The Role of The Apostles
The Apostles had many duties and tasks. Jesus had called them to be his companions during his Ministry and spent most of his time with them. He sent them out on a mission as training for the work to come after his crucifixion when he would no longer be there. They had to go out in pairs and preach the Gospel wherever they went, healing the sick and driving out demons. “So they went out and preached. They drove out many demons and rubbed olive oil on many sick and healed them” (6:12,13)
During Jesus’ life, the Apostles had to imitate Him in every way and to learn from Him how to preach and heal in preparation for their own Ministries. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to them and gave them the Commission to go out into the World and preach the good news about God. “Preach the Gospel to the whole human race” (16:15).
They were given power to do many things, such as heal the sick and speak in foreign languages. “They will place their hands on sick people, who will get well” (16:18) They also had to baptise people into the Christian Faith
“Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved” (16:15).
Costs of Discipleship
Jesus’ expectations of the disciples were very high. He expected them to sacrifice huge amounts and He made very large demands of them. Being a disciple of Jesus was therefore very hard and too much for many people.
Even Peter was not wholly successful; “Before the cock crows twice, you will say three times that you do not know me” (14:30). This was Jesus’ prophesy and shows that even Peter lied to escape death because he was frightened.
There are also occasions when the Apostles misunderstood Jesus. At the Transfiguration, Peter didn’t know why Elijah and Moses had appeared to them. “We’ll make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”(9:5) Peter did not understand that these Old Testament Prophets appeared to prove that Jesus was the Messiah.
Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus by turning Him over to the Authorities. “I tell you that one of you will betray me – one who is eating with me” (14:18). Jesus knew of the betrayal at this, the Last Supper.
A person who became a disciple of Jesus had to have complete faith in Jesus and rely on God. At the calming of the storm Jesus asked “Why are you frightened? Have you still no faith?” (4:40). Jesus was scolding his disciples because they did not believe.
On the other hand, there are plenty of examples of people’s faith in both Jesus and God. Blind Bartimaeus showed faith and his eyesight returned.
“Your faith has made you well” (10:52).
Jesus’ ministry was not exclusive to Jews. The Gentile woman’s belief meant her daughter was exorcised of the demon. “You will find that the demon has gone out of your daughter!” (7:29). Jesus came to us to help everyone who has faith in God.
Each of the disciples had to be prepared to make huge sacrifices to follow Jesus. These varied for each person. Some had to leave the security of their jobs and family; “they left their father Zebedee in the boat with hired hands and followed Jesus.” (1:20). This was at the calling of James and John and is important because at that time, a person’s job and family would be the only security he had. Most people knew how to do just one job and they risked everything just to follow The Lord.
Other people were required to give up their wealth to follow Jesus. When a rich man asked how he could receive eternal life, Jesus told him that he had to keep the Ten Commandments. When the man replied that he had done this Jesus said, “Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor” (10:21). For the rich man this price was too high and he rejected it. To get eternal life you have to do more than just want and believe.
Another cost was that disciples had to accept their sufferings, “he must forget self, carry his cross and follow me” (8:34). Jesus is saying that each disciple had to put himself last and become a servant; this would bring them closer to God. To “carry his cross” was a reference by Jesus to the persecutions of Christians that were to follow soon after His death.
For some other Christians to “carry his cross” did not necessarily mean death. It could mean that all they had to do was to keep the Ten Commandments and for others it could be preaching the Gospel. Today very few people are killed because of their faith but it does still happen. Christians today still have to try and imitate Jesus in every way. The reward is eternal life but for those who do not follow the teachings of Christ there will be punishment in the afterlife.
The disciples also had to put up with being rebuked by their own people. Many Jews did not believe in Jesus and treated believers as outcasts. Remember that Jesus was a Jew and so were all his followers. Being cast out from the Tribes was a considerable punishment.
Jesus made many other predictions about the persecutions of Christians. When he was talking about being Christians in this life he said, “and persecutions as well.” (10:30) Here, He warned the Apostles that sacrifices might include death.
Rewards of Discipleship
Jesus talked about the rewards of being a disciple. “He will receive a hundred times more houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields” (10:30). Jesus is saying that all those who follow him will gain a much larger family in the Christian Faith than that left behind.
Jesus also talked about how Christians would be rewarded in heaven. “In the age to come, he will receive eternal life” (10:30). This is really the only reward, but one that no one else could give – eternal life.
