What is a Disciple? - Follower of Jesus

Introduction

When I was working on what to preach this summer, I was moved to re-examine discipleship. In the past I have always looked at discipleship as trying to teach and shape people to be a certain way. When this did not work, I always assumed it was because I was not doing a good job at it. This always nagged me in the back of my mind trying to figure out what I have been doing wrong. God spoke to me and said it is not about what you think they should be as disciples but about turning towards God to seek. In other words, what I may think a person should be doing and saying is not the same as what God may have plans for. You hear me use the body analogy a lot to illustrate how each of us are unique but equally important member of the body. What I was getting wrong was trying to make a person a body part they maybe God didn’t intend them to be so when they were doing the opposite or not doing what I thought, it had more to do with them following God rather than following me.

This led me to this series I will be preaching this summer. This summer we will be doing a deeper dive into what it means to be a disciple. Today’s focus will be on understanding what Jesus said it meant to be a follower or disciple in the context of commitment.

Definition of Disciples

If we go to the Harper Collins Bible dictionary it defines disciple as the following

The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (Revised and Updated) Disciple

disciple (Gk., “learner”), an apprentice or pupil attached to a teacher or movement; one whose allegiance is to the instruction and commitments of the teacher or movement. Isaiah called his followers disciples (8:16). Most NT references to “disciple” designate followers of Jesus, including both his closest associates (the twelve) and a larger number who also followed him (Luke 6:17); eventually, the term “disciples” was used as a virtual synonym for “Christians” (Acts 6:1). Other people, however, are also said to have had disciples, e.g., John the Baptist (Luke 11:1; John 1:35) and the Pharisees (Matt. 22:16; Mark 2:18). In John 9:28, some Pharisees claim, “We are disciples of Moses.” See also apostle; twelve, the.

So if this means as Christians or as disciples or followers of Jesus and his teachings, this means taking his teachings to heart and following them. Jesus taught his disciples to deny their old lives and follow after him, even to the point of picking up the cross to follow him.

Deny yourself

The first passage we will talk through is Matthew 16:24

Matthew 16:24 NRSV

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

In the passage in Matthew 16, there is mention of giving up your life rather than trying to save it. In some ways this may sound confusing but a blunt statement is being made. Jesus is telling his disciples and those listening today that trying to preserve our own plans and our own lifestyle is being done in vain. No matter how hard you try at this, it will come apart. No matter how hard you try to keep things they way you want them, you do this at the cost of losing out to your new life and purpose in Christ.

It is a difficult choice to make every day of your life. Will you follow Jesus’ call on your life or will you follow your plans? In verse 26 Jesus says what will you profit even if you gain the whole world (following your ways) but at the cost of forfeiting your life? There is no middle ground here. Jesus says follow him if you are to call yourself a disciple or a follower.

This means following his teachings no matter what happens. This may mean losing friends or family who do not want this. This may mean going against everything that is normal in this culture. This may mean risking your own life because others fight against you or condemn you for following Jesus.

Make the choice

Jesus mentioned this same topic in an earlier passage found in Matthew 10. He does the same thing in this passage where his challenge is for each person to take up the cross and follow him. His words here carry an additional note that when we choose other people or other things of this world, then we are not worthy to follow Jesus.

This sounds pretty harsh doesn’t it. If we value people like family above Jesus, then we are not worthy to call ourselves disciples or followers. This is difficult to take because he strikes at an area near and dear to most people. Most people value their family and love them dearly. Jesus makes clear nothing can be above our love and commitment to follow Jesus. This includes family. While this is no call to abandon your family or to not love them, it is a distinction or line in the sand Jesus is drawing. Jesus is saying their can be nothing higher in our commitments that is above our commitment to follow Jesus.

So if Jesus didn’t make you uncomfortable with tell your to give up your ways and follow him, now he also says don’t put any commitment above your commitment to follow his ways or you are not worthy to call yourself a disciple or follower of Jesus. As I mentioned earlier, it is not about committing yourself to the church and do nothing else but serve in the church. It is 100% about laying aside what you want to do with your life and then turning your whole life over to God to follow Jesus, even picking up the cross of suffering, pain, and death if that is what it takes to follow him.

Next Week - Counting the cost

This week we see there is a choice before us. A choice that requires we give up our life, that is to give up our plans for our lives in order to commit to follow Jesus completely. This is the only way we can truly call ourselves disciples or followers of Jesus. Next week we examine a passage in Luke that says before you make commitments, count the cost so that your don’t fail to complete the work before you.