Jesus choose twelve disciples he choose ordinary people that where not rich or regarded as of high importance but they were poor, uneducated, many could neither read nor write. Amongst the twelve there were fishermen tax collectors and a zealot so as you can see Jesus choose people from all backgrounds. The disciples faced a great challenge they had to place all their trust in Jesus and continue his mission to spread the good news. When Jesus choose these men they became privileged because they were specially chosen.
The first passage I have chosen to include in this essay is ‘Jesus calls four fishermen’
MK1: 1-20. In this story Jesus chooses the first four disciples; Simon (peter) & Andrew two brothers who where out fishing when Jesus called to them
“Come with me and I will teach you to catch people”
MK1 Vs 18 “at once they left their nets”
Just after Jesus called the brother he called two more they were James & John who where preparing to go out to fish but when called they also left with Jesus making the biggest sacrifice any person could make because they left behind what people live for. They Left behind their lives, family and work friendships their security plans their normal life’s. This shows great commitment and faith it seems they were prepared to do anything for Jesus. We are lead to believe that they saw/ recognised Jesus’ authority and importance because they took a big risk but still placed all their trust in this man who they probably did not know.
From this passage we learn more about disciples. It shows that a disciple is someone who follows Jesus and his ways. The most important qualities are shown in this passage because to be a disciple one must be willing to learn, to listen and to accept new ways. These four ordinary men showed great courage dedication and maturity because they didn’t hesitate or question Jesus they just followed with all of their hearts. In the future they will be called upon to preach & bring people into the Kingdom of God.
Like the disciples others made great sacrifices for their faith for example in the last week of Jesus’ life they were at the temple in Jerusalem where Jesus and the disciples watched as rich people added lots of money to the treasury and then as an old widow put in two copper coins. Jesus surprised the disciples by saying to them
“I tell you that this poor widow put more in the offering box than all the others. For the others put in what they had to spare of their riches; but she, poor as she is, put in all she had – she gave all she had to live on”
Jesus is basically saying that she gave more because it meant more to her it affected her she had to go with out where as the rich gave what they could spare not everything. Also they gave for the wrong reasons they did not give whole heartedly they did it for show and were proud to show that they could give such large amounts away yet still be well off. The widow gave humbly and was totally generous selfless and whole hearted in her attitude she gave until it hurt because now she had no money so there was no security in that she would eat that day or be warm that night her future was now in the hands of God and the people.
Disciples are to be like the old widow meaning they should always do things for the right reason because it’s the thought behind the action that counts they must be prepared to give and not hold back anything. Also this passage shows us that strong faith in God is essential to be a disciple like the widow who now had nothing to live on she had to rely totally in God.
Like the story of the old widow in the treasury others have tested their faith by doing something totally selflessly and wholeheartedly for my final example I am going to use the passage about when Jesus healed the paralysed man.
In this story Jesus is in Capernaum preaching to a crowd of people when four men arrived carrying their paralysed friend to Jesus but because of the crowd they could not get near him so instead they cut a hole in the roof and lowered him down to Jesus. Jesus could see how much faith the four men had in him so he forgave the mans sins and told him to
“Get up, pick up your mat and walk”
When Jesus said this some teachers of the law thought to themselves “ this is blasphemy”
But Jesus healed the man to the amazement of the people watching as at the same time he challenges the teachers of the law’ beliefs.
Like the other two passages this one tells of great courage dedication and faith in Jesus by the four men. These are truly important qualities that any disciple needs to have the men did what they had to do to get their friend to Jesus so he could be healed Jesus was their only hope and he did what he could he preformed a miracle for those men.