To Christians discipleship means giving it all that they have in the service of god and of other people. The main features of discipleship are things like giving time and helping others. In 12:41-4 Jesus teaches us that a person who commits everything in the service of god is more precious to god than someone who has great ability and resources. A true Christian discipleship requires total commitment.
The nature of discipleship is one ‘the cost’, being a disciple is not a simple thing as it has several costs involved. Jesus said “If anyone wants to come with me,” he told them “he must forget self, carry his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8: 34-38). Christian disciples should put their own needs and wishes cast. The disciples chosen did not know weather they were going to be disciples or not so once they discovered that they were Jesus’ disciples which meant they had to make sacrifices which would very hard to leave. The key features that the disciples need to take in mind are explained in the passage above, to deny self (put the needs of others before your own needs), to take up the cross (means being prepared to accept suffering and death for you faith), to follow him (means accepting Jesus as lord and his lifestyle). The main sacrifices that were made were things like leaving the loved ones and practically giving up all such as things like wealth. These sacrifice were very hard for the disciples as they had to give up everything to follow Jesus as The Rich man showed he could not his wealth before Jesus but this dint mean he could enter heaven even though Jesus said it would be hard for a rich man to enter heaven and explained in this passage, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven"(10: 25)”.
The response o the call can tell us Christians nature of discipleship as the disciples set an example. The disciples made no fuss and listened to Jesus which shows the nature of discipleship. Standing on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw two fishermen, Peter and his brother Andrew, washing their nets. He literally said to them, "come, follow me; I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). At that call they simply obeyed and followed Jesus at once, leaving their boat and nets. The dramatic response of these men to Jesus call is too hard for most people to understand. How could these fishermen take such a rash decision? There may be some that might speculate to suggest that Jesus must have had earlier meetings and discussions with them, which explains this dramatic response, but the gospel narratives about the call of the disciples do not say anything about this. What then prompted those fishermen to follow Jesus instantly, leaving everything behind?
Of course ‘the cost’ and the ‘response to the call’ cam tell Christians about the nature of discipleship but people forget that their there’s always a benefit which is the rewards. Jesus teaches that those who whole-heartedly decide to follow a Christian way of life will be rewarded many times over; the greatest reward will be in eternal life (heaven). To achieve the goal of eternal life you must follow Jesus and the guidelines in the bible. Jesus explained “Go, sell everything you have to the poor, and give to the poor and you will have treasured in heaven”. St Marks Gospel can tell us a lot about nature of discipleship as it explains all aspects which are involved. Discipleship like everything in life had positives and negatives.
The teaching of discipleship and has set an example for Christians to day too look at and to respond and there are many people around the world which could be considered as disciples of this time, a prime example of this is Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa was born in Agnes Gonxha Boja in 1910, growing up Macedonia. When she was 18 years old, she decided to become a nun and joined the sisters of our lady of Loreto in Ireland. When she entered in Dublin she chose the name Sister Teresa. By becoming a nun she had made the decision to give up all her possessions, her family and friends and dedicate her life to the service of god. In the same year, Teresa was sent to another convent by her order in India. She was their teaching in girl schools but was shocked by the poverty and disease which surrounded her school. In a long train journey to Darjeeling, she felt that she was being called by God to change the direction of her life.
Mother Teresa dedicates her life to the service of god and of people in need. Mother Teresa and the missionaries of charity have founded many centers through out the world to help babies and young children in the streets, people suffering from leprosy, and houses for alcoholics, drug addicts and homeless. Mother Teresa may found it difficult to carry the cross as when she went to India they are a lot different faith which may be did not accept her but anyhow she got though it. Mother Teresa we know has a relationship with as she told that she felt on a train journey she was being called by God. So yes Mother Teresa is considered being a disciple as she went thought everything that a disciple did in the days of Jesus. Mother Teresa once said “It is how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving”. Mother Teresa did not have a nice experience looking at people who were on the streets or suffering but she has great experience of helping them and treating them. I think Mother Teresa is a great example of a disciple today. Monks and nuns spend their lives dedicated day and night to go and I think this is the closet you can get to God.
Another example of a true disciple is my next door neighbor, Tom Baily. He left his highly paid financial job to start a charity, He 'saw the light' and since then he has given everything possible to those in need, That is true discipleship, to have a faith like this is truly admirable.
“Children can’t be disciples so they can’t be Christians either”, different people may agree or disagree for many reason as it is their own opinion. The arguments for agreeing with the passage above are suggestions like you may need to be older to understand discipleship, you may need wisdom which is gained as you grow older, maybe hard to sacrifice everything like parents and may need to be companied by older people in certain things. Where as suggestions that may disagree are like they have a personal belief and faith, children can adapt and respond to their personal demands of discipleship, we need to respect their own choice, they start their journey of faith form baptism and if they feel you should put yourself through that then they can. The main arguments for each for and against are that they haven’t fully learned the demands of discipleship and also they can make their own decisions. I personally believe that yes they haven’t fully leaned the demands of discipleship the sacrifices needed and I also believe it’s their own choice so I would say that once a child has become a teenager then yes he can be disciple as they have leant the demands of discipleship where as young they haven’t.
