Mark wanted to reassure them that they weren't the only ones to experience suffering, and he wished to remind them and tell them about what Jesus went through. The Rich Man (Mark 10:17-29) is a parable that explains exactly how Mark placed so much importance on suffering in his gospel. It explains the suffering that must occur to enter the kingdom of God. The rich man wanted to know what he must do to receive eternal life, and he was told that the commandments must be upheld. "Teacher", the man said, "ever since I was young, I have obeyed all these commandments". The man thought he had pased the "interview", but he didn't like what was coming. "Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me". This clearly didn't please the very rich man, and "gloom spread over his face, and he went away sad". This is the kind of suffering that Mark is talking about. I think the same for myself nowadays, I hate the idea of having to give up all of my luxuries and money.
The costs of discipleship were the violence inflicted upon them, the taunts and non-believers they had to rise above, and the things they had to give up. The parable 'Jesus Speaks about his Suffering and Death' explains the very serious costs disciples must suffer to do what Jesus has asked them to do. "If anyone wants to come with me, he must forget self, carry his cross and follow me", Jesus said to his disciples. "Do people gain anything if they win the whole worl but lose there life? Of course not!"
The rewards of being a true disciple? "Look, we have left everything and followed you", Peter said to Jesus in 'The Rich Man', and Jesus responded; "Yes, and I tell you that anyone who leaves home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and for the gospel, will receive much more in this present age. He will receive a hundred times more houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields - and persecutions as well; and in the age to come he will receive eternal life” . What Jesus is saying is that of the suffering, the torture, the lack of wealth, to have eternal life and to truly believe in him is all that matters. Leave your family behind, follow me, and you will still get what you need out of life, as will your family. His final words quoted above are very important, he is saying that those rich successful non-believers will die and go from first to last. Those who dedicate their lives to God and preach and heal will be last in life, but first in heaven. Although the disciples didn't understand and were afraid to ask, Jesus said "The Son of Man will be handed over to those who kill him. Three days later, however, he will rise to life". I think it means that like Jesus, any true disciple who suffers in life will too, rise again. (Mark 9:30-32)
'Jesus Appears to the Elven' (Mark 16:14-18) is a parable that displays Jesus showing some anger towards his disciples. "He scolded them, because they did not have faith and because they were too stubborn to believe those who had seen him alive". He then told them to go out and "preach the gospel to the whole human race". He said "Believers will be given the power to perform miracles; if they pick up snakes or drink any poison, they will not be harmed; they will place their hands on sick people, who will get well". This is powerful, crucial text. It tells us about the power Jesus has, and how he took a firm attitude with his disciples at this time. Jesus was one who went around with his eyes open, he understood the world and he shows this in 'The Widow's Offering' (Mark 12:41-44), this parable tells us about the temple treasury. Many rich men dropped in lots of money, and a poor old widow put in "two little copper coins", worth about a penny. "I tell you this poor widow put more in the offering box than all the others. For the others put in what they had to spare of their riches; but she, pour as she is, put in all she had - she gave all she had to live on". Why would she do that? Because she wanted to suffer, she wanted to sacrifice all she had to show her care and dedication for the Lord, the church.
The greatest commandment (Mark 12:28-34)in relation to discipleship was said by Jesus when he was asked by a teacher of the Law who was trying to catch Jesus out. Jesus said "The most important one is this: 'Listen Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with your entire mind, and with all your strength'". That is the greatest commandment, and followed by "Love your neighbour as you love yourself", Jesus rightly says "There is no other commandment more important than these two". There clearly isn't. These are the key to a happy and caring life, if everybody in the world lived their lives by these commandments, what a lovely place the world would be! The disciples relate to these commandments, they preach them, and their God is the primary thing they praise and preach. The first rule of discipleship is this commandment, and as he was telling it to a teacher of the law, he was telling him how to live his life according to God. The disciples preached exactly this.
Coursework2
Explain how the teaching about being a disciple might make difference of Christians?
Disciples Today
Following Jesus today is practically harder than it used to be, but modern day disciples clearly exist, they are Christians. Christians try to see Jesus in other people and they follow Jeus' example and teachings. An everyday Christian would try to see the good in everybody, try to forgive others when hurt or unhappy, apologise for wrong done, and stand up for what is wrong. Caring for the poor, sharing wealth, putting others before themselves and trying not to be prejudiced or racist are all important for a Christian to live their life by. Other more religious engagements should also be kept; celebrating the Eucharist, taking marriage seriously, spending time with God and speaking with him in prayer.
