What is a Disciple of Jesus?
Stated simply, a Disciple is a learner and a follower. The word translated disciple is µαθητηs, mathetes meaning a learner. The learner acquired knowledge or a skill from a person who was an expert in the area of study. Today we would use the term apprentice or intern. During the time of Christ, the focus had shifted increasingly to the relationship between the master and the disciple. There were disciples of the Pharisees, disciples of the prophets and disciples of John the Baptist. Matt 9:14; Mk 2:18
Jesus took the cultural understanding of a disciple as a starting point, and throughout His earthly ministry taught and modeled what it meant to be one of His disciples. It is important to realize that just as each Gospel writer presented a different emphasis of the person of Christ, so also, each writer gives a different dimension of being a disciple of Jesus. Failure to integrate all of the Gospel accounts into one overall view leads to an unbalanced understanding of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
For example:
- Matthew brings out the commission of disciples to go out and make more disciples. Matt 28:18-20
- Mark emphasizes the essence of discipleship is servanthood, serving others. Mk 10:42-45
- Luke cautions of the cost of following Jesus. The life of following Jesus includes detachment from competing allegiances and giving personal allegiance to Jesus as Master. Lk 14:25-35
- John focuses on the entry point of becoming a disciple of Jesus, through faith in Him. The word “believe” appears more than 80 times in John’s account. Once we have walked through the door of initial faith, John presents through the example of the 12
disciples the lifelong process of spiritual growth in our understanding of Jesus.
For the believer in Christ, John gives us three marks of a disciple of Jesus:
- John 8:31-32 If we continue in His word
- John 12:34-35 If we have love for one another
- John 15:8 Bearing fruit to prove we are disciples.
These three marks give us a great foundation upon which to order our personal lives, and to create a discipleship culture in our churches. The believer who is living out these evidences becomes qualified to fulfill the basic command to make disciples of others.
Through my journey to define what it is to be a disciple of Jesus, I found Michael Wilkins’ book Following the Master to be an excellent resource. It is a long read, but delivers on the goal of presenting a comprehensive, balanced, Biblical view of discipleship.