The first story of Mark we learn of the disciples is the calling of the fishermen. Jesus uses vocation to call Simon and his brother Andrew, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men,” and immediately they respond, “They left their nets and followed him.” We can see from this that a disciple must have obedience and sacrifice.
The story of Levi the Tax Collector, known as Matthew the disciple, shows the disciples were from different backgrounds because tax collectors were despised and hated by “good” Jews because he worked for the enemy, the Romans. Jesus said to Levi “follow me” and he did so. Later on Jesus was eating at Levis house with a large group of outcasts and the disciples. Some Pharisees saw and they were disgusted. “Why does he eat with such people?” they asked. Jesus replied, “People who are well do not need a doctor, but only those who are sick. I have not come to call respectable people, but outcasts.” The Pharisees believed Jesus was a good man; however he was eating with terrible sinners. As far as they were concerned tax collectors were rich and thus corrupt. The Pharisees couldn’t understand why Jesus would eat with these people or make a tax collector one of his disciples. This proves Jesus wanted all walks of life because by eating with the outcasts he is inviting them to the messianic banquet.
Jesus sent out the twelve with his message, he commissioned them to preach, heal the sick and he “gave them authority over unclean spirits.” This shows the disciples have service.
The disciples had to sacrifice family, friends, clothes, homes and in nearly all cases their lives because Jesus said “Anyone who wishes to be a follower of mine must leave self behind: he must take up his cross and follow me.” Also, Peter said “we have left everything to follow you.” For example, Peter was crucified upside down in Rome after he told Mark the gospel writer all he witnessed with Jesus.
Sacrifice and having God as priority in your life is obviously very important as a disciple, this is shown in the story of the rich young man. The man kept Jewish Law strictly, however when asked by Jesus to give all of his money away he couldn’t. This mans money stopped him from getting closer to God. He had made money, not God, the centre of his life. Jesus says “the first shall be last and the last first,” showing the ‘first’ are the ‘important’ people in the world: the rich and powerful, and the ‘last’ are the ‘least important’ people in the world: people like the poor, the tax collectors, the sinners and ‘bad characters’ whom Jesus met. This also shows a disciple must have humility.
According to Marks gospel the disciples reward from giving up “home, brothers or sisters, mother, father or children or land,” was to receive “one hundred times as much,” and “eternal life.”
Thus we can see that a disciple must have faith, obedience, humility, love, service, sacrifice and must have God as their priority in life.