Outline and examine Jesus' teaching in the 4th Gospel on the nature of Discipleship

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R.S. Outline and examine Jesus’ teachings in the 4th Gospel on the nature of Discipleship

Outline and examine Jesus’ teaching in the 4th Gospel on the nature of Discipleship

        The definition of discipleship is a follower or pupil and is a universal appeal in the 4th Gospel. Jesus said ‘No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.’ (John 3.5) This meant that to become a disciple you have to have the Holy Spirit as a part of your existence. Jesus also said that once you become a disciple and believe that he is the Son of God, you will not be judged on your sins, but you will be forgiven because Jesus died for you. Discipleship in the fourth gospel is essential about relationships between the Father and Jesus, and Jesus and the disciples. In the fourth gospel, individuals are called disciples; these disciples mentioned are Nicodemus (ch. 9), Lazarus (ch. 11), Martha and Mary (ch. 11), the Beloved Disciple (ch. 12 onwards), Mary, the Mother of Jesus (ch. 2, 18), Mary Magdalene (ch. 18, 19, 20), the lame man (ch. 5) and the blind man (ch. 9).

        In Jewish law, Jewish disciples could only really be men because to be ‘pure’ men had to have been circumcised and are them members of God’s community but Jesus tells Nicodemus that circumcision does no make people members of God’s community, but baptism leads to being a member of the community. This means women and Gentiles could become members. Chapter 4 suggests that women could become disciples because they witnessed spiritual teaching and told others about it. The Samarian woman in the chapter asks Jesus where she should worship as Samaritans were not allowed to worship in the Temple with the other Jews. Jesus just tells her to ‘worship him in spirit and truth’ (John 4.24). This means that worship should be sincere and from the heart and it doesn’t depend on a particular place, ritual or building.

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        There is only one parable throughout the gospel, the only one being in chapter 10 where Jesus described himself as a shepherd, and looking after his herd of sheep, the sheep being his followers. In the gospel, Jesus tells the crowd that the sheep will be safe all their life if they followed the shepherd, Jesus also says he has other sheep in his fold, these other sheep represent the Gentiles, they also can become disciples and the message is universal and to everyone. The author thinks this is a very important message because this parable, like the time when ...

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