What does it mean/cost to be a disciple?
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What does it mean/cost to be a disciple?
What does it mean/cost to be a disciple?
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
How much does it cost?
Making disciples who make disciples was central to Jesus’ ministry.
It is also the heart of the great commission. Jesus commanded His disciples and every generation of believers to make disciples. While we are warranted in keeping track of numbers. Our most important ministry measuring stick is are we making disciples.
Most evangelical churches understand the need to make disciples. The bigger issue is understanding the cost and being willing to pay that cost.
A good place to begin would be to remind each other that even though we are able to repeat words does not guarantee that we know what the words mean or what the answer means.
“Ikura desuka?” “Ichi man, nana hyaku, san ju go yen desu” - It is 10,735 yen.
What does it cost/mean to be a disciple?
What does it mean to deny oneself, take up one’s cross and follow Jesus?
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
What does it mean to not be ashamed of Jesus and His words in an adulterous and sinful generation?
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
When we ask what something costs, the answer is for the most part only words until we understand the meaning of those words and how that applies in our individual lives.
When it comes to the answering the question, “What is the cost of discipleship?” , Jesus method of discipling did not always articulate the cost of discipleship. Quite some time before Jesus called them crowd with the disciples to Him and said,
Mk
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
He gave them ministry assignments with clearly defined parameters that indirectly but clearly exemplified the cost of discipleship.
Salvation, forgiveness of sin does not happen without Jesus. And while we are saved by grace through faith, whereby we confess our sin and ask that Jesus righteousness be credited to us. When that happens, it happens in the context of an unbreakable inseverable relationship with Jesus and our heavenly Father.
So as we observe the disciples in their co-op program, we can begin to answer our question.
What does it mean/cost to be a disciple of Jesus?
Doing what Jesus commands -
Proclaiming that people should repent - 6:12
Jesus set the example - - kingdom of God connection
Repentance and faith - believe
Responses required by God of man to God’s gracious offer of salvation.
testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Change of mind and heart as turn from sin to God.
For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
True repentance is the work of God in the human heart.
When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
Acts 11:
John the Baptist had previously preached repentance -
Jesus’ primary ministry focus was teaching & preaching - , ; ,, ; ; ,, ; , 6
Meeting people’s other spiritual needs - 6:13
Having been given authority by Jesus to cast out demons - demonstrating Jesus authority over the supernatural world and this confirming Jesus’ claim of being God.
Anoint with oil many who were sick and healed them.
This is the first ministry related reference to oil and healing.
In Jesus’ day oil was often used medicinally - - good Samaritan - bound up his wounds pouring in oil and wine.
Also represented the presence of the Holy Spirit and symbolically represented supernatural healing.
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by.
Zech 3:
And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
Zech
Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
Caring out the ministry assignment as commanded - 6:8-11
Take nothing for your journey - staff, one tunic, sandals, no bread, no bag, no money in their belts, no extra tunic.
Because of no reserves and no bag for any extras, they would need to trust God for each meal, any money and anything extra needed.
2. Trusting Jesus to work in the hearts of people to believe and to provide for their needs - 6:8-11
Message proclaimed and ministry carried on - 6:12
In Mark’s and Matthew’s and Luke’s parallel accounts of Jesus sending out the 12 in pairs for ministry, Christ’s instructions did not mention proclaiming the Gospel. By now, proclaiming the Gospel wherever they went seems to have be expected. Jesus had done that and now it was their turns.
This will be their first proclaiming the Gospel. They must be been a bit apprehensive. Jesus had not always been well accepted. In fact, he had been soundly rejected in Nazareth. Nevertheless, the 12 are sent out on their own, without Jesus.
Some might suggest this was too soon. But they had to start some time. Mercifully, their first ministries were well received, including dealing with those who were demon possessed and ill.
The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.
Mk
No amount of training or experience guarantees a response to the Gospel. It is not who we know, where we are from or our past that guarantees success today or tomorrow.
Needs for the journey - 6:8-9
Needs for the journey - 6:8-9
Needs for the journey - 6:8-9
This was huge with no guarantees.
Because of no reserves and no contacts in the villages, they were totally dependent on the Lord for all of their needs.
Any money, food would come from those whose hearts the Lord opened.
Because of no reserves and no bag for any extra, they were forced to depend on the Lord and those to whom they ministered for each meal and every need.
Housing and hospitality - 6:10-11
And if God graciously provided more than what they needed, they had no bag to carry the extra with them.
Gentle reminder of God’s provision of manna during the 40 years in the wilderness.
The also had to trust God for place to stay with that place to stay there came God’s indication how long they were to stay and minister there.
Shaking dust off sandals was a object lesson that in rejecting the disciples and their message Jesus was also being rejected - shaking off dust an expression of disdain. With that gesture they were saying that those whom they were leaving behind pagan/godless.
But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.
3. Graciously telling the truth even when it might not be appreciated - not being ashamed of Jesus in an adulterous and sinful generation - 6:14-29
This section begins with the connector King Herod had heard about Jesus ministry through which His name had become known, all kinds of things flooded King Herods’ mind.
The first verses of this portion provide a summary of Herod’s relationship with John the Baptist who Mark mentioned had been arrested. Now we are given the details of that arrest.
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God,
Mark whom we have noted was usually concise, here deviated from that pattern and provides more detail.
Why Herod was concerned -
Why Herod imprisoned John the Baptist -
John had been saying to Herod - It is not lawful for you to marry your brother’s wife.
When Herod heard John he was perplexed but heard him gladly
Herod seemed to have a higher opinion of Jesus than Jesus family or Nazareth neighbours.
