RELIGION COURSEWORK

What is a disciple?  The dictionary states a follower of the doctrines of a teacher.  Discipleship is to follow Jesus Christ, his teachings and example of his life.  Jesus had many followers at his time, he had twelve special followers called the disciples (or apostles), and these men give up everything in order to follow Jesus.  They give up their friends, Homes, and families and security of a life they knew.  The apostles were not the only followers at this time Jesus had many other followers those such as Mary Magdalene, Bartimaeus, and Mary the mother of James and Salome. These are people who came to listen to Jesus’ preaching they were not as committed to Jesus as the apostles were, as they still had a home and family.

       The twelve apostles had an important role in the life of Jesus, in the opening two chapters of the gospel Jesus calls the first four apostles, Simon and his brother Andrew and James and his brother John.

As Jesus walked along the shore of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew fishing with a net Jesus said to them:

“Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people”

and at once they left their nets and followed Jesus.  Further on they saw two more brothers James and John the sons of Zebedee, they were in their boat getting their nets ready, as soon as Jesus saw them he called them; and at once they left their father in the boat with the hired men and followed Jesus.  Do you notice how these men did not question Jesus they trusted him enough to leave their families and friends in order to follow him.  These men were fishermen, this job would have provided them with a substantial amount of money but they give their jobs up for a life where they could follow and learn from Jesus.                                                                                                            Jesus went up a hill and called to himself the men he wanted.  They came to him, and he chose twelve, whom he named apostles.

 “I have chosen you to be with me”

he told them.

 “I will also send you out to preach, and you will have the authority to drive out demons.”  These are the twelve he chose: Simon (Jesus gave the name Peter); James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee (Jesus gave the name Boanerges which means men of thunder”); Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Patriot, and Judas the Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.  

 

       Jesus then calls Levi a tax collector, Levi was the son of Alphaeus, Jesus said to him;

”Follow me”

Levi got up and followed him. Discipleship for Levi would have meant a whole new way of life as it did for the others. Levi give up a job which provided him with a comfortable life, also being a tax collector he was not accepted by others, and so being accepted by people who once would have treated him as an outcast and sinner would have been hard.

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       Jesus also called a rich young man, the young man threw himself at Jesus feet and asked

“Good teacher what must I do to receive eternal life?”

Jesus replied you know the commandments, the young man answered

“Teacher ever since I was young, I have obeyed all the commandments.”

Jesus replied

“You need only one thing.  Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then follow me.”

Once the rich young man heard this gloom spread all over his face and he ...

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