How can we BECOME true DISCIPLES of JESUS?
October
17 Bible Reading: Mark Chapters 1-3
How can we BECOME true DISCIPLES of JESUS?
"And
He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they
came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He
might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast
out demons." (Mark 3:13-15)
In
the above passage, we see that Jesus chose twelve
disciples to serve with Him during His ministry and to provide leadership
for His church after His ascension. Jesus had spent much time in prayer with
God the Father before choosing His disciples, so His choices were in conformity
to His Father. These twelve disciples were selected because the number twelve corresponds
to the twelve tribes of Israel as these disciples would be judging the tribes
of Israel in the future. Jesus Himself has so stated this later: "Assuredly I say to you, that in the
regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have
followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of
Israel." (Matt 19:28)
The
twelve disciples that Jesus appointed to be His followers came from different backgrounds,
and there was nothing unique about these men except that their connection with Jesus would catapult them into further
greatness. As the select disciples of Jesus, these men were chosen to fulfill a
particular set of mission on the earth. In fact, there was a threefold purpose behind the call and
mission of the twelve disciples: (1) that they might be with Him; (2) that He
might send them out to preach; and (3) that they might have power to heal
sicknesses and to cast out demons.
- First,
they would be trained one-on-one by the Master Himself. They
were to prepare in private before preaching in public. This gives us a basic principle of service: we must spend time with Jesus before we move
out as His representatives (see Acts 1:21; 4:13). The purpose of the
appointment is that they might spend time with Him in order to learn from Him,
and then go out into their world to extend His work.
- Second,
they were commissioned to preach the advent of God’s Kingdom. They
were to proclaim and preach the words of Jesus as missionary evangelists with
the authority that Jesus would give them. This is the same authority that Jesus
has given us as well: "All authority
has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of
all the nations..." (Matt. 28:18-19)
- Third,
they were given supernatural power to heal and cast-off demons. Healing
the sick and casting out demons were confirmations of the power that Jesus had
bestowed to His disciples (Matt. 10:1). This would further demonstrate the
truth of their message of the kingdom of God that Jesus had proclaimed during
His earthly ministry. In fact, signs,
wonders and miracles are the credentials of the true disciples of Jesus
today!
So,
the question is: how can we become true
disciples of Jesus? Let us understand that discipleship is both relational and experiential. For the disciples of Jesus, they were required to be
under the immediate supervision of Jesus: watching His behavior, hearing His
words, interpreting His plans and proclaiming His message to the world. They
were to preach saying what He said and doing what He did, as Jesus Himself has
stated: "Most assuredly, I say to
you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater
works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." (John 14:12)
