Quiet time 24 May - Discipleship

What does it mean to follow Jesus? Interestingly, the New Testament only uses the word Christian three times - but it uses the word disciple 270 times. Christian is an easy term to get tied down in religious identification - Disciple on the other hand, stresses the relational nature of how we should follow Jesus. It is not about religion and tradition, it is about relationship and obedience to Jesus.

“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:16-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/mat.28.16-20.esv

All authority has been given to Jesus after his resurrection - and he is commanding disciples to go out and make more disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to observe all that Jesus taught. Jesus also gives the promise that he is with us to the end of the age.

“Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭11:19-26‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/act.11.19-26.esv

The early church spread because of persecution, in the case mentioned above it is because of the stoning of Stephen. The church spread rapidly and the early disciples taught each other and encouraged each other to remain faithful.

“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:14-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/mrk.1.14-20.esv

Jesus called the disciples to follow him, and in following him they left behind everything. Jesus does not ask for our divided loyalty, he wants our complete discipleship.

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:31-32‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/jhn.8.31-32.esv

Being a disciple of Jesus in not just about believing that he is our lord and savior - it is about obedience. It is through obedience that we know the truth and are set free. Too often, we struggle with our faith and are unwilling to be obedient. Instead of viewing faith as necessary for obedience, we need to see that obedience and faith are sometimes intertwined and each can feed the other. By being obedient, we can improve our faith (know the truth) and be set free. Sometimes a leap of faith is done through the power of obedience.

“When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, 'Where I am going you cannot come.' A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."”
‭‭John‬ ‭13:31-35‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/jhn.13.31-35.esv

Disciples should be identifiable by their love. Not only are we called to love one another, but we are called to love one another just as Jesus loved us. When we consider the incredible extent of Jesus's love for us that he showed by dying for us we can realize how tall of an order this is. But through Jesus's spirit we can make progress towards the impossible.

“"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15:1-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/jhn.15.1-8.esv

We are not disciples in our own right and we cannot make ourselves bear fruit on our own. We are disciples because of our relationship with Jesus (the vine) and we can only bear good fruit through our adherence to him. Discipleship is not a call to self reliance or a sense of inner calm - it is a call to complete reliance on Jesus and the calm that comes from that relationship. Suffering is not precluded from the life of the disciple - in fact, it is going to happen (like pruning) so that we may bear more spiritual fruit.