Explain what a study of Marks gospel can tell us about the nature of discipleship

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Elizabeth Oluwajuwa Adeniran 28/11/04

COURSEWORK

St Mark, peter interpreter, is trying to send a message to Christians about what being a disciple involves and what it takes to be a disciple i.e. The cost, The Reward and The dependency. These are all the things I will be pointing out in this essay, (especially the nature of discipleship and what Mark tells and about discipleship.

Disciple means learner or student. Followers of Jesus are all his disciples because they are learning from his teachings, Mk10v13-14 “the disciples scolded the people. When Jesus noticed this he was angry and he said to his disciples, let the children come to me.” This is an example of a disciple learning from his master. In the gospel the disciples were the twelve who traveled and worked with Jesus. In Jesus’ time a disciple would live and travel with his teacher. “Peter’s Declaration about Jesus.” Mk8v27 “then Jesus and his disciple went away to the villages”, Jesus and his disciples are traveling together, accompanying each other, just like john the Baptist and the Pharisees who also had disciples. Mk2v18 “on one occasions the followers of john the Baptist and the Pharisees”.

Many people think that “Apostles” and “Disciples” mean the same thing, but they don’t because an apostle means “messenger, one sent out” “I will also send you out to preach”Mk3v14. They are sent out to tell sinners and gentiles to believe the good news. They are sending out a message about the Kingdom of God and the Good News. Another example of a messenger is Elijah who was a messenger for the Messiah.

Jesus never once used “Messiah” in the Mark’s gospel, because that would have changed his mission in the world in “Peter’s Declaration about Jesus” Mk8v27-30 “you are the Messiah, then Jesus ordered them, do not tell anyone about me” this shows that Jesus is determined to keep his secret as the Messiah. “I will prove to you then t5hat the son of man has authority.” “Son of man” is one title he used for himself, when he was talking to teachers of the law. Throughout Mark’s gospel Jesus kept the Messianic secret because if he called himself the Messiah, he would be mistaken for the warrior king. The Jews believed that the Messiah would come to save them from the Romans and this was the mistake Peter made Mk8v33 “your thoughts don’t come from God but human nature” After Peter has declared that Jesus was the Messiah, but he was thinking of different Messiah (warrior king) he was thinking as a man and not a God.

In Mark’s gospel, he tries to refer to the Christians been persecuted in Rome in many ways he could because they were his audience, he was writing for them one story in the gospel shows an evidence of this i.e. “Jesus calms a Storm” (allegory) Mk4v35-41. “The storm” is an implication of the Christians in Rome. He is sending them a message through the gospel (know about the news and die for it) he is telling them to have faith t5hat being a follower and believer of Christ come with great reward. The Christians being persecuted is a very good example of discipleship the reason being is that they were dying just by believe in and these are the things Jesus told his disciple s about discipleship. Mk8v34 “Carry his cross, Forget self and follow me”, which is what they did they forgot about being killed brutally i.e. being burnt, killed by gladiators or wild animals and followed in the path of the gospel.

This is a preview of the whole essay

Jesus chooses insignificant people to be his disciples, he did not choose religious leaders or rich and famous or highly educated, these would have been the people the Jews expect a Messiah to pick. Mk2v17 “I have not come to call respectable people ,but outcasts” which is exactly what he did by choosing a mixture of ordinary people, with different personalities that needed improving,Mk10v37 “ when you sit on your throne in your glorious kingdom, we want you to let us sit with you, one at your right and one at your left”. This is am example of the personality I was referring to because they were thinking of Jesus as Messiah(warrior King).Jesus chose the twelve to be his special friends, followers and people who will carry on his teachings.Mk6v7-13 tells us this because Jesus had just sent them out to different towns with set of instructions and what to do. As a catholic I think that he chose them because they represent the different people within the society. A disciple is a good student who needs self discipline to carry out his mission.

The twelve disciples represent the new Israel Mk3v14 “Twelve” Jesus has formed a new Israel from their ancestor Abraham, unto Isaac who had twelve sons known as twelve tribes of Israel and that is what the disciples represent. To be a disciple of Jesus you must “forget self, carry his cross and follow me” Mk8v34.he taught them to preach the gospel and baptize Mk16v16 “go throughout the whole world and preach the whole gospel to the human race.

