What can a study of St Marks Gospel tell Christians about what it means to be a disciple? Mark's gospel tells us the whole system of reality and survival involved in becoming a Disciple. It
What can a study of St Marks Gospel tell Christians about what it means to be a disciple?
Mark's gospel tells us the whole system of reality and survival involved in becoming a Disciple. It displays the meaning, costs, characteristics and reward of being a disciple. Mark's gospel tells us that it is an apostle who is 'sent' to carry out a mission at their leaders request, but a disciple is someone who learns from a religious leader and lives according to his teachings. A disciple is someone who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another. Christ's disciples imitated his life.
Mark's gospel teaches us that an important element in being a disciple is faith. Having faith in Jesus is to have complete trust in him and God. Faith is a personal response on the behalf of the believer. The epileptic boy's father shows great faith. He does this by coming to Jesus with his ill son and asking him to heal him. An argument had arisen in the crowds about whether or not the boy could be healed. Jesus became angry at the doubt within the crowd and called them the "unbelieving". He then turned to the man; "Everything is possible for him who believes." At this the man exclaimed, " I do believe; help me to overcome my unbelief". By saying this, the father is displaying an unconditional trust in Jesus; his request for more faith proves that he already has more than enough. This instance is a good example that faith can prevail in often-implausible situations.
Another important factor in becoming a disciple, Mark's Gospel teaches, is adopting certain characteristics of children. People began to bring their children to see, listen and touch Jesus because news of his spiritual magnitude was spreading. The disciples became angry with the growing crowds of children coming towards Jesus and they rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant, he said "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." By saying this, the disciples learnt that to enter the Kingdom and receive the true word of God they must become; dependent, innocent, clean and impressionable just like the children, which Jesus loved so dearly. Mark's Gospel shows us that when the disciples implement these qualities they are able to commit to the true meaning of the Kingdom of God.
Marks Gospel teaches us that the nature of discipleship includes serving others. That in being a disciple we must deny self and help others. This means that you are never to be selfish and always put others first. This is said because Christ was brought here to be a suffering servant to all. We know this because when James and John requested to sit next to Jesus when he is on the thrown in heaven, one on his right and one on his left, Jesus rebuked them and explained. "You do not know what you are asking, can ...
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Marks Gospel teaches us that the nature of discipleship includes serving others. That in being a disciple we must deny self and help others. This means that you are never to be selfish and always put others first. This is said because Christ was brought here to be a suffering servant to all. We know this because when James and John requested to sit next to Jesus when he is on the thrown in heaven, one on his right and one on his left, Jesus rebuked them and explained. "You do not know what you are asking, can you drink the cup I drink, or be baptised in the way I must be baptised." From this the two replied, "We can." Jesus replied, "You can drink the cup I drink and be baptised in the way that I am baptised but to sit on my sides is not for me to grant." He explained that the two seats are for whom they have been prepared for and that he who wants to be great in heaven must be a slave on earth. "Even the son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve." This tells us that an important part of the nature of Discipleship is servitude.
We are taught through Mark's gospel that commitment is also imperative in the nature of being a disciple. We must total commit ourselves to God and god's word. Forget self and follow Christ. The widow shows complete commitment. Many people put money into the treasury, lots of money, and one old widow put only two small copper coins. Jesus saw this and said to his disciples, "the poor widow put more into the treasury than the others. They gave out their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything, she had to live on." This displays true commitment, she was so committed to God she gave all that she could do, putting others before herself and following Christ.
Mark's gospel teaches us that the nature of discipleship also includes detachment from all material possessions. When the rich man came to Jesus and asked him what he should do to "inherit eternal life?" Jesus answered, "Go sell all you have and give the money to the poor." The man heard this and went away unhappy. He had followed all commandments but had grown fond of his possessions, almost worshiping them as a false idol. Jesus says to detach yourself from possessions so that nothing obstructs your journey with him. The nature of discipleship entails the following of Christ and with material possessions you may fall off course.
All of Christ's teachings tell us the true nature of discipleship. Within Mark's Gospel he teaches us to have great faith (like the father of the epileptic boy), to become like a child, to serve others (like he does), to commit completely to God (like the widow) and to forget all possessions. Within all of these elements we are taught the nature of discipleship.
