DISCIPLESHIP

Day 4 of 49

Discipleship

What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ? Depending on the denomination one attends, it could be as simple as being a member of a church or a complete commitment in studying the Word of God.

The word disciple, manthano, means to learn but it carries a connotation beyond the concept of intellectual input, and includes the transformation of one’s lifestyle in order to be like the teacher.

In first century Judea, discipleship was a common practice. John the Baptist had disciples, the Pharisees had disciples, we discover in Acts 22:3 that Paul sat and learned at the feet of Gamaliel as a disciple. 

Children began school between the ages of 4 and 5 and were taught in the local synagogue by a teacher, respectfully called a rabbi (great one). It focused on teaching the Torah and emphasized reading and memorizing Scripture. Most could recite the Torah by memory before moving on. Around the age of 12, school ended for most.  The girls learned to take care of the home, and the boys learned the trade of their fathers. 

The best students continued on in the local synagogue, also taught by a rabbi in the community. They attended school and learned a trade. Sometimes their parents attended with them. They studied the prophets and the writings, learned the interpretations of the Oral Torah, and learned how to make their own applications. 

The outstanding students sought permission to study with a famous rabbi. If accepted, he would serve the rabbi, learn at his feet, and try to imitate and become like the rabbi.

Remember Jesus at the temple at the age of 12? He showed himself to be an outstanding student, but he submitted to his parents, returned home, and learned the trade of his father.

And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 

44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 

45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 

46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 

47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 

48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 

49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 

50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 

51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. 

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. 

Lk 2:43–52.

Discipleship in the first century required total commitment. That meant, one left family and friends to follow the rabbi for a time. It was a full time apprenticeship in the rabbi’s work or cause. It was an honor to be chosen as a disciple.

While Jesus selected 12 to sit at his feet and to learn, other disciples, even women, stood around these 12, learning from Christ as they could. In the upper room 120 waited for the promised Holy Spirit. 

13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 

14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 

15 and have authority to cast out demons. 

16 He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 

17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); 

18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, 

19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 

Mk 3:12–19.

Sometimes the message of Christ was hard to hear and understand, and caused disciples to turn away from following him. John 6:53-71 tells of a time when many turned away. He asked the 12 if they would leave also.

67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 

68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 

69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Jn 6:67-69.

What does being a disciple today look like?

We cannot physically sit at the feet of Jesus, but we can have an attitude of humility and desire to learn so that we sit spiritually at his feet. We are blessed with the written Word of God…or even the recorded Word if you don’t like reading. But just reading the word is not enough, we need to take the next step and obey the Word of God.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 

32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 

Jn 8:31–32.

Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 

5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 

6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 

1 Jn 2:4–6.

We can make time with the Lord in prayer a priority. Because he is with us all the time, we can have open communication with him throughout the day and night, no matter what we are doing. 

We can follow his example. We can wash the feet of those around us, well, that would be weird today, choose a job no one wants to do, but needs to be done. We can show love to those who are friendless and outcasts. We can encourage others to trust in God. We can set aside our rights in order to extend God’s grace and mercy to those around us.

You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 

14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 

15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 

16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 

Jn 13:13–16.

Goals of rabbi’s in the first century included teaching the Torah, demonstrating actions in line with God’s teaching, but also, they desired that their students would rise and do better than the teacher.

Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, to teach us to love one another, and to give us boldness to proclaim the goodness of God. How awesome that God gives us help and hope as we sit at the feet of Lord Jesus Christ.

7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 

10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 

11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 

13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 

14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. 

Jn 14:7–14.

Lord, help us to make you a priority in our lives. Give us your eyes to see the people around us who need your hope. Give us ears to hear the cries of those in pain. Give us your heart to reach out even when it is hard.