Right through the gospel, Mark mentioned people that Jesus encountered on his journeys. The people Mark mentioned where mostly people with active faith i.e. “Blind Bartimeaus” Mk10v46-82, son of Timeaus. Bartimeaus is one of the few people who understood who Jesus was and the type of Messiah he was. “Jesus, son of David” is another title for the Messiah, He believed that Jesus is the Messiah, He had faith, which made him see again, “your faith has made you well” he them followed Jesus has one of the disciples, but not one of the twelve.

A further explanation of active faith is linked to “The woman with severe bleeding”. The woman had complete dependency on Jesus “if I just touch his clothes I will get well” Mk5v28 she did this and it made her better. If the woman did have faith she wouldn’t have got better, which is what made her and “Blind Bartimeaus” get better they both had faith and it made them well. This is another example of discipleship, having both dependency on God and the reward will come i.e. they both got better. A disciple must have faith on God, to be able to learn from his master.

Christians and Mark’s readers would notice that the crowd played a big part in Jesus’ life. Apart from the 12, they were with him throughout his life journey. In Mk2v12, after Jesus had performed a miracle they were all “Amazed”. Before Jesus choose the twelve, the “crowds” where the first to be his disciple because, they were the first to spread the news about Jesus across Galilee Mk1v28 “And so the news about Jesus spread quickly everywhere in the province of Galilee”.

The crowds were the first people Jesus taught which made him the teacher Mk1v21 “Jesus went to the synagogue and begin to teach”. In Mk11v1-11 who marked that day for all to remember because of the way he was greeted when he entered, Mk11v9“Praise God! God bless him who comes in the name of the lord! God bless the coming Kingdom of King David, our father! Praise God!” As much good as the crowd did they were the ones who called for his death in Mk14v53-67, when the high priest asked for whom they wanted crucified “they all voted against him”. Case in point this is another model of discipleship because they were his followers and learned from his teachings, so the words can spread all around.

The high priest or any other religious leaders i.e. teachers of the law played a part in Jesus’ journey as the suffering Messiah. If it wasn’t for the Pharisees and teachers of the law callous ways, no other false accusations or evidence would have been brought against Jesus, they were his outside supporters. “The man with a paralysed hand”. In Mk3v1-6 “some people were there who wanted to accuse Jesus of doing wrong”. This shows us how much they wanted to get rid of Jesus and the fact that they would do whatever it took to put him to death and waiting for him to do something wrong. In mk3v6 after Jesus had healed the man with the paralysed hand that’s when they decided to make plans to kill Jesus, because he broke the Sabbath law by healing the man’s hand. “Some members of Herod’s party, and they made plans to kill Jesus”.

This proves that Jesus has done nothing wrong for him to be put to death and that the evidence will be planted on him to make him guilty Mk14v53-67 “Jesus before the council” The councils efforts to bring bad evidence against Jesus wasn’t successful, including the lies since the substantiations was unreliable. They were contemptuous in their ways, because they knew what would happen to Jesus before it did Mk14v55 “Council tried to find some evidence against Jesus in order to put him to death”.

James and john, who were also the leaders of the disciple with peter, didn’t know which type of Messiah Jesus is.Mk10v35-45. They did not see the translation between a true disciple and his Messiah with a victorious warrior and his triumphant king. Both James and John were blind to the true meaning of the title “Messiah”, they were thinking like man with a weak nature.

Peter was also weak he was thinking like man and not God. During Jesus’ last week on earth from chapters 11-16.Jesus was teaching his disciples his real mission. Jesus predicted the trial before the Sanhedrin council (Mk8v31-38) about his death and resurrection. Peter couldn’t accept that Jesus must suffer, so he takes peter “aside and rebukes him”. This portrayal of peter shows how much he fails to understand the real meaning of the mission of Jesus. Peter cannot accept the fact that the Messiah must suffer. This shows peter understands the Messiah as someone who is powerful who will overthrow the Romans (warrior King).Mark shows Jesus getting angry with peter Mk8v33 Jesus rebukes him and accuses him of having not from God but Satan “get behind me Satan”

Peter didn’t fail only one but more than twice. But he failed when Jesus needed him the most Jesus said “before the cock crows twice tonight, you will say three times that you do not know me”.Mk14v30. Peter said the right thing like a true a disciple would “if I have to die with you I will never disown you”Mk14v31. |This was Peter’s test of faith, he made a promise but didn’t keep it because he was so light hearted without faith, even though his faith was strong, he also had strong weakness “his head ruled his heart”.

In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus’ disciple failed him once again. They fell asleep, three times while Jesus was praying.Mk14v32 “Jesus prays in Gethsemane”. Jesus forgave them because he is a forgiven God. Although the disciples failed Jesus on many accounts, they did not stop believing him.

