Introduction to Discipleship: It's All About Relationships
In this chapter, we explore a crucial part of Jesus' teaching: how a disciple should treat other people. Being a disciple (a follower of Jesus) isn't just about what you believe in your head; it’s about how you act with your hands and heart. Jesus taught that the way we treat the people around us—especially the poor, the annoying, and even our enemies—is the true "test" of our faith.
Think of it like this: If you say you are a great teammate but never pass the ball and yell at your friends, are you really a good teammate? Jesus says discipleship is seen in our attitudes and actions toward others.
Note: This chapter focuses on specific teachings found in the Gospels. For Jesus’ teachings on personal behavior in the Sermon on the Mount, see the related chapter "The demands of discipleship: the Sermon on the Mount."
1. The Foundation: Love as the Greatest Commandment
Jesus made it very simple: everything boils down to love. He connected our relationship with God directly to our relationship with other people.
Mark 12:28-34: The Greatest Commandment
A scribe (a teacher of the law) asked Jesus which commandment was the most important of all. Jesus answered by quoting two Old Testament laws:
- Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
- Love your neighbor as yourself.
Jesus argued that there is no commandment greater than these. In fact, he taught that you cannot truly do the first one without doing the second. The scribe agreed, noting that this kind of love is more important than religious rituals or sacrifices.
John 13:34-35: The New Commandment
In John’s Gospel, Jesus gives his disciples a "new" commandment: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
Why is it "new"? Because the standard changed! Instead of just "loving your neighbor as yourself," disciples are now told to love as Jesus loved them—which is a selfless, sacrificial kind of love. Jesus says this love will be the "uniform" or "ID badge" of a disciple: people will know who his followers are by the way they love each other.
Key Takeaway: Love is the core demand of discipleship. It is not just a feeling, but a commitment to the well-being of others.
2. Mercy and Unlimited Forgiveness
One of the hardest parts of being a disciple is dealing with people who hurt us. Jesus taught that forgiveness must be central to a disciple's life.
Matthew 18:21-35: The Unforgiving Servant
Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone—is seven times enough? (In those days, three times was considered plenty!). Jesus answered, "Not seven, but seventy-seven times" (or 70 times 7). He didn't mean we should stop at 490; he meant forgiveness should be limitless.
To explain why, Jesus told a parable:
- A servant owed a King a massive debt (millions of dollars in today's money). He couldn't pay, but the King had mercy and cancelled the debt.
- That same servant then found a fellow servant who owed him a tiny amount (a few dollars). Instead of showing mercy, he had the man thrown in prison.
- When the King found out, he was furious. He told the servant he should have shown the same mercy he had received.
The Lesson: Disciples must forgive others because God has already forgiven them a much "larger debt" of sin. If a disciple refuses to forgive, they cannot expect God's mercy.
3. Greatness through Service
In the world, "greatness" usually means having power over others. Jesus turned this idea upside down.
Mark 10:35-45: The Request of James and John
Two disciples, James and John, asked Jesus for the "VIP seats" (the places of honor) in his kingdom. The other ten disciples were angry when they heard this.
Jesus sat them down and explained that while worldly leaders "lord it over" people, his disciples must be different: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant."
The Ultimate Example: Jesus points to himself as the model. He said the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Quick Review: In Jesus' Kingdom, the way "up" is "down." To be a leader, you must be a servant.
4. Who is my Neighbor? Redefining Community
Jesus challenged the "social boundaries" of his time. People usually only helped those in their own "group."
Luke 10:25-37: The Good Samaritan
When a lawyer asked, "Who is my neighbor?" (hoping to limit who he had to help), Jesus told the famous story of the Good Samaritan.
- A man was robbed, beaten, and left half-dead on the road.
- Two religious leaders (a Priest and a Levite) saw him but walked past on the other side. They were probably afraid of becoming "unclean" or were just too busy.
- A Samaritan (someone whom Jews usually hated and avoided) stopped, helped the man, cleaned his wounds, and paid for his stay at an inn.
The Lesson: A "neighbor" isn't just someone who lives near you or looks like you. A neighbor is anyone in need. Jesus tells his disciples to "go and do likewise."
5. Responsibility to the Poor and Marginalised
A major "demand" of discipleship is looking after those who have nothing. Jesus warned that ignoring the poor has eternal consequences.
Luke 16:19-31: The Rich Man and Lazarus
Jesus told a story of a rich man who lived in luxury while a poor man named Lazarus sat at his gate, covered in sores and hungry. The rich man never helped him. When they both died:
- Lazarus went to "Abraham’s side" (heaven).
- The rich man went to "Hades" (a place of torment).
The rich man's sin wasn't that he was mean to Lazarus—it was that he ignored him. He was blind to the suffering right at his doorstep.
Matthew 25:31-46: The Sheep and the Goats
This is a famous passage about the Final Judgment. Jesus says that when he returns, he will separate people like a shepherd separates sheep from goats.
- The Sheep (the blessed): These are people who fed the hungry, gave water to the thirsty, welcomed the stranger, clothed the naked, and visited the sick and imprisoned.
- The Goats (the cursed): These are people who did not do these things.
The Shocking Twist: Both groups ask, "When did we see you hungry or thirsty?" Jesus responds that whatever they did (or didn't do) for the least of these (the most vulnerable people), they did for him.
Key Takeaway: For a disciple, serving the poor is the same as serving Jesus himself.
Summary: The Checklist for Discipleship Attitudes
If you are studying for your exam, remember these five pillars of how disciples should treat others:
- Love: The highest priority; loving God and neighbor are linked.
- Forgiveness: Must be unlimited, because God has forgiven us.
- Service: True greatness is found in being a servant to all.
- Inclusion: Everyone is our neighbor, regardless of their background.
- Compassion: We are judged by how we treat the "least" in society.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't just say "disciples should be nice." Use the specific biblical terms like mercy, servant-leadership, and sacrificial love. Mention the specific parables (like the Unforgiving Servant or the Good Samaritan) to support your points in the exam!