Discipleship

GCSE: Religious Education

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A disciple of Jesus would be expected to do what and when Jesus asks, love his neighbour, be willing to forgive sins, show generosity, accept persecution and live their lives according to the Gospel.
The first disciples of Jesus were expected to give up everything to be followers of Jesus as this was shown in Mark’s Gospel when Jesus called his first disciples to follow him.
As Jesus walked along the shore of Lake Galilee he saw two fishermen, Simon and his brother Andrew, catching fish with a net. Jesus said to them “Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people.” At once they left their nets and went with him.
He went a little farther on and saw two other brothers James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in their boat getting their nets ready. As soon as Jesus saw them, he called them; they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and went with Jesus. (Mark’s Gospel – 1:16-20)
This extract from the story of Gospel gives us an idea of the sacrifices the disciples were required go through to follow Jesus. The main point this story is tells us is that to be a disciple you must respond immediately to Jesus’ demands no matter how extreme, even if that means leaving your friends, family and property behind.
In chapter two of Mark’s Gospel Jesus was once again back to the shore of Lake Galilee in a boat to make more room for large crowd to hear him teach.
As he walked along, he saw a tax collector, Levi son of Alphaeus, sitting in his office. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Levi got up and followed him.
(Mark’s Gospel – 2:14)
This displays the fact that Jesus wasn’t afraid to work with people disliked by the rest of the community and that he treats everyone as equals. Levi demonstrates true discipleship by immediately following Jesus and leaving everything behind. This would have meant leaving a lot behind for Levi because he was a tax collector which although would make him unpopular with nearly everyone he knew, he would however be leaving a well paid job and a good standard of living
Jesus was fully aware that his disciples would find it difficult to give up everything won the spot with no knowledge of getting paid, rewarded or any form of shelter. When Peter opens up this point by telling Jesus, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”
Jesus replied, “Yes”…”and I tell you that anyone who leaves home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and for the gospel, will receive much more in this present age. He will receive a hundred times more houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields – and persecutions as well; and in the age to come he will receive eternal life. But many now who are first will be last, and many who now are last will be first.” (Mark’s Gospel – 10:29-31)
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