The dictionary definition of ‘disciple’ is:
- Someone who believes and helps to spread the doctrine of another
- One who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another.
- An active adherent, as of a movement or philosophy.
- One of the original followers of Jesus.
- A member of the Disciples of Christ.
Marks Gospel helps us to understand what it means, and what we need to do, to be a disciple. It shows people what we should do in order to get into the kingdom of god. Mark focuses on this and other aspects of discipleship most from chapter 8 verse 22 to chapter 10 verse 52. He especially talks about the need for trust, faith and belief in God and to dedicate your life to the service of God (chapter 10 verses 43-45). Constantly throughout Marks Gospel, Jesus is shown teaching the disciples how to be better people and telling them why they were called to spread and show the word of God.
Marks Gospel is also very important to Christians because it shows that Jesus is the Messiah. Also, it proves that Jesus was the Son of God. Finally, Marks Gospel informs us of Jesus' miracles. But by far the most important thing in the Gospel of Mark is the evidence that Jesus Christ died and rose again, and did it all for our sins.
An important thing to remember about the time in which Jesus taught was that he was not the only one that preached in that period. Apart from Jesus there were many Rabbis. Rabbis are Jewish teachers or masters, who, like Jesus, preached the word of God. But the Jewish Rabbis’ area of expertise was the Old Testament (known as the Tenach) and the first 5 books of the Old Testament (known as the Torah). Although Jesus is sometimes referred to as a Rabbi (Chapter 9 verse 5), his teachings were very different from the others.
But despite all the Rabbis and many other preachers being around, Jesus had many followers. Jesus could have chosen from any of his followers, but for the main group of twelve disciples, Jesus chose sinners and ordinary people, showing that not just the great, the rich and the clever people could follow God and be a disciple.
The need to be dedicated to Jesus is also shown many times throughout Marks Gospel. The best example of this is the way the disciples left friends, family, children, work and home to follow Jesus. For example, Jesus called Simon and Andrew (Chapter 1 verse 16), who were fishing and he told them to give up everything to come and follow him. As did James and John (Chapter 1 verse 19) who were mending their fishing nets and left to do the same.
Ross Neesom 4SA
(599 words)