Discipleship

"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."" (Matthew 28: 18-20 NIV)

"When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee." (John 4: 1-3 KJV)

It is Jesus who "makes disciples," although he does it through disciples. It has been said that "sheep make sheep," and as sheep and disciple are two similar terms for the same characters, so do disciples make disciples. Yet, the disciples who make other disciples, act in the name of Christ, and by his power and Spirit, so that when new disciples are made by older disciples, they are made by Christ. If one be truly converted and baptized by a disciple, he is just as really converted and baptized by Christ.

A "disciple" is a "follower." But, in the scriptures, a "disciple" is not generally one who is merely following physically, but spiritually, in the heart and mind. To follow implies a leader or guide.

A disciple then is both a follower and a student of another, of some master or teacher, first in belief and in faith, and then in deeds and in way of life.

"The disciple (student, follower) is not above his master (teacher, leader), nor the servant above his lord...It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord." (Matthew 10: 24, 25 KJV)

The disciple follows his teacher because his has become an admirer of his teacher's person, works, and teachings. A disciple continues to follow his master's way of life out of love for his master and out of faith and conviction in the person and teachings of his master. He follows because he wants to be an "imitator" of his master, because he wants to be "like him." In fact, the very word for "follower" and for "disciple" carries with it the very idea of imitating or emulating. Also, though a disciple desires to be "like" or "as" his master, in his thoughts and deeds, yet he does not desire to be above or superior to him, or to compete with him, being happy and contented to remain always a disciple.

Involved in the word "disciple" is the word "discipline." A disciple is one who is under the rule and discipline of Christ.

"And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?" (Mark 2: 18 KJV)

"Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples." (John 9: 28 KJV)

"Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master..." (Matthew 22: 15, 16 KJV)

It was no contradiction to be a disciple of Moses and to be a disciple of Christ. One did not exclude the other. In fact, as Jesus taught, those who were truly disciples of Moses would all become his disciples, for Moses himself, like Abraham, was a disciple of Christ, though from the Old Testament. It is, however, a contradiction, to be a disciple of the Pharisees, or of the Herodians, or of the Sadducees, or of any other false religious sect.

"Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." (John 6: 60-66 KJV)

Here were people who were called "disciples" and "followers" who did not continue to follow him or desire to be longer his associates. They were part of a large crowd who constantly followed Christ around in their physical bodies. Their reasons for following Christ were not proper. Some simply followed him so that they could possibly get a miraculous meal to eat. To these physical followers, Jesus said - "Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles (and became true believers), but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed." (John 6: 26, 27 KJV)

Why did these physical followers quit following? It was because they could no longer "stomach" the food he was dispensing to their souls. Their love of the loaves and fishes could not overcome their distaste for what Christ was teaching.

"As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8: 30-32 KJV)

Jesus knew that not all seeming or apparent disciples and followers were truly, ipso facto, disciples of his person and message. He knew that these would not long stay sitting at his feet, for he knew that their hearts despised him and his message.

"...he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers...But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10: 3-5, 26-28 KJV)

All the sheep will not fail to follow Christ. That does not mean that they never fail, or that they live above sin, but it means that this is characteristic of their lives. They regularly and habitually follow Christ and his teaching, and practice avoiding strange doctrines, as sheep avoid the voices of foreign shepherds.

"And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9: 57-62 KJV)

"If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14: 26-33 KJV)

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." (Matthew 16: 24, 25 KJV)

By these words of Jesus it is not hard to identify the true disciples from the pretentious, presumptious, or seeming ones. They put following Christ above every other thing.

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8: 12 KJV)

"And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!" (Matthew 12: 49 KJV)

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13: 35 KJV)

"Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." (John 15: 8 KJV)

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." (I Corinthians 11: 1 KJV)

"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love..." (Ephesian 5: 1, 2 KJV)

"And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost." (I Thessalonians 1: 6 KJV)

"For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus..." (I Thessalonians 2: 14 KJV)

"That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." (Hebrews 6: 12 KJV)

"Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." (Hebrews 13: 7 KJV)

"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." (I Peter 2: 21 KJV)

"And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?" (I Peter 3: 13 KJV)

"Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but (follow) that which is good. He that doeth (practrices as a habit) good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God." (III John 1: 11 KJV)

"If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour." (John 12: 26 KJV)

Taken together, what do all these verses on discipleship teach us? To follow the teachings of the apostles and prophets is to follow God, and to follow Christ. To follow Christ is to love him, do his will and bidding, be dedicated to his way of life. Every man is a disciple of some man or some philosophy. Whose disciple are you?