How John came to be beheaded -
King Herod - 4 rulers bear the name of Herod the NT
Herod the Great - - had the children 2 years old and younger in Bethlehem murdered - 10 wives
4 sons most of whom went by Herod and some even King Herod
This Herod was officially Herod Tetrarch as were the other sons each ruling 1/4 of the territory ruled by their father.
The delicate balance of being gracious and telling the true message of grace - 6:19-20
This Herod tetrarch - Herod Antipas - of Galilee and Perea -
Jilted his own wife and convinced Herodias to divorce her husband - Herod Philip - Herod Antipas’ 1/2 brother to marry him.
The delicate balance of being gracious and telling the true message of grace - 6:19-20
John is caught in the intrigue of this household.
Although began as the nominal one in charge, Herodias became the conniver who pulled the strings in a context that would have seemed to have be somewhat lewd.
John was there because he kept telling telling Herod that the marriage was not lawful - not lawful according to Mosaic law.
Balance of grace and truth - Jesus was the perfect balance
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Grace with no truth or boundaries leads to everything goes - licentiousess
Truth with no grace leads to harsh legalism with no compassion.
Some have suggested that with this expression John might have been reflecting on Moses request for the Lord to show Moses his glory. The Lord’s response was to show Moses all of His grace and goodness.
Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
Ex
Sin plus God’s grace to forgive
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”
:
It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife - 6:18
According to Mosaic law
You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness.
In the wrong place at the wrong time for the right reason - 6:21-29
When we are about to caution someone, we are wise to avoid expressing what is not clear in the Word as a clear command.
So as to be consistent with our context - truths from God’s word that apply to unbelievers as well as unbelievers.
What might we say to someone who with no health issues and when work is available chooses to collect some kind of assistance rather than work.
For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
2 T
Fudging your time sheet
Lying to those dear to your or your doctor.
Anger
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
Most would argue that John the Baptist, a Jew, had no right to expect Herod, a Roman Gentile leader, to respect what the Word of God defined as lawful.
In the wrong place at the wrong time for the right reason - 6:21-29
In the wrong place at the wrong time for the right reason - 6:21-29
If we accept that form of reasoning then who or what determines what is right or wrong, lawful or unlawful?
Culture
Government
Nazis collectively decided that Jews, minorities - Romas, the imperfect etc were eliminated.
Pierre Ellliot Trudeau once commented that the government had no right in the bedroom. To some extent that is true. Why is it then in recent years, the government and the Supreme Court have stepped in the bedroom, into the classroom, the workplace and into many other areas including the social services, media and even to the extent that they infer ministries and churches watch what they say as to what is right and wrong.
Regrettably, some of us increasingly find ourselves surrounded by many one way streets, made up of special interest groups who empowered by the government and the judiciary system now have the right to say what is right and wrong, lawful and not lawful.
The students of Trinity Western University affirm a code of conduct that marriage is between a man and a woman and to abstain from sex outside of the marriage relationship. And although over the years some Supreme Court justices would have affirmed the TWU code of conduct, none of those justices were accused of being biased or discriminatory. Nevertheless TWU has been denied a charter to set up a faculty of law.
The irony of some of that some political directives are based culture shifts and “sociological studies, Canada Human Rights Trust gathered the following stats.
33% of LGB youth have attempted suicide compared 7% of youth in general
LGBTQ youth are 4 times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. That stat doubles - 8X - for those who are not accepted by their families.
In the wrong place at the wrong time for the right reason - 6:21-29
For stating that something was wrong to those who had the power of life and death, John lost his life.
It would be interesting to tell this story to someone like you just read it in a publication. Ask them whether JB deserved to die for saying something was unlawful.
Each of us needs to ask ourselves whether we would say something was wrong even if it was probably the wrong place and the wrong time.
Would you talk workplace theft with those in charge even might be part of the problem?
4. Trusting Jesus to work through you to meet the needs of other - 6:30-45
Delicate balance of caring for yourself and others - 6:30-33
Caring for the sheep - spiritually - taught them - 6:34
Sheep without a shepherd - an OT picture of people who were helpless and starving - lacking spiritual guidance - exposed to the perils of sin and life
Jesus used sheep to believer and those who would believe.
To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
Jesus referred sheep that were not of this fold - Gentiles
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
Jn 10:
Jesus was moved with compassion and began to them many things/
Following the excellent example of Jesus, we have a comparable responsibility to those who are not of this fold.
Somehow we need to communicate the Word of God to those who have no access to the Word.
Caring for the sheep - physically - you give them something to eat - 6:35-45
From a human perspective, giving the crowd a meal was overwhelming - 200 denaria - 1 denaria - daily wage of a day labourer.
After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Matt
So this about 8 month’s wages
We can’t, but they failed to consider what they had and ask God to bless and use what they had.
All ate and were satisfied
5,000 men plus women and children = about 20,000
All fed with 5 loaves and 2 fish with 12 basket full of left overs - baskets the smaller ones used to carry food and other smaller items.
Discipleship questions that cannot be avoided:
Where and to whom is Jesus sending us?
How do we most effectively tell them to repent?
The Gospel is like a ring of keys, one of which will fit in the heart - Allan Burrows
What other needs must we address?
Not either or but both and
2. What are the costs involved for which we must trust Jesus?
Emotional and financial security
3. Why must we balance grace and truth? How?
How would we want that person to talk with my dear sweet mother?
4. What did Jesus teach His disciples/what would He teach us about caring for the sheep - priorities, resources and faith?
We must be willing to try some firsts.
We must listen carefully for Jesus command - You give them something to eat.