Jesus called his first 4 disciples. Jesus called the first four disciples and they followed him immediately, this is how the gospel writers think that people should respond to Jesus’ calling. This highlights Jesus’ authority over his followers and his charisma. This I’m showing here is part of the story: As Jesus walked along the shore of Lake Galilee he saw two fishermen, Simon and his brother Andrew, catching fish with a net. Jesus said to them “Come with me, and I will teach you to be fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and went with him. He went a little farther on and saw two other brothers James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in their boat getting their nets ready. As soon as Jesus saw them, he called them; they left their father Zebedee in the boat and went with Jesus. This shows us how they gave up everything just to follow a man they didn’t even know at this stage, this is in other words Jesus telling us how we should drop our “nets” and leave all our worthy possessions behind to live a life in the eyes of Jesus, a life of sacrifice for others, even if that means leaving your friends, family and property behind. But there are also rewards in being a true disciple, you get the best reward of all which is eternal life: “in the age to come he will receive eternal life. But many now who are first will be last, and many who now are last will be first.”

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This shows that Jesus’ disciples will be rewarded eternal life for their services to Jesus and everyone around them. Jesus displayed more of what is meant to be a true disciple when he chose his twelve 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.” The first disciples needed to have absolute faith in Jesus even though they may be frightened. Jesus taught his first disciples to stand up for themselves as unlike Christians today people were killed for their beliefs. 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 lose it; but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. Jesus needed the disciples so that he could teach them to follow on his work. Jesus, however, needed to trust them. In Chapter Six, in the passage of ‘Jesus sends out the twelve disciples’ Mark writes of the disciples being trusted to follow the work of Jesus. In the text Jesus sends the disciples off to heal the sick, they drove out many demons and preached that people should turn away from their sins. On this occasion Jesus’ trust in his disciples had been well placed. Jesus’ choice of disciples must of surprised the people of that time as he did not chose the rich or the pure of heart in stead he choice the poor and the social outcasts e.g. he chose Simon who was a zealot this was group known to use violence to try and overthrow the Romans and another example is that the disciples James and John sons of Zebedee were very bad tempered and hot headed and were known as the “sons of thunder” this shows us in Jesus’ eyes that it doesn’t matter who you are we are all the same in God’s eyes an that will never change. Jesus had taught the disciples of God’s power and to share what they have. One of the main aspects of Jesus’ life was prayer and the disciples had to learn how to pray like Jesus. Jesus went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples “Sit here while I pray” He took Peter, James and John with him and said, “The sorrow in my heart is so great that it almost crushes me. Stay here and keep watch” Jesus went and prayed that God’s wishes will be done. This was to show the disciples that they were to pray that God’s wishes will be done. The disciples had to learn to pray as their life around Jesus was planned around religion and prayer. The disciples had to learn that being around Jesus wasn’t going to be an easy. In Mark’s gospel in the passage of ‘Jesus is rejected at Nazareth’, the disciples watch Jesus turned away at his hometown of Nazareth. Jesus said to them, “Prophets are respected everywhere except in their own home town and by their relatives and their family” .Sometimes Jesus teaches his disciples through a simple talk rather than through an event. Like when Jesus sat down with his disciples and said, “Whoever wants to be first must place himself last of all and be the servant of all” This tells us that Jesus said the ones who were more likely to be treated last will be treated first and vice versa. Jesus’ words taught the disciples what it means not to be powerful and to be servants. Jesus always had a way of teaching his disciples how to be better people. He used events to teach them also known as parables. The disciples were taught many valuable lessons from Jesus. In the modern world some people think that only bishops, priests or the pope are real disciples but every Christian who has been baptised should try to be a follower of Jesus. I worship God and I care for my neighbour and as a religious person, but sometimes I would think for myself more than others but I must learn to share with others but that is hard sometimes... I think that is a big similarity to the way Jesus taught his first disciples as we practise today. Christian’s today work for each other and for the people that they see as the weak in society such as the outcasts of today e.g. the ethnic groups or the minority like the poor and sick. Christians who take part in the Eucharist are sent to serve others at the end of mass. The priest says, “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord”. We can serve others by donating our money to charity so that others will benefit. We can visit the lonely, pray, provide love and comfort, in doing these things we are serving the Lord. The greatest commandment in my opinion is: “Love your neighbour as yourself”. When Jesus was talking of this great commandment he wanted us to realise that life does not revolve around ourselves it is about what we can do for others.

In conclusion the study of the synoptic gospels has made it clear to me that how to be a true disciple involves much faith in god and in others it is to treat your neighbours as yourself and to see everyone as equals, it has made me open my eyes to the troubles that are happening out there at the minute and Jesus gave us the mission to help put and end to it so as true disciples that is what we must do and do it with total faith and never give up. It shows me that I will have to give up most of my possessions in order to follow Jesus and it will help me in my life of Christianity, I must learn not to judge others but to treat everyone as equals.
Thank you.

Ciaran Broadley