Jesus said, “ If one among you wants to be great, he must be the servant of the rest, and if one of you wants to be first, he must be the slave of all. Therefore, discipleship is about serving others and preparing to die. This is what makes one great. (10:35-45)
Levi (Matthew) was called Son of Alphaeus, Jesus called him saying “Follow me,” he responded by doing so, Levi’s challenge was to leave a lot of money behind as he was a tax collector, he was rich; his status in society was an outcast, he had to fit in with the people who hated him which was the Jews he was considered unclean because he walked with Romans. Jesus wasn’t afraid to work with social outcasts and that he treats everyone with equality. Discipleship is open to everyone
The widow at the Treasony was called silently, she responded by giving her own worth of money which she lived on. This meant a lot as she gave her only worth of money away. Her challenge was that she gave away her money, which she sacrificed for the poor. This shows she thinks of others rather than herself first. She puts God first.
Jesus called blind Bartimaeus through his faith silently, he recognised Jesus even though he was blind. As he was blind it suggests he was a sinner. Jesus healed him and he “followed the road.” This means that he wants his forgiveness and in order to establish that he wanted to become one of the disciples, and do the good work that Jesus did.
Joseph of Arimathea was called silently; he was a member of the Jewish council. His colleagues were partly responsible for Jesus’ death. He risked death by asking Pontius Pilate for Jesus’ body to bury
His second challenge was to stand out against his colleagues. He left the council and became a disciple leaving everyone and everything he knew.
The rich young man was a person who followed the commandments, he did not put him after widow, he is a direct contrast, did not steal, did not kill, did not commit adultery, did not bear false testimony as he observed all of this. He questioned Jesus and said, “What must I do to inherit eternal life? ”
Jesus replied, “Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me. ” The rich young man responded by walking away and refusing his call. He could not put God before money this teaches us that he did not have the courage to give up everything for God.
When people decided to follow Jesus they became members of a new family that Jesus claimed as his. They began to copy his routine, which was:
- To preach (3:13-19)
- The authority to drive out demons (6:6-13)
- Anointed the sick
- Healed people (6:6-13) or (16:14-18)
Jesus taught the disciples a lot about their role in life, they each learnt through their challenges that they each faced, it was encountered as a lesson each time. They had to sacrifice their life through faith and put others first if they wanted to follow the footsteps of Jesus. Jesus taught his 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. Jesus taught them to follow his work, but he wanted them to have faith in him and trust him. He constantly guided his disciples in order for them to be better followers.
Jesus was fully aware that his disciples were to find it difficult to give up everything without the thought of a reward, and when Peter emphasised the point by telling Jesus “Look, we have left everything and followed you…”
Jesus replied, “Yes”…”and I tell you that anyone who 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 this present age. He will receive a hundred times more houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields and persecutions as well; and in the age to come he will receive eternal life. But many now who are first will be last, and many who are now last will be first. ” (Mark’s gospel 10:29-31). This shows that Jesus’ disciples will be rewarded eternal life for bringing people back to God.
Persecution was the cost of discipleship. If they stood up for their beliefs and took pride, in result they suffered and were persecuted. As an inevitable result of faith in Jesus. The disciples may have had to loose life on earth, but they gained life in heaven. This was to be true of Jesus too.
A person who commits everything they have to the service of God, however little that it might be is more precious to God than someone who has great ability and resources, but is less committed. Real Christian discipleship requires total commitment. Jesus says that the kingdom of God belongs to children as they have childlike qualities, they are generally eager to learn, trusting and loving towards their parents. These are the attitudes the disciples should have towards God.
A02
I will now examine how Mark’s definition of discipleship affects Christians today. I will do this by outlining examples of disciples in today’s world such as Mother Teresa who was a modern disciple that was silently called.
Mother Teresa was born in Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910 but she grew up in Skopje, Macedonia. At the age of 18 she became a nun and joined the Sisters of Our Lady of Loreto in Ireland, her name was Sister Teresa.
Like the 12 disciples becoming a nun meant she had to give up all her belongings and possessions including her family and friends, and dedicated her life to the service of God. Mother Teresa was moved to another Convent, which was owned by herself in Darjeeling, India and continued training as a nun. She was sent to Calcutta, India a year later to teach at a girls’ school, but she was very shocked to see her surroundings filled with poverty and disease. The biggest evil in the world is poverty. In 1946, when she was on a long train journey she felt she was being called by God to change her direction in life.
“I realised that I had the call to take care of the sick and the dying, the hungry, the naked, the homeless – to be God’s love in action to poorest of the poor.”
Mother Teresa became a nun and left her old life, this shows that she followed discipleship by being called silently and following her duties by making great sacrifices. Her only possessions were a white Sari with blue stripes. This showed she gave up everything including money, which was not important to her, very similar to the 12 disciples. Like with Jesus she walked with the outcasts in her society.
Mother Teresa worked not only in India but also worldwide by founding many centres:
- Orphanages – for young children whom are homeless
- Care settlements – for those suffering from Leprosy
- Houses – for alcoholics, drug addicts, those suffering from AIDS and the homeless
- Soup Kitchens
- Rehabilitation houses – for men and women released from prison
- More houses around the world where Missionaries of charity care for the dying.