"It is not possible to be a true disciple of Jesus in the modern day world" Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer and show that you have considered more than one point of view.
There are many different opinions to this question, none of which can be proved right or wrong. Marks Gospel assists us in making this decisions depicting the qualities that is required to be a true disciple of Jesus.
Many people believe that it is not possible to be a true disciple of Jesus in the modern day world. Partly because, since Jesus' time, humanity has changed; religion is no longer a huge part of many people's lives. It seems old fashioned to the majority, and evidence of this is the decrease in mass attendance over the years. Many of the younger generation find it 'uncool' to attend mass each week. Temptations distract people and many get over occupied by education and their success. Also Jesus was able to be seen two thousand years ago, and believers then may have spoken to Jesus and witnessed him perform miracles. People today just have the gospel to rely on, which is believed to have been written by the oral tradition. The oral tradition was when the gospel was not officially recorded and was past on from generation to generation, changing all the time. So many see it as unreliable.
However I along with many other people in today's world find that you can be a disciple in today's world. Mother Teresa is an example of a modern day disciple.
Mother Teresa left her friends, family and her comfortable lifestyle, voluntarily to go out to the poor and help the homeless, sick and the less fortunate. So through all the evil in the world she proves you can be a disciple in the modern day world.
The bible is also still very important to most Christians. People still attend mass, read the gospel and do good deeds at least once in their life. Religion is not dead. I believe that it is possible to be a disciple in the modern day world.
If you follow the gospel values, which many do, you are a disciple, even if you sin, because even disciples like Peter sinned and if you are truly and genuinely sorry and repent your actions, Jesus will forgive you.
Explain how this teaching about being a disciple might make a difference in the everyday lives of Christian believers today?
Marks gospel along with the rest of the bible has taken great influence on Christians in today's world.
The teachings of discipleship through the gospel, manipulate those who study it into living their lives how the disciples lived theirs two thousand years ago. Through the essay I will explain this. There are many examples of these people, who've been affected by the teaching of discipleship in our society.
Religious Education teachers act as disciples of Jesus in many ways. Because these teachers are interested in the teachings of the gospel, they choose to teach young people about Jesus and how to live in today's society; they are ultimately acting as preachers of God. Disciples in Marks Gospel did these things too, when they were given the power to speak in different languages and spread the word of God, by the Holy Spirit, granted by Jesus after he had died. RE teachers give their time and commitment into passing on the faith of the Lord. These teachers also try to train young students to live by the Lords commandments.
Priests choose to sacrifice their family, free time also as well as choosing to give up any sort of a family life including any sort of sexual intercourse, to preach and avoid temptation or distraction. They do this because of God and the word of God in the Gospel. Priests also act similarly to the disciples as they have given up most of their human rights and life to follow Jesus and the commandments he sets. Priests furthermore act likewise to John the Baptist who baptized early Christians two thousand years ago. Priests do the same.
There are many well-known people whose lives have been changed by belief in the gospel. People like Martin Luther King. Martin Luther king was a black man who believed in equality. Because of his strong beliefs he was persecuted and killed.
Martin Luther King and many others were treated badly and rejected in order to receive freedom. Martin Luther was similar to Jesus because they were both persecuted for the gospel values." The Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected by the elders... He will be put to death". Martin Luther King lived by the commandment 'love thy neighbour.'
Many Christians today act on the gospel by choosing Sunday as their day of rest and to go to mass.
Some Nurses and doctors may be affected by the gospel into day's world. These people help and cure those with illnesses. Some of these doctors and nurses may have been inspired to take up their occupation because of stories in the gospel where Jesus heals the sick. An example of one of the people Jesus healed was the story called 'Jesus heals a man.' (1:40-45). In this story Jesus heals a man with a 'dreaded skin disease' because of his pity for the man. Although the man was healed by a miracle, nurses and doctors still use their good nature to help others.
Cafod workers are affected by the gospel. Cafod is an organization that brings food, water, comfort and shelter to the less fortunate overseas. Cafod support over one hundred projects in seventy-five countries worldwide. In the gospel it says you should "forget self" and this is what all the Cafod workers are doing in order to help others.