In our everyday lives as children, adults, workers and families we can, of course, communicate with God; we can listen and respond to the call of Jesus even today. Through church, prayer, priests, and by fulfilling the sacraments we can be at one with God at any time. To get the call to become a modern day disciple is something I haven't experienced, but to get such a call would be to have such a strong faith that you want to drop everything to follow it. Nowadays, to do as the first disciples did today, monasteries with monks, and nunneries with nuns allow people who wish to dedicate their lives to God to go and do so. Going into the priesthood is an option that allows you to be more of a disciple, to spread the word, to preach, to teach, to learn from others. What it means to become the above is much admired; it is totally awesome, incredible.
Monks and Nuns spend their lives dedicated day and night to God, and I think this is the closest you can get to God, but I also think that in terms of disciples today, priests are more in that league, as they are 'in touch' with the people, they have the task of getting people to think about religion, and they have to survive getting mocked, being shunned. They have to also give up many of what we would call "life essentials" to do these things, like the disciples had to. These are called Evangelical Counsels nowadays and consist of poverty, chastity and obedience. The poverty meaning no luxuries and no money, chastity meaning no sexual relationship or loving relationship with the opposite sex whatsoever, and obedience being total dedication to God. Priests, for practicality can only take two of the three, as poverty would mean mobility and living would be hard.
Disciples today can put into practise the "Greatest Commandment". This is that of "Love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, with your entire mind, and with all your strength", and the second part being "Love your neighbour as you love yourself". Of course modern day disciples like monks and nuns can do this. They spend their entire lives loving God, worshipping God with all their strength. They don't have jobs to go to, families to look after, and houses to run. It is much harder for Christians to put into practise this commandment, though loving the Lord, yourself and your neighbour is obviously a good aim and something everybody should try to do. Although loving God with all your mind, soul and strength isn't possible for Christians all of the time, taking a certain amount of time a day or a week to dedicate to God would be making great use of such a commandment. To "take up and carry the cross" you need to live your life according to God and treat him as another human being, as a companion.
To be a modern day disciple, you need to, as the first disciples did, suffer. There are costs and rewards, and the costs of dropping everything to follow your faith as a monk would do, that means suffering occurs in the form of no luxuries, no entertainment, no communications, no sex, no relationships with the opposite sex, and total obedience. But then reflecting that, the satisfaction a monk must get from what he does must simply overcome all the things we experience on a daily basis. Priests also experience suffering, having to handle with non-believers attitudes, mocking and shunning, as well as the vows of chastity and obedience.
The costs for everyday Christians would simply be lost time, but I am positive that what you get from prayer and Eucharist and charity are certainly worth it. The rewards are clear; the satisfaction from helping others, changing others lives, communicating with God, preaching to your parish, worshipping with your fellow monks in your monastery. All of the above are high points of the different aspects of modern day discipleship. Eternal life, happiness and a faith
Evaluation
Consider a true disciple to be committed, dedicated, willing to help others and wanting to share in Jesus stuf A true disciple wouldn't have to be struggling, doubtful, and unhappy or in anyway negative. Of course people like Mother Teresa are true modern day disciples, she gave up absolutely everything to do what she could to help those in poverty, she thought that was the right thing to do, she followed Gods' message, that is why she was a true disciple.
I think a true Christian disciple would take the form of regularly attending church, participating in da sacraments, and caring for others at al times. Helping others, charity, standing up for what is right, forgiving, seeking good in all, and happiness are all factors for being a Christian disciple. I think that perfection isn't necessary; nobody should try an live a "perfect" life. Everybody maks mistakes, it is part of life, but nothing in particular "qualifies" anybody to be a Christian disciple. Bein a genuinely good person and a believer would class you as a Christian disciple in my opinion.
Coursework 3
It is not possible to be a true Christian of Jesus in the modern world do you agree? Give reasons for your answer and show that you’ve looked at more than one point of view?
Christians today
It is possible for the priests that work in our parish they have devoted there lives to god and his son Jesus. it wouldn’t be to hard for a priest but all the while It would be quiet hard for a normal everyday people for there are so many things that could threaten are Christianity but I still believe in people can be Christians in are world we live in today for if someone has enough will power they could succeed with anything they set there heart and mind on.
On the other hand as I said before there are so many things that could threaten Christians in the world we live in today such as wars, and things that break commandments such as stealing and adultery happen all around us and beside us as we live in peace in our homes we way not live in peace outside and break one of the commandments love thy neighbour which Jesus said was an important one .And we all know that loving thy neighbour would be one of the hardest tasks but that’s what’s facing Christians in the world today not only Christians but everybody in the world has a neighbour in a way for example my neighbour that’s lives beside or Ireland and England are neighbouring countries they haven’t always seen eye to eye just like our own neighbours in our estates and the towns we live in.