Mother Teresa had faith in God, she preached, she cared for everyone, she did possess any power but she showed love and adoration and she followed teachings. Mother Teresa dedicated herself and her life to the service of God and for the people in need, she treated everyone with equality, love was very important as it was the foundation of her life and work.
In the modern world some people think that only bishops, priests and vicars are the REAL disciples, but every Christian who has been baptised can be a follower of Jesus. Christians today work for each other and for the people they see weak in society such as the elders, drug addicts, and one-parent families. There are international Christian organisations such as Oxfam, working together in more than 100 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty, suffering and injustice. Oxfam is a campaign to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives. It can consist of supporting opportunities of effort of the poor and marginalized people to organise and participate in decision-making. Oxfam is part of a global citizens movement pressing for debt relief for the poorest countries, to put every child in school, to clamp down on arms exports to poor countries, and make globalisation work for the poor.
Cafod works in partnership to tackle the causes of poverty regardless of religion, race or politics. They believe all human beings have a right to dignity and respect and that the world’s resources are a gift to be shared by all men and women.
Some Christians today choose to become priests or join a religious order as their way of being disciples in the modern world. We can serve others by donating our clothes to charity shops. We can visit the lonely, offer shelter, feed the hungry, pray, and provide love and comfort. In doing all these things we are serving the Lord.
When people consider being a priest, four conditions must be met. The conditions are the desire to be a priest, a suitable character for the priesthood, and the required intelligence for the studies and a recommendation for priesthood. A priest is a servant of Gods people; he is also an assistant of the bishop. The priests job is to proclaim and preach the gospel care for the needs of people in the parish. They have to give up ‘Life Essentials’ like the disciples had to. These are called the Evangelical Counsels nowadays, and consist of poverty meaning no luxuries, chastity – meaning no sexual relationships or loving and obedience.
The Christian organisations are doing duties of discipleship, but not in the same way as the original disciples. Cafod and Oxfam do not give up everything as in luxuries, money or family whereas, the disciples had to give up everything they had and their family. Cafod and Oxfam cannot heal or perform miracles but they have faith in Jesus. Mother Teresa did her best to heal people and wanted the demons to be gone as she followed the teachings of the Lord and had constant faith in our lord.
The priests seem to be the in the league as closest to God, as they are in touch with people, they gave up everything they have and dedicate their life to God just like the disciples did, they preach, servant of God, and follow teachings however the disciples were able to heal, drive out demons and perform miracles, none of these modern day disciples were able to achieve this.
It could be said that the nature of discipleship has changed people who show generosity to others and kindnesses are preaching. Even if it’s only a small gesture it will still result in rewards and an entry into the kingdom of God. Some people cannot leave all their possessions behind but do achieve things within Christianity, but perhaps we should use a different definition of discipleship today – and not as many Christians do all the duties of discipleship. People have faith in Jesus and God but they do not preach from their hearts. They do not have enough love/faith in Jesus. For them to get closer to God and Jesus people should overcome obstacles in life to get closer to God and fulfil what it is they need to do to become a disciple follower.
A03
In this section I will be evaluating the statement “Children can’t be disciples so they can’t be Christians either.”
Many believe that it is difficult for a child to show all the qualities of a disciple, such as giving up all they have because they may come from a loving family and it would be sad for them to throw their life away and follow the footsteps of a disciple. Even if children have a lot of money they would not give it up to charity meaning they care more for themselves rather than other people. They may not have enough faith in Lord. Depending on the age of the child such as a young age, it is certain that they would not understand anything Christian wise and the knowledge of faith. However, everyone who has been baptised under Christianity is a Christian suggesting that they do not need to be a true disciple, but they can be a Christian, you become a Christian through baptism. Some children who live everyday normal lives yet their heroism shows they are true disciples as they may risk their lives to save others.
Others believe it is possible for children to be a true disciple if one does as much as they can to help others and be a good Christian even if it is only a small gesture it will still result in being a good follower.
If children have real faith in God they have the love of God and can be a disciple, they may preach to people whom believe in the Lord, as today in our world, a way of preaching is very modern, as there are different levels of discipleship.
Others say that there are many factors that make it harder for children to become disciples due to the modern world, your friends may encourage you to stay away from church and instead of donating your money to the poor they may persuade you to spend it on cigarettes or even alcohol.
This shows how most children spend their time and just thinking of themselves. Although, if someone who was baptised under Christianity will be a Christian no matter what their mistakes may be in life, they will always be a part of the Christian community. Each and every student in Maria Fidelis can act as a true disciple in the modern world by following the rules in school and the duties.
It is possible for a child to be a true disciple in the modern world even without literally following Jesus, but by following and living the Gospel today.
Children can’t be true disciples because discipleship is a special calling, a vocation also there are different levels of discipleship:
- Loving family
- Helping community
- Full discipleship
Children cannot leave everything behind but the more they help in the community and in there family, the more they are becoming a true disciple without leaving anything and anyone behind, as children are dependent.
In conclusion I believe that it is hard for a child to be a disciple, but not as hard as for an adult, as an adult would have more responsibilities to give up such as their family. This would mean that they are neglecting their family. If they left it would also be extremely difficult for a person to give up the wealth gained from a job. For a child it would be hard for them to become a disciple due to the way the media disrespects religion such as broadcasting news on religion that is against the law