Discipleship: Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ
What is a Disciple according to the Bible?
The word “disciple” in the New Testament is defined as a learner or a pupil. It is one who receives instruction from another. Another way to think of it is a student adhering to the teachings or doctrines of another. Therefore, in the New Testament, a disciple of Jesus Christ is a follower of His example and dedicated to Him as Teacher and Master. The responsibility is paramount…
Jesus Christ demands total devotion from those who will be His disciples (Luke 14:25-35).
Jesus Christ gave the Great Commission to His disciples for the sole purpose of reproducing Christian disciples (Matt. 28:18-20).
The Pharisees in Jesus’ time said they were disciples of Moses (John 9:28). However, they were self-deceived. They were self-righteous, lacked true spiritual understanding, and were motivated by the wrong incentives of faithful service. Jesus rebuked them many times for these errors (Matt. 12:1-8, 15:1-9, Mark 2:15-28, etc.). As true disciples of Jesus Christ, we must understand the detail and requirements of what it means to be His disciple.
A disciple of Jesus Christ comes through substantial evidence:
The highest honor of the disciple is to have fellowship with the Master Himself. The greatest gift of the Teacher is to reveal Himself as example so that He can be imitated. Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matt. 11:28-30). When Jesus was upon Earth, He displayed many signs in the presence of His disciples (John 20:31), continuing to reveal Himself even after His resurrection (John 21:1-25). No teacher ever taught with such authority (Matt. 7:28-29) and no teacher provided such proof of truth as Jesus Christ (John 6:63, 17:17-21, 21:2-25). Today, Jesus continues to teach and lead Christians through the Holy Spirit (John 16:13-15).
A disciple of Jesus Christ comes with significant conditions:
1. There Must be Hating. Jesus said, "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" (Luke 14:26). This is not a sinful hate and there is no bitterness in this hate. Oftentimes, your family's desire and influence upon your life are contrary to God's will for your life, and one cannot serve two masters with the same faith, love and devotion for each (Luke 16:13). The reality is that the father, mother, family, etc. must never take the prominent place in the disciple’s life with relationship to Christ. Jesus comes before all family, and even before our own self. Your life is a world of distractions. As a believer in Jesus Christ, your life is hidden with Him in God (Col. 3:3). Christ is our body and being (Acts 17:28, Eph. 5:30) so embrace this truth mentally and spiritually (Rom. 12:1-2, Col. 3:2) as a disciple of Christ.
2. There Must be Cross-bearing. "And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:27). When Jesus carried His own cross up to His crucifixion, He was carrying the weight of all burdens upon His shoulders. Carrying your cross is carrying the trials, tribulations, afflictions, and sufferings (which you will encounter) with grace, humility, and patience as you follow Jesus. A cross-less disciple is unworthy of such a Master (Matt. 10:38; 2 Tim.3:12).
3. There Must be a Forsaking All. “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14.33). A disciple of Christ must come to the realization that all which is offered in Him is worth more than all that is offered in the world. Forsaking all means all. Your family, your friends, your possessions, your interests, your life itself must be set aside for pursual of Jesus. The Apostle Paul knew the meaning of this when he said, "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" (Phil.3:7-8).
4. There Must be a Continuing in His Word. “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed" (John 8.31). The Word of God is the Truth (John 8:32, 17:17). Continuing in the Word of God is becoming a diligent student of the Bible. A disciple of Christ must spend ample, quality time in the Scriptures to know them intimately and be molded by them accordingly (Matt. 4:4, 2 Tim. 2:15, 3:14-17). Continue in the love of His Word and you will continue in the power of it.
5. There Must be Fruit-bearing. "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples" (John 15:8). Bearing spiritual fruit is reproducing oneself as a believer in Christ (Prov. 11:30, John 4:36) and reproducing oneself as a disciple of Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18-20). Furthermore, as the fruit of the Spirit was abundantly manifest in the life of Jesus (Gal 5:22-23, Eph. 5:9-10), so will it be in the lives of those who are His disciples. “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God” (Phil. 1:11).
A disciple of Jesus Christ is to be known by others through love:
"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35). Disciples may, and do, differ in the way they carry out their work, but if love for one another is lacking, it is evidence that the love of God is not dwelling in us (1 John 4:7-8). God is love (1 John 4:8 & 16) and He demonstrated His love towards the world in offering a plan of redemption and reconciliation back to Him (John 3:16, Rom. 5:8-10, Eph. 2:4-9). Disciples of Christ must exemplify love which the world can see. Love is action with no boundaries nor limitations (1 Cor. 13:1-13).
A disciple of Jesus Christ yields the greatest reward:
Jesus said, “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt. 10:39). True meaning and fulfillment of life is only found in Jesus Christ (John 10:9-10). We are sanctified (made pure and holy & set apart for God’s use) only in the Truth of Jesus Christ (John 17:17-19). True joy in life is only found in discipleship (1 John 1:3-4). True peace in life is only found in discipleship (John 14:27). There is nothing more worthy in this life or the life to come than becoming a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).
Salvation is free to us because it was purchased by Jesus Christ. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ comes with cost but bears unfathomable eternal reward. Living a life as a disciple of Jesus Christ is not difficult (Matt. 11:29-30) for the Christian who will yield to the Holy Spirit and truly see the world through eternal spiritual lens. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).
Are you and I truly disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ?
