Sunday, May 29, 2011 am
THE LIFE OF JESUS (22)
The Disciples of Jesus
To consider the disciples of Jesus is something
that would be appropriate at any time during this study.
It would be beneficial at the beginning of His ministry and at
the end. But here we are, in
the midst of His ministry and we now examine His disciples as they
interacted with Him THROUGHOUT this period of teaching and work that
Jesus engaged in. This
is a good place to examine this, because Jesus had many followers, some
who followed only for a short while (or for some specific, temporary
benefit), but others had been following Him for a while and had become
more fully convince that He was the Messiah they had been seeking.
They would come to Him offering to follow Him to which Jesus
would respond.
In our lesson today, we are going to place
ourselves right in the middle of His ministry, (around 2 years in).
His apostles and closest disciples have been with Him since early
in His ministry. He is now famous and people of all sorts are coming and
going around Him.
Some see Him as their hope and others dismiss Him rejecting His
message. He is teaching,
working miracles and dealing with His enemies.
Just as He has sent out His twelve to increase their faith, He
also will send out 70 of His disciples in pairs to build them up.
Others are coming to Him offering to follow Him, but are they
really committed? Do they
know the cost? In our lesson
today we want to examine the cost of discipleship.
a.
The word means a learner or a follower.
But it refers to more than merely learning.
It is one who follows the teachings of another with the intent of
adhering to His message and example.
When Jesus told Peter and his fellow fishermen, “Follow Me”, He had more
than merely following Him around physically.
He intended for them to become His imitators (cf. 1 Cor. 11:1,
Eph. 5:1-2)
b.
The word disciple (maqhth/s) is used some 274
times in the gospels and Acts.
It is NOT used in the epistles after.
It is used: 76 times in Matthew, 46 in Mark, 38 in Luke, & 82 in
John. (Also 32 in Acts)
c.
During the life of Jesus, the term
generally referred to those who were following Jesus, either His
teachings or wherever He went.
The term usually has reference to a smaller group of those who
were around Him faithfully or consistently, as distinguished from the
multitudes who were constantly gathering around Him (cf. Matt. 5:1,
15:32 – concerning feeding the 4000, Matt. 14:13-15 – the 5000 feeding,
etc.). The point: A disciple
was MORE than one simply knew of Him or was around Him.
We have seen in our study that Jesus had many who were following
Him for the wrong reasons (i.e. His enemies).
a.
While Jesus was upon this earth, His
disciples believed Him and followed Him.
They learned from Him and followed His instructions.
Whatever He told them to do, that was what they did.
Even after He left,
b.
TODAY, we are given specific instructions
as to how to become a disciple/Christian -
We must obey the gospel – see Matt. 28:18-20.
c.
NOTE: Someone might say that we are not
told the disciples of Jesus while upon earth had to be baptized.
Whether or not they needed to be baptized back then is irrelevant
to us. They were under a
different law (Jesus had not yet died on the cross, Jesus could forgive
sins at will, etc.).
Furthermore, we don’t know that they were not baptized – consider the
following:
i.
Many of His followers began as disciples
of John the Baptist. He DID
baptize for the remission of sins, preparing the way of the Lord – Mark
1:4-5 notes this and that many came to him to be baptized.
ii.
While we are not given the specifics, we
know that the disciples of Jesus WERE baptizing – John 3:26.
It is very possible that such was required to become a disciple.
a.
Matt. 16:24-27 – Speaking to His
disciples Jesus described three things one must do to be His disciple:
i.
He must deny himself – the
idea being one who will not seek his own ways over that of Christ.
It described one who would give up worldly lusts, ungodliness and
whatever other sinful conduct governed his life.
Jesus expected His disciples to be willing to leave the things of
this world to follow Him.
Matt. 6:19-21 – do not lay for yourselves treasure on earth…;
When speaking to the rich young ruler, his wealth stood his way of
inheriting eternal life – Matt. 19:20-22.
Luke 14:24 says, “So likewise whoever does not forsake all that he has
cannot be My disciple.”
Paul demonstrated this in Galatians 2:20, 1 Cor. 9:25 – temperate in all
things.
Later in the ministry of Jesus, Peter with the others would acknowledge
they had left all to follow Him – Matt. 19:27
ii.
