What is the meaning of the term discipleship?

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What is the meaning of the term discipleship?

     Discipleship is the keeping to the rules, and requirements of being a disciple. That is to accompany Jesus on his mission and participate in his work. To evangelise as Andrew does “we have found the messiah.” (Jn1:41), and the Samaritan woman does in chapter 4, and by doing so gather others to believe in Jesus.

     Karl Heinz Renssturf says being a disciple is to receive the authority of Jesus to guide the people of God and continue his work on earth, as shown in Jn13:20.

Outline and examine Jesus’ teaching in the Fourth Gospel on the nature of discipleship.

     In John’s Gospel disciples are described as “the flock” and as “the vine”, but as Snakenberger identifies; disciples are essentially the followers of Jesus, but says there may be a difference between ‘The Twelve’ and ‘The Crowd’. Kostenberger says that the Disciples follow Jesus closely and learn from him, where as the Crowd follow from a distance and do not learn. The crowd witness the signs but their faith is still questionable.

      Kostenberger talks of the mission of the disciples as being central in John, and all missions being derived from that of Jesus. Disciples “follow” or are “sent” and he highlights Jesus’ teaching that they are to “bear fruit” they did not produce (Jn15:8), to do “greater works” than Jesus, and to forgive sins (Jn20:19-23).  Jesus teaches the disciples are to “reap the crop for which you did not labour.” (Jn4:38) he says that disciples have a significant role to play in accompanying Jesus and participating in his work.

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     Jesus says “I am the way the truth and the life,” he says that to receive one of many rewards, God, they must go through him. As a result the disciples must have a personal relationship with Jesus. This was also important as Jesus was human; he needed support in his time of need, and needed help and company on his mission.                

     Helen Orchard would say that Jesus’ relationship with the twelve is most vivid during his last evening spent with them in which Jesus’ washes their feet. ...

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