Discipleship

 Topic: Disciples Indeed

Anchor Passage: John 8:31

By Rev Prince Uche Onyema 

Introduction

The reality of being a disciple is probably best seen in the Old Testament with a call ‘to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul’ (Deut 10.12–13). The afore-stated call includes not only keeping to God’s instructions, but also imitating or reflecting God’s character. Israel, as a whole people, was called to that kind of discipleship, by living as the people of YHWH in the midst of the nations, being distinct and faithful to its covenant with him, worshipping him alone, and living by the provision and standards of the Torah.In the New Testament, discipleship was so central to Jesus’ mission that the word is disciple appeared more than 200 times in the first five books of the New Testament. 

Meaning of the word “disciple”

The word disciple is expressed in the NT through the use of the term mathētēs; the Greek word for disciple. The noun is in the strictest sense the derivative of the verb mathēteuō which means to follow or to be a disciple. In this sense, a disciple is said to meana “pupil, a learner, or an adherent” – that is, one whose life or thinking is patterned after or significantly affected by another person. Being a “disciple” involves: 

1. An intimate personal relationship with a “Disciplemaker,” 

2. A personal commitment to be a disciple, and 

3. Personal instruction by a “Disciplemaker.”

N/B: A “disciplemaker” is, obviously, one who makes disciples! Disciples must be made. They do not just happen accidentally. So, then, a disciple is one who has been discipled by a discipler!

Jesus the disciple-maker

In Mark’s Gospel we thus see, first, how Jesus does his training of his would-be followers. We can observe the Master-Discipler about his trade. In brief we see: 

(a) His first calling of the disciples, which is clear and directional, vocational and radical 

(3.13–19); 

(b) His commitment to sharing his life with them; 

(c) His intention to give time for imparting on them (6.6b–13, 30–32) and his use of recent events and teachings as an opportunity for further teaching and discussion, helping his followers to process externally what they had experienced (4.35–41; 8.27–30); 

(d) His willingness to have an inner circle (Peter, James, and John) who would witness more intimately and directly three momentous events in his life – his rising from the dead, Transfiguration, and Agony (5.37–43; 9.2–8; 14.32–36); 

(e) His willingness to chide and admonish, to expose and rebuke his followers, while being totally committed to their growth and restoration (8.17–21; 9.35–37); 

(f) His ability to ask questions which would bring to the surface their wrong motivations or muddled ideas (8.17; 9.33–34);

(g) His occasional giving of bizarre instructions which simply had to be obeyed ‘because he said so’ (but which would make sense later: 11.2–3ff; 14.13–16); 

(h) His deliberate policy of letting them see him both in public and in private, both ‘on the job’ and more intimately ‘as a friend’. 

. It is interesting to note that Jesus himself became a disciple in order to model his disciples. The following scriptures attest to the fact that Jesus was himself a disciple here on earth:

Isaiah 54:4,5 Isa 50:4-5

he Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue,

to know the word that sustains the weary.

He wakens me morning by morning,

wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. 

The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears,

and I have not been rebellious;

I have not drawn back. 

John 5:19

Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 

Disciples in the Context of John 8:28-32

Jesus told them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you'll know that I am the one and that I can't do anything on my own. Instead, I speak as the Father taught me. Besides, the one who sent me is with me. He hasn't left me by myself. I always do what pleases him. As Jesus was saying this, many people believed in him. So Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you live by what I say, you are truly my disciples." (God’s Word Translation).

There is a pronounced difference disciple and disciple indeed. The people who learned enough to believe in Jesus were considered his disciples, but Jesus said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” The word indeed, means truly, in reality or most certainly.

To be a disciple indeed, one must: 

1. Continue in the word, John 8:31, Col.3:16, 1Pet.2:2; 2Cor.10:5

2. Abide in Christ

3. Love the Lord more than all else. Luke 14:26,27, 33

4. Count the cost 

5. Be rooted in good doctrine 

6. Fellowship with other believers 

7. Present your body unto the Lord as a living sacrifice

8. Bear good fruits by discipling others

9. Persevere unto the end