Jesus began His earthly ministry by calling certain individuals to follow Him. The twelve disciples that he chose literally walked on earth with Him daily and were continuously by His side.
Today He has ascended to the Father and now He is once again summoning individuals to follow Him and walk by His side, but this time it’s through His Spirit. Many seem to misunderstand biblical accounts of how Jesus views discipleship and His purpose for calling disciples in the first place. His definition of discipleship differs from that of many in the church who think that discipleship singularly refers to the fulfillment of the Great Commission, and although going to every nation and discipling them is vitally important, discipleship means far more than that to Jesus.
There are at least three important aspects of discipleship. First and foremost He desires for us to be with Him and to get to know Him intimately. He wants us to have a close personal relationship with Him. He deeply loves us and wants us to love Him above anything and everything else. This is His heart.
Secondly He wants us to follow Him in order that we might think, feel, and live as He commands. We are to remain steadfast and faithful and continue to follow Him, even when faced with difficult trials, tribulations, and societal rejection.
Third we are indeed called to disciple others to the ends of the earth, something often referred to as the Great Commission. The last thing Jesus said before ascending into heaven, (as recorded in all four Gospels), was to go and preach the Gospel and make disciples of every nation.
In summary:
1. We are to develop a personal relationship with Christ and know Him
2. Follow Him and not the world
3. Go and make disciples of all nations One last thing discipleship is not just a solo effort. The disciples ate together, laughed together, grieved together, learned together and loved one another.
No small wonder that Jesus sent them out in twos . . . He knew that we all need others in our lives. Why even Sherlock Holmes had Watson . . .
Mark 6:7
Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two . . .
August 17, 2015 – Click here to listen