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As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore. Jesus said therefore to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. (NASB) John 6:66-68 |
Jesus' concept of discipleship includes more than teaching. It involved revealing Himself. He sought their commitment and gave them ministry assignments. He was preparing men to have spiritual eyes fixed on Him, men who would be faithful. Men who would be slaves for others and seek to be leaders. Jesus was looking for humble leaders. Men and women who did not see themselves as "more gifted" or more spiritual or more "anything" than others.
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It is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; (NASB) Matthew 20:26-27 |
Discipleship - The Goal. What is the goal of discipleship? If we desire to disciple others, we need to know where we are going. Jesus modeled biblical discipleship. It is about preparing men and women to be spiritually mature. Matthew 28:19 tells us the goal and the starting point.
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Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, (NASB) Matthew 28:19 |
When we place our trust in Jesus to forgive us of our sins, that is the point we become Christians (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28). It is also a mark of a successful discipleship - one who makes disciples. A growing disciple is one who makes disciples. If you are a Christian, are you a growing disciple? 1 John 2:12-14 is the major passage in the Bible that gives the marks of a spiritual maturity - it tells us what discipleship is all about.
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I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. (NASB) 1 John 2:12-14 |
This passage describes three levels of Christian growth. A master teacher starts with a baby Christian; his sins have been forgiven. The second level is a young man. The mark of a young man is that he is overcoming the evil one; he is spiritually strong, and he knows the Word of God both intellectually and in his life. The mark of a mature disciple is one who really knows the Father.
Discipleship - How? How do we get there? Jesus gave the example - teaching, openly sharing yourself, doing ministry together and by assignment. It involves commitment by both. The master should be one who is mature in the Lord. This does not necessarily mean older people. Chronological age does not always result in spiritual growth. Many older people do not really know the Word. Nor does this mean that young men with Bible knowledge are spiritually mature. Many are not overcoming the evil one. There is too much sin in their lives. Others are seasoned with wisdom that only comes with years of experience.
Conclusion: Discipleship cannot be as effective as it should be when the teacher is not a master of what he is teaching. The true master-teacher is the key to successful discipleship. A baby master-teacher can only produce baby disciples. A master-teacher who is a young man in the faith will not be able to produce men or women who are more than a spiritual young man in the faith. The master-teacher is the key. The point we are making echoes Jesus' words to His disciples.
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A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become as his teacher, and the slave as his master. (NASB) Matthew 10:24 |
The disciple will not rise above his master. I love Jesus' words "it is enough." It is enough to become like Jesus. There is nothing greater than to be like the Master. That is the goal - to be like Him. Why were the apostles so great? Their master-teacher was the key and the empowering of the Holy Spirit. His name was Jesus! |
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