Jesus chose twelve main disciples to follow him, these people are known as the obvious disciples. But there were other disciples in Jesus’ time and also today in our world, these are the less obvious disciples, who have the same beliefs and wanted to be like the original twelve who slaved their fellowship.
The woman with haemorrhage (Mark 5:21-43) who touched Jesus’ cloaked showed that she was a true disciple of Jesus by saying when he was near to her, “If only I could touch his cloak I will become well.” In saying this she was conveying her faith in Jesus and she was showing that she was a true follower of Jesus.
Jairus, who was an official at the local synagogue, had a daughter who was dying. His faith was so great that he strongly believed that Jesus could heal his daughter. And so, like the woman with haemorrhage, Jairus was showing that he was a true follower.
Discipleship not only existed in Jesus’ time but also exist in the world today. These modern day disciples continue the work of the original twelve from Jesus’ time.
Dorothy Day of America was a modern day disciple. She and others, influenced by her Catholic faith, opened houses and hospitals in America where poor people came for meals. She campaigned for improved rights for workers and started the Catholic Workers movement. Dorothy Day prayed to God daily to help those less fortunate than herself, by doing this she was showing her faith in God was strong. “The mystery of the poor is this: that they are Jesus, and what you do for him. It is the only way we have of knowing and believing in our love. The mystery of poverty is that by sharing it, making ourselves poor in giving to others, we increase our knowledge and belief in love.”
Mother Teresa was a woman who devoted her who life to those peoples who were starving and diseased-ridden. She became a symbol of hope amongst the hopeless. In 1993 she went to Edinburgh, there she found a man on the streets of Calcutta who was “eaten up by worms”. She took him and looked after him. Before he died he said to her, “I have lived like a dog, but I will die like an angel.” She cared passionately and gave her whole life to the service of God through serving those less fortunate than herself.
Other people such as nurses and doctors are like disciples as they care for the sick. They are known as less-obvious disciples. Also are those who care for the elderly in nursing homes. My Aunt who lives in Canada works in a hospital as a nurse, she is being a disciple because she is giving up her time to care for sick people and those that are less fortunate than herself. She also takes part in voluntary work for the disabled and helping the homeless.
Community
Disciples must be able to live together as a community, as equals. Mark 14:3-9 tells us about a time when the disciples had been arguing about which one of them was the greatest. Jesus told them that whoever welcomes his name in a child welcomes not only him but also the one who sent him.
The disciples learnt not to see themselves as the greatest or greater than others but to see each other as equals and to put others before themselves.
Believing
Mark 16:1-20 tells about Jesus’ Resurrection. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, after the Sabbath Day, brought spices to anoint the body of Jesus. When they both arrived they were surprised to see the tombstone had already been opened. When they entered the tomb they saw a young man wearing a white robe and sitting inside. He spoke to them and told them that Jesus had risen from the dead. Both Mary and Mary ran from the place where Jesus had disappeared from, they ran because they were terrified and distressed. They never said a word to anyone because they were so afraid. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James did not act as disciples, they lacked the faith that they needed. They did not tell anyone because they did not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead.
In Jesus’ time it was very dangerous to be associated with God. People were killed for believing in him and practising the faith, and so being a disciple meant taking risks.
Cost
The story of troubles and persecutions (Mark 13:9-13) is about Jesus telling the disciples to be on guard. Jesus says, “You will be arrested and taken to court. You will be beaten in synagogues but you will stand in front of the rulers and kings and tell them the good news.” He continued, “But before end comes, you must preach the gospel to all people.” From this story we learn how high the costs of being a disciple really were, and the risks involved. We learn that the disciples gave up their lives to preach the good news.
A good disciple was someone who was willing and able to put their lives at risk for others and for God almost like Jesus had given his life for us on the cross.
