Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-10;
Being a student is a phase we want to get past expeditiously. I recall days in high school when I wanted to go through every level in a breeze. Going to school is an experience that we are unconsciously or consciously conditioned to detest. Blame it on the hard materials we had to memorize and the quizzes and tests that no one ever aced in totality; all these are rooted in the pressure to perform. Isn’t that what the connotation A student, B student was derived from? Are the repelling attitudes of many unjustifiable? I think not!
The term disciple as we read from the scriptures is not a big variation from a student’s life. A disciple is a learner, a follower, and if I might add emphasis, a disciple is a lifelong learner. This isn’t the kind of school you can wrap up. Jesus must’ve been very strategic when He called His apprentices disciples and not anything else. Jesus is the teacher. He was referred to as Rabbi. When Jesus began His mission, it wasn’t a solo act. John the Baptist prepared the way and then He (Jesus) in turn roped in people to come and partner with Him; the twelve.
There is no distinct outline of how the disciples are made but we get to derive a few things from the way Jesus invited them to live. Even on the day they were called when Jesus caused the multiplication of the fish (Luke 5), there are three things I learn;
THREE P’S OF DISCIPLESHIP
1. POSTURE
Jesus said “Follow me” and they immediately left all and followed Him. Now that I know it was most certainly Jesus, they were better off going. But if we circle back to that moment in time, He was just a stranger that had done a great miracle and given them an opportunity to multiply their wages. Yet they followed.
The posture of a disciple is one of immediate obedience.
There are so many excuses we can make but saying yes is God’s greatest desire. Yes to His will. Yes to obey His word. The fishermen could have justified that they were not experienced or they were unskilled but they were quick to learn that wherever God calls, He will equip them. They were ready to be taught, to be learners.
2. POSITION
Mark 3:14 “And He appointed twelve (whom He also named apostles) so that they might be with Him”
To be with Him was the primary expectation even before they started doing all the work for Him. They stayed close and all through scripture we see them draw even closer. Jesus’ momentary disappearance would have them in panic and they always sought after Him. They were with him both physically and also as they positioned themselves to learn. They didn’t just hear Him talk about things, they watched Him, learned from Him, and then they were sent out.
They watched His life and absorbed His ways.
Even in our workspaces or school practicums, we stay close to our supervisors until we have developed an understanding of how things work. Until you get to the point of mastery, you have to stay close to learn and this is what the disciples did. James 4:8 says draw close to God and He will draw close to you. This is even affirmed by how Jesus afforded the disciples the privilege that the crowds didn’t get to enjoy. Staying