Explain the meaning of discipleship.

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

A disciple is someone who follows, believes and devotes themselves to a leader. This leader may belong to any art, thought, conduct or group. In the Christian belief a disciple is someone who adheres to the life, word and teachings of Jesus. They are also referred to as suffering servants.

In today’s world most people consider the word disciple to mean one of Christ’s followers. They do not believe that there are disciples in the present age because they are referred to in the bible. It is my belief that modern day disciples are clerics, nuns, missionaries and all those who live their life in light of Jesus.

Discipleship is one of many themes in Mark’s gospel. It is very interesting; it focuses on the calling of men to follow Jesus. As you read through the whole of the gospel there is a feeling that the theme of discipleship moves through three main stages. First, the disciples don’t understand who Jesus is or what he is teaching. An example of this is illustrated in the calming of the storm, they were afraid when Jesus calmed it. Jesus was angry at their lack of faith and so scolded them. After a time the disciples faith strengthened which shows they were dedicated.

Secondly, there would be the disciples misunderstanding of Jesus’ identity. In the request of James and John, Jesus had to correct their observation as they thought he was starting up a New Kingdom so that they could sit at either his right or left hand in the Kingdom. He said to them “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

Lastly, the final stage of failure and disappointment. The disciples’ devotion seems to disappear when Judas betrayed Jesus in Gethsemane. Peter denies Jesus in the courtyard of the High Priest. The disciples let Jesus down when they fell asleep when he went to pray in the garden after requesting them to stay awake. None of them went to the crucifixion of their Messiah. Although it was not just the disciples who let him down. The women who found his tomb empty after the burial failed to deliver the message given to them, to tell the others that he had gone before them into Galilee. However, there are occasions in the gospel of good times when the disciples healed people, when they celebrated the Last Supper with Jesus and when Peter recognized who Jesus really was.

In Mark’s Gospel discipleship is called to a number of people. Some responded positively, while some didn’t. The call for the first four disciples show two obvious things: the need for urgency and the need for immediacy. Peter, Andrew, James and John are the first four disciples called. Jesus called them as he walked down by the Sea of Galilee. First he saw Andrew and Peter; they were out fishing with a net. Jesus said to them

“Come, follow me, and I shall make you fishers of men”, they left their net and followed him. Next he came to ...

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“Come, follow me, and I shall make you fishers of men”, they left their net and followed him. Next he came to James son of Zebedee and John his brother in a boat with nets, he called them also and they left their father and followed him. These four disciples didn’t question Jesus as to why they were chosen. They chose to follow Jesus’ calling as it was spoken with true authority.

It is ones own choice whether or not to become a disciple; the choice is closely linked to the type of person being asked. If it someone who is willing to give up everything and live a life of poverty and prayer they are suited. The disciples followed straight away even though they did not know Jesus. They were not introduced to each other, nor did they make up excuses about not being able to go. Discipleship involves leaving your possessions and family. The disciples Andrew and Peter left their net, which was used to support their family and James and John left their successful family business with hired servants.

Jesus did not only call good, obedient people to be disciples. He also called characters whom you would least expect. ‘Levi’ a tax collector. Most people distrusted him. Jesus said to him one day “Follow me” as he sat in the tax collector’s booth. Levi got up and followed. Tax Collectors were hated as they worked for the Roman Government. He was leaving behind a very comfortable life but he left immediately. He now has to be obedient to Jesus, as he is his leader. This lifestyle demands big challenges and this is clearly seen when Jesus sends the disciples out 2 by 2. They were instructed that they were allowed no money, no extra tunic and that they had to rely on others’ hospitality. They went out to preach the word of God and drive out demons. It was a tough life which required much courage and devotion.

Not everyone commit himself to being a disciple, few are strong enough to give up their family and their money. There was a man who asked Jesus how he could get into heaven. Jesus told him to follow the commandments and he told him that he had. Then Jesus said you have to do three things “Sell what you have, give the money to the poor and follow me”. The man walked away sad as he knewhe didn’t have enough strength to be a true follower. Jesus asks us as disciples to go a bit farther and try our hardest to follow him. The rich man just couldn’t give up his wealth. God’s will isn’t always what we wish it to be.

In chapter 10 there is an occasion which underlines the qualities a disciple should have. When people were bringing their children to Jesus to be blessed the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he was angered and said to them

“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 like a little child will never enter it.” Jesus then blessed the children. Jesus tells us that children came to be blessed so they can live a life of humility and repent when they sin. If we live in innocence as a child, God will accept us and we can place ourselves in the hands of God.

So far we have seen there is a heavy price to pay to be a disciple. Disciples have to give up their career, family and possessions. Mark’s Gospel is a Gospel that highlights a lot of challenging teachings. The most testing teaching of all involves Peter’s Profession of Faith. Peter had proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus explained that he had to suffer and die and Peter objected to that. Jesus goes on to give one of the central teachings of discipleship. The teaching is “If anyone would come after me he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me”.

He tells the disciples to put their lives at the service of others, to “suffer and serve”. When he said “Follow me”, he meant that he would go through great suffering death and rejection. That he would die and rise again. To those who respond, there would be a great reward, not money or happiness, but a place in heaven. We are also told to deny ourselves for God. This means abstaining from going without certain pleasures in life. Many disciples today are not called to bear suffering, rejection and death in their discipleship.

Jesus predicted that he would be arrested, killed and rise again in three days. Mark shows that the disciples do not understand what he meant but were afraid to ask. Instead they argue about which of them was the greatest. Maybe they had at last realized that Jesus was not to be with them for long and so argued about who would be their leader. That night Jesus taught them the true nature of discipleship, which should not involve quarreling about greatness. He taught them the difference between greatness and humility and the only way to greatness was to serve others. This is reinforced by a quote from the rich young man parable, “Many who are first will be last and the last first.”

The disciples James and John again show their misunderstanding about what Jesus is teaching at the request of James and John. The third prediction of Jesus’ death showed that the disciples were afraid and still do not understand what discipleship involved. James and John proved this by asking for the best seats in heaven. Jesus made it clear that there will be a link between his suffering and theirs. If they want to share the suffering Jesus said that they would share in the “cup” and “baptism”, which are both symbols of suffering. Jesus said that they will share in his suffering, but that only God could grant their request. The other disciples were angry with James and John. Jesus brings them together and again teaches them the meaning of discipleship. They must follow the example of their Messiah.

Another story which Jesus used to show the disciples the cost of discipleship, was the widow in the temple. As Jesus watched the rich men and woman put their money into the treasury a widow caught his eye. She put two coins into it, the equivalent to a penny. Jesus called his disciples and said to them “I tell you solemnly this poor widow has put in more than all who have contributed to the treasury, for they have put in the money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.” It wasn’t just money that Jesus wanted to give to the poor it was everyone’s trust in God. The woman proved that she trusted God by giving him everything she owned and depending on him totally for her survival. The discipleship must initiate this trust and generosity in his own hope.

We see that the demands of disciples are quite harsh. Jesus wanted them to commit fully to his beliefs and so reap the reward of their seat in heaven. After Jesus taught about the rich young man, Peter said “we have left everything to follow you” and Jesus responded with a message which reassured him, “no-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age and in the age to come, eternal life.”