Take up his cross – a
reference to one being willing to endure whatever hardships or suffering
he might face. Not
only is the life of a disciple of Jesus about giving up ungodliness and
self-serving conduct, it also involves being willing to suffer.
That is a much greater level of commitment.
But that is what Jesus called for, more than once.
Matt. 10:38 – after speaking of
one putting Him over family, Jesus said again, “And he who does not take
up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.”
Mark’s account of the rich young ruler, even includes this in the saying
– Mk. 10:21.
Of course, Jesus would set the example by taking up His own cross.
iii.
“Follow Me” – Not only
must we give up what is ungodly, and be willing to suffer, we must also
positively do what He instructs of us.
As we noted earlier, “Follow Me” is about imitating Him.
That means we do the right things always.
On many occasions, we have noted that serving God is not just about what
we cannot do. It is about
what we CAN do. Jesus, set
an example of kindness, faithfulness to the Father, caring about others,
teaching others, doing good, praying, keeping the Law properly, and so
many other good things.
Acts 10:38 summarizes it, He “went about doing good.”
He expected His disciples to be busy doing that which is right – Matt.
10:6-7, Matt. 28:19-20, etc.
Our life of service to God is not merely about what we don’t do, it is
also about what we ought to be doing.
b.
Luke 9:57-62 – the cost of discipleship?
On another occasion, probably sometime during the final year of His
ministry we have this text recorded.
Again Jesus demonstrated what it is involved in being a disciple.
The text records different individuals coming to Him wanting to
follow Him, but were they really ready?
i.
57-58 – the first finds Jesus and said to
Him, “Lord, I will follow you wherever You go.”
His answer was that while foxes and birds have “homes”, He did
not.
The question was how much one was willing to give up to follow Him.
Are we willing to do without the luxuries of life?
Are we willing to do with the bare minimum if that is what it
calls for? Are we
willing to deny ourselves?
1 John 2:15-17 – Do not love the world…
Note that this is something Jesus wants one to consider BEFORE he makes
commitment to follow Him.
ii.
59-60 – next Jesus invites one to “follow
Me.” He responds, “I will
but let me first go and bury my father.”
Jesus responds, “Let the dead bury their own but you go and
preach the kingdom of God.”
The message is that the disciple of Jesus will put Him before the
commitments of this world. 2 Tim.
2:4 speaks of how the soldier doesn’t entangle himself in the affairs of
this life. Heb. 12:1 – lay
aside every weight.
Note that Jesus was not opposed to one going to a funeral.
The statement probably indicated that his father was still alive.
Perhaps to die soon.
The point is that he was putting off service until he took care of some
business.
The answer of Jesus was that you cannot put off obedience to Him.
There are some who seek to put off obedience for now.
Lessons have been presented that note how in every stage of life,
someone has “reason” to put off obedience – whether childhood, youth,
early in marriage and business, mid-life, and even the early sun-set
years. We reason we have
plenty of time – but do we?
iii.
61-62 – Another comes to Jesus and offers
to follow Him, BUT first he wants to bid his family farewell.
Jesus says, “No one having put his hand to the plow and looking
back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
The implication is that here is a disciple but he is not fully committed
(based on the reply of Jesus).
He is willing to follow, but he wants to take care of some things
first.
Note that the issue is NOT saying good-bye to friends and loved-ones,
but rather there is hesitation to follow.
Perhaps it is the result of a flippant commitment to Christ or
there are some things he wanted to take care of first or perhaps being
with family would prompt them to try and talk him out of it.
To be a disciple of Christ, one must stay faithful.
He cannot waver in and out of faithful service and still call
himself a disciple.
c.
Luke 14:26-33 – leaving all to follow
Him.
In another strong passage we find Jesus challenging His followers to put
Him first. It is a passage
in which Jesus says that we ought to carefully weigh our options before
committing to Him. It was
important back then and it is important even today.
This passage summarized what it means to be an apostle.
And thus we have made some observations about the
disciples of Jesus. This
lesson is of particular importance as we are just as much His disciples
today as they were back then.
May we seek to faithfully serve Him, as many of the examples we
read of in His life. What He
asks for is a great price, but rest assured He set the example and the
reward will be worth it. Are
you willing to pay the price?