Explain what a study of St Mark's Gospel can tell Christians about the nature of discipleship?

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Sophie Sears 10c         R.E coursework        08/05/2007

A01

Explain what a study of St Mark’s Gospel can tell Christians about the nature of discipleship? (Authority and practices)

The nature of discipleship

Discipleship is a very important theme in Mark’s Gospel. It is as very important for Christians today as it was for the first disciples of Jesus.

True discipleship is not something that can be one in a half-hearted way. To Christians, it means giving all that they have in the service of God and of other people. This is clearly explained the story of the widow at the treasury.1

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciple to him, Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all out of wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything all she had to live on.’

1 = Mark 12: 41- 4

There are many different points to this story which are:

  • Jesus neither criticized nor praised the rich people who put large amounts of money onto the offering box, even though it was money they probably had to spare or just lying around.
  • The widow is praised because she gave more than anyone else to God. Her offering was very small, but it was all that she had.
  • We all have different levels of ability and talents, and in this story Jesus teaches that a person who commits everything they have to the service of God, however little that might be, is more precious to God than someone who has great ability and resources, but less committed. Real Christian discipleship requires total commitment.

The cost of discipleship

About halfway through his ministry, Jesus began to warn his disciple that his work of God would result in his suffering and death. He knew that his teachings and popularity would be seen as a threat by his enemies. He also realized that life would be made difficult for those who believed that he was the Messiah sent by God. They to have to be prepared to suffer to their beliefs and discipleship.

Jesus called the crowd to him along with his disciple and said

‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever less his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole wide world, yet to forfeit his soul?

Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful, generation, the Son of God will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels. 2

Join now!

There are a number of important of ideas in this quotation which need to be look at I think personal. Well the first point is:

Jesus said that those who wish to follow him must deny self, take up the cross and follow him. What did Jesus mean by this? What would his words have meant to his first twelve disciples and what do they mean for Christians today?

2 = Mark 8:34 – 8

Well to deny means that followers for Jesus should always put other people needs and problems before their own needs ...

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