Mk14v10-11 “Judas agrees to betray Jesus”. Judas was the most violent of all the disciples because it’s been said in code in Mark’s gospel that he was an (Iscriai) an assassin. Jesus knew this would happen because he has predicted it before Mk14v19.20 “I tell you one of u will betray me-one who is eating with me”. He had faith but not total dependency on God.

Simon later known as peter, has an important position among the disciple in mark’s gospel because he was the first Mk1v16 “he saw two fishermen. Simon” and the last “Mk16.9v10 “the women went to peter” disciple to be motioned. Peter was the one who made the declaration about Jesus’ identity Mk8v27-30 “you are the Messiah”. He was the one who questioned his suffering and death Mk8v31-33 “peter took him aside and started to rebuke him”. He was the one who offered to build tents for Jesus, Moses and Elijah on the mountain at the “Transfiguration”Mk9v5 “we will make three tents”.

The cost of discipleship is the price you pay for been Jesus disciple for his follower. In Mk8v31-36, when Jesus said the three things he asked of anyone who wanted to be his disciple “forget self, carry his cross and follow me”. When Jesus said “forget self” he was talking about putting oneself last in all, and not asks for any privileges or desire except of dependency on God. “Carry his cross” That we should carry other people’s sins and carry our own burden. “Follow me” to preach his words to become his disciple and spread his good news around.

In Mk10v10-21 “Go and sell all you have; and give the money to poor, and you will have lots of riches in heaven; then come and follow me”. Jesus was testing the man’s faith to see how he would respond, the man said ever since he was a kid he has been following the commandments this is related to been childlike to be able to enter the kingdom of God. The man asked for eternal life, but Jesus was teaching him to be open minded, don’t depend on material but God, “go and sell all you have”, Jesus is also teaching the man to set aside his rewards depend on God, and by doing this there will be a space for him in the kingdom of God, to have eternal life. Mk10v14-16.

Mk10v15 “I assure you that whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it”. “The rich young man”, both of these chapters are related because in Mk10v17-32, Jesus is telling the rich young man that he should follow the commandments, which is related to innocence. Jesus is basically telling the man that his life should be less dominated by money and be more dependent on God.

In contrast Mk12v42-44 “The widows offering”, “I tell you that this poor widow put more money in the offering box than all the others” The widow gave all she had to live on as a sign of her love for god and a reflection of the true nature of discipleship and sacrifice. Jesus is teaching his disciple that God appreciates the effort that goes into given rather than what is given. “Others put in what they had to spare but she but she put in all she had Mk12v41-44.

When peter replied to Jesus “what about us” Mk10v14-31.When Jesus replied peter back he said that “anyone who leaves home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and foe the gospel will receive much more in this present age. This is another example of mark talking in code about Christians in Rome “brothers and sisters” he is referring to Christians who are being persecuted in Rome and also about the rest of the church. It’s the disciples last week with Jesus and they still have no faith. Mk10v26 the disciples were “amazed” this is because the Jews believe that the rich are blessed by God and the poor are being punished for their sins. It’s getting. Mk10v25 “My children how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is much harder for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God than for a camel to go through an eye of a needle”. The needle is referring to the door way of Jerusalem. Jesus is telling Mark to be prepared to pay the cost of discipleship which is death perhaps suffering or persecution and the reward after depending on God and giving away all your materialistic goods is eternal life.

Discipleship makes great demands in lifestyles and we must be prepared to face persecution. The true nature of is to seek out the true meaning of Messiah and his mission and to understand it fully. Although what Jesus asks of us as disciples is “forget self” others may find this hard because of families and friends, but what discipleship has taught us is to pay the cost because by doing this we will get a reward of eternal life and many more brothers. The word disciple is from Latin “discipulus”. A disciple must be prepared to suffer, be rejected and go to prison. Jesus taught us the rewards received by believers, Mk10v1-12 the disciples have the privilege of becoming a child of God, depending on god and not on materials by doing this they will receive the gift of eternal life. The true nature of discipleship is having faith in God, being his friend; companion and follower also obey the commandment. To get the reward first you have to be prepare to receive the cost with believe and total faith in God. Mark is using the disciple’s mistakes as a learning tool to show the Christians in Rome what to do, because they are his main audience these are the people he is writing for and showing them what a disciple does and what it consists of.

Coursework. The True Nature Of Discipleship