The Twelve apostles were chosen specifically for a threefold task. In Mark 3:13-19 Jesus says: ‘…I have chosen you to be with me…I will also send you out to preach and you will have the authority to drive out demons.’ He also says in Mark 16:14-18: ‘…believers will be given the power to perform miracles: they will drive out demons and speak in strange tongues…’ As companions of Jesus they were close to him and learnt from his example.
Through the example of Jesus life, the disciples learnt that Jesus needed to pray in order to help and sustain him when the cost of his sacrifice was too difficult: ‘…he went out of the town to the town to a lonely place where he prayed…’ Perhaps the greatest example of Jesus’ praying was in the Garden of Gethsemane, just before his death. ‘…Jesus said to his disciples: “Sit here while I pray.”’ Through this they learnt that they too had to be like Jesus in this way.
In the example of the raising to life of Jairus’ daughter and the woman with the haemorrhage, we see Jesus treating the people with compassion and love: ‘…my daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your trouble.’ The disciples learnt from this, that they also needed to have compassion for the vulnerable and despised in society which the ill woman was.
The essential nature of discipleship consists of sacrifice. The disciples gave up everything to follow Jesus: ‘…at once they left their nets and went with him…’ Jesus too talks of how sacrifice is important in order to be a true disciple and enter the kingdom of God: ‘…sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven…’
We also learn a lot from Jesus about how we should prepare for suffering as a cost of discipleship. An obvious example of this is Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice of his own life, but throughout Marks gospel Jesus teaches: ‘…if you want to follow Christ you must be prepared to carry your own cross…’ But also Jesus speaks of the rewards involved: ‘…anyone who leaves everything for Jesus and the Gospel, will receive a hundred times more in heaven and eternal life.’
In conclusion, those to follow Jesus must prepare to endure hardships of suffering and sacrifice, must serve everyone with love and compassion, but will reap the rewards in heaven when they will receive eternal life and a hundred times everything they give up to follow the life of Christ.
