Although the disciples were individuals from different backgrounds, their personalities were similar, so Jesus was able to bring them together and surround them in a circle of love and trust. This enabled them to work as a community and to recognise each other’s flaws and wrongdoings and how to overcome them.
The powers of their calling were so strong; they were able to respond immediately without question and were ready to sacrifice everything in order to give total commitment to Jesus.
“At once they left their nets and followed him.”
God gives us the invitation to become a disciple and some people may turn it down, an example of this is the story of the ‘rich man’ (Mark 10:17-32).
The man asked Jesus, “Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?” Jesus replied, “You know the commandments”. Then the rich man stated, “Teacher, ever since I was young, I have obeyed all these commandments”. Jesus looked straight at him with love and said, “You need only one thing. Go and sell all that you have and give the money to the poor and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me”. Hearing this the man went away very sad as he was very rich but wanted eternal life.
Jesus gave the invitation of discipleship to the rich man, but he declined, as he was blinded by material wealth and was too selfish to consider giving it up.
An example were the invitation was accepted is the story of the ‘Widow’s Offering’ (Mark 12:41-44)
As Jesus sat near the temple treasury, he saw many rich men drop large amounts of money into the offering box. As he was watching, a poor widow came along and put two little copper coins worth about a penny. Jesus called his disciples together and said to them, “ I tell you that this poor widow put more in the offering box than all of the others. For the others put in what they had to spare of their riches; put she, poor as she is, put in all that she had-she gave all she had to live on.”
While many rich men made large offerings at the treasury, the widow gave only two small coins. Jesus says her offering is much greater as the widow gave nearly all of her wealth as an offering, were the rich men only gave a fraction.
Jesus did not give the invitation of discipleship to the widow directly, but by giving almost all of her money into the offering box, she is accepting any invitation of discipleship towards her.
The disciples’ necessity for prayer was extremely important. Jesus showed his dependence on God, and so the disciples had to do the same, which confirmed their faith in Jesus.
Mark’s Gospel tells us that Jesus’ disciples were always in his company. They learned to share his life, his understanding of God and share his values about the kingdom of God. Although that was true, the disciples sometimes had a lack of faith towards him.
An example of this is the story, “Jesus calms a storm” (Mark 4:35-41).
The disciples got into a boat to get away from the crowds of people. Suddenly a strong wind blew up and started to frighten the disciples while the wind was moving the boat vigorously from side to side. When Jesus calmed it, Jesus was annoyed as he saw they still lacked faith in him.”
To be a true disciple, you must have never ending faith towards Jesus and show no lack of it, even if you have queries or doubts.