The Meaning of Discipleship Today
Discipleship today can be a range of different things. Today’s disciples are still people who lead a Christian life by imitating Jesus. All of them have a vocation in the Christian Community, be it a religious or lay vocation.
Those called to a religious vocation are the Priests, Nuns and other Church representatives who have dedicated themselves to Jesus. To prove their commitment, they take the three vows - obedience, celibacy and poverty. Jesus said to his Disciples when he sent them out on the Mission “Don’t take anything with you on your journey except a stick – no bread, no beggars bag, no money in your pockets” (6:8).
The role of the disciple today is the same as it was two thousand years ago. Disciples should spread the Gospel, heal the sick, drive out demons and be the Servant. What has changed is how we do these things and our interpretation (few of us believe in demons). Today, as in the early days of Christianity, we spread the Gospel by actions as well as words. Whilst most of us cannot heal the sick, we can help them in their distress. We can try and heal the wounds of our Society. There are many Charities and Organisations dedicated to caring for the poor, sick and infirm.
“IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO BE A TRUE DISCIPLE OF JESUS IN THE MODERN WORLD”
The early disciples were told that if they wanted to follow Jesus, they would have to give up everything. Today, many people have done this and some have made the ultimate sacrifice of their life.
Martin Luther King
Born on 15th January 1929,
he trained as a Baptist Minister
and tried to continue Jesus’ work.
As a Minister, he had the authority
to preach, heal and forgive and
soon became a Black Rights activist,
protesting the rights of the black
community. But he was a man of
peace and only organised peaceful
rallies but was shot and killed on Christmas Eve 1967.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
I believe that Martin Luther King Jnr is a good example of a modern day disciple because he fulfilled all the qualities expected of him. He preached about justice and equality and the Gospel; he only ever held peaceful rallies because he believed that one man should not harm or kill another during a time of extreme violence both to and by the black community. His work won him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and his example is still quoted today on how to make a non-violent stand against oppression. I believe that this man was such a good disciple that his name would still be honoured, whether or not he had been assassinated.
Archbishop Oscar Romero
Became Archbishop of San Salvador in 1977. After the assassination of Rutilio Grande for trying to help the poor, Oscar Romero decided to devote his life to helping them. Using his position in the Church, he wrote letters to the Government in power to try and stop violence and oppression of the people who are suffering in poverty. He was shot on 24th March 1980 whilst celebrating Mass. “We must not seek the child Jesus in the pretty figures of our Christmas crib. We must seek him among the undernourished children who have gone to bed tonight without eating, among the poor newsboys who will sleep covered with newspapers in doorways.” Archbishop Romero made this speech on Christmas Eve 1979.
I believe that Oscar Romero is a modern day disciple because he was prepared to “take up his cross and follow Jesus”. He spoke out in ways that nobody else would knowing that he was risking his very life to do so. He tried to oppose the Government peacefully and show that violence would not succeed. He made the ultimate sacrifice for his beliefs.
Janani Luwum
Born in Uganda in 1922, he became a teacher and was converted to Christianity in 1948. Subsequently ordained in the Anglican Church, he later became Principal of a Theological College and Bishop of Northern Uganda. In 1971 Idi Amin had established a reign of terror in the area and Luwum spoke out against Amin on behalf of the victims and was arrested and tried in 1977. He was executed in the same year. The public was forbidden to hold a memorial service and his body was never found. Luwum is a good example of a modern day disciple who knew that by speaking out against the regime he would be killed, but still tried to do something to help.
You, of course, do not have to be killed to qualify as a disciple and the above are extreme examples of self-sacrifice for Faith illustrating that not all the conditions for discipleship have changed.
There are some people today who think it is not possible to be a true disciple of Jesus as our society relies so much upon possessions and money. To give up your possessions today means that you give up all chance of progressing in our materialistic society. Jesus said “Don’t take anything on your journey with you except a stick”(6:8) He is telling the Apostles that they are not allowed any comforts and that this is essential for discipleship.
However, even in Jesus’ lifetime, some people found it impossible to be a disciple “Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor” (10:21). This is the story of the rich young man who wanted to become Jesus’ disciple but was not prepared to give up all his money and possessions.
I therefore do not agree that it is not possible to be a true disciple of Jesus in the modern world. Little has changed and the requirements of discipleship are no easier or harder now than when Jesus was here. It is hard to be a true disciple but many people have achieved this over the last two thousand years.
