The missing piece in the discipleship puzzle
Moving from the information age to the apprentice stage
I recently finished reading Matthew's account of the Jesus-story, specifically the last three chapters. I've read this section many times before and have been moved in a slightly different way each time.
However, here are two things that stood out to me during this particular reading.
Jesus and the cross
1. The first was the variety and content of the insults directed towards Jesus as he hung on the cross in 27: 37-44.
"Those who passed by hurled insults at him" (v. 39), "the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him" (v. 41), and "in the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him" (v. 44).
However, their insults weren't the only thing they had in common. The content of their insults shared a very similar sentiment as well.
"He saved others, but he cannot save himself - If he is the Son of God, let God rescue him - If he comes down, we will believe in him" (paraphrase).
Their collective blindness is quite remarkable.
Little did they realize that it would not be him leaving the cross that would save them and give them reason to believe. He didn't save himself from certain death because his intention was to remain on the cross and make it possible for him to save them.
The cross they made to kill him would be the same cross he would use to give them new life. This is a picture of a grace and love personified.
Who is a disciple?
2. I also read something in the final verse of the account (28:20) that challenged my understanding of discipleship anew.
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (19,20).
This passage has historically been referred to as the Great Commission. Jesus had been recently resurrected and was about to ascend back to his Father. Realizing that his time was short, he wanted to leave the remaining disciples with a number of very important instructions.
While the entire section is crucial, his final imperative on teaching is key, especially when you refer back to his first commandment to "make disciples."
It leads me to think about these questions:
Who is a disciple?
What does a disciple of Jesus look like?
What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?
I think Jesus answered these questions in the very next verse. It was a theme he spoke of many times during his public ministry and one that seemed to be the centerpiece of his teaching and life -
"Obey everything I have commanded you."
There are two things I see here.
The first is that we don't have the privilege of picking and choosing which teachings of Jesus we like and don't like; which teachings we want to ignore and embrace; which teachings we want to live by and not to live by. The "everything" in Jesus' command is all-inclusive and applies equally to all of his teachings.
In fact, Jesus had his entire public ministry in mind here. His entire life should become the model from which and through which we live our lives, as we inch ever close to becoming like Jesus.
The second thing I see is that Jesus never instructed his disciples to simply pass on his teachings to the next generation, so that no one would forget them. This is certainly a crucial piece of the teaching puzzle (the passing on of information), but it should never be the end of the discipleship process.
Jesus' primary concern in passing on his teaching was that those who encountered his message would both hear and obey.
Moving from the information age to the apprentice stage
Countless numbers of people around the world have heard about Jesus and no doubt would be able to recite certain aspects of his teaching. However, that is not what it means to be his disciple.
According to Jesus' own words, those who want to be counted among his disciples (Christ-followers) are required not only to hear his words, but to obey them. That is, to allow his teachings and entire life to become a living reality in and through us.
We are one of Jesus' disciples only when we allow his story and life to become our story and life. Click To TweetMerely possessing information about Jesus will never be enough on its own. It is the starting point, but not the finish line. What we come to learn about him and from him needs to be translated into our living.
We are one of his disciples only when we allow the story and life of Jesus to become our story. When we personally identify with him to the point where his life becomes our life (i.e., baptism).
Obedience has often been the missing piece in the puzzle of discipleship. Click To TweetDiscipleship entails so much more than simply hearing Jesus' teaching. Discipleship includes listening and obeying. Obedience is a sign of surrender to Jesus. It takes us from the place where we hear Jesus' words, to living and obeying them. Only then can we say that we are apprentices of Jesus.
For so many, including myself, obedience has often been the missing piece in the puzzle of discipleship.
Perhaps we need to recall the words from the hymn below and allow it to be the soundtrack that moves us closer to following Jesus along the lines of obedience.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. - John H. Sammis
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