|
Jesus’ Model of Discipleship
Jesus didn’t operate a formal school, but his
disciples took quite a course. He discipled them over a three year
period, not only establishing the course subject matter, but setting
the pattern by which future disciples should walk. His curriculum
is difficult to institutionalize because of its rigorous standards.
Institutions have sought to define it, replicate it, and make
programs out of it. But few have succeeded.
Jesus asked his disciples to do four things
that churches and other training institutions rarely do. He asked
them to abandon everything, to immerse themselves into a life of
constant ministry, to depend on God and no one else for their
resources, and to live in community.
It’s a tough road Jesus walked; it’s a road
that his disciples have been struggling to walk ever since. He
called it a narrow way. He didn’t try to soft sell its difficulty.
Let’s look at these four pillars of discipleship that Jesus required
of those who would follow him.
Abandon
-
“So they pulled their boats up on shore,
left everything and followed him.” Luke 5:11
-
“No one who puts his hand to the plow and
looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62
-
“Follow me and let the dead bury their own
dead.” Mathew 8:22
-
“If anyone would come after me, he must
deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24
-
“Any of you who does not give up everything
he has cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33
-
“Sell everything you have and give to the
poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow
me.” Luke 18:22
Sociologists have a term that has spiritual
implications. It’s “attachment theory.” We form attachments with
people and things over time. They become familiar; we become
comfortable with them. Because we grow up as selfish creatures in a
broken world, we become attached to the wrong stuff. We become
compromised, more citizens of the kingdom.
Jesus’ solution is a general purging. He asks
his disciples to abandon the familiar, even their families. He
won’t compete for our affection. The problem is that his disciples
of today have far more to abandon than those of past generations.
Separation anxiety is something to be wrestled with. The kind of
total abandon he required of his disciples is a rare occurrence in
our modern world.
Immersion
-
“Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching in
their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and
healing every disease and sickness among the people.” Matthew
4:23
-
“After this, Jesus traveled about from one
town and village to another proclaiming the good news of the
kingdom of God. The twelve were with him.” Luke 8:1
-
“So they set out and went from village to
village, preaching…” Luke 9:6
The issue of focus has become more
problematical as two trends have grown more prominent. One, the
pace of information flow and distracting influences has grown. And
two, perhaps coincidentally, the incidence of A.D.D. has increased
dramatically. People are struggling to focus.
Jesus forced his disciples to focus by
immersing them in a program of continual ministry. The distractions
of the past receded in the light of crowds of poor and hungry who
needed feeding, the sick who needed healing, and the hopeless who
needed encouragement.
Disciples who had previously been self-absorbed
and focused on issues of survival, began to center in on God’s
agenda, building the kingdom by ministering to the many who came
looking for a touch from God.
Dependence
-
“He told them, ‘Take nothing for the
journey – no staff, no bag, no bread, no extra tunic.’” Luke
9:3
-
“You give them something to eat.” Luke
9:13
-
“Go! I am sending you out as lambs among
wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals.” Luke 10:3
-
“Sell your possessions and give to the
poor.” Luke 12:32
Jesus is in the business of restoring his
kingdom to earth and using us to do it. Many of us as disciples
want to build his kingdom in our own strength and resources. But
Jesus’ discipling program didn’t allow for this. He gave His
disciples ministry assignments, but lest there be any confusion
about whose power they were to depend on, He gave them no
resources. Instead, they were to depend on God for everything, even
their most basic physical needs.
Day by day, moment by moment, the disciples
learned to depend on God for provision. As He provided for them,
they learned to trust Him more. Jesus constantly pointed out when
He saw faith in people, and this was his method to build up faith in
His disciples.
Body Life
-
“When morning came, he called his disciples
to him and chose 12 of them.” Luke 6:13
-
“When Jesus called the Twelve together, he
gave them power and authority…” Luke 9:1
-
“An argument started among the disciples as
to which of them would be the greatest.” Luke 9:46
-
“They found the Eleven and those with them,
assembled together.” Luke 24:33
Jesus had a lot of disciples, but he chose 12
and designated them as apostles. The crowds of disciples came and
went, but the Twelve went everywhere together. They were with one
another 24/7 over a period of about three years.
During that time, they got to know one another
well. They jostled for position; they fought with one another and
learned ministry together. In the process, they formed a group
identity and experientially learned what it means to function as the
body of Christ. They learned that they needed one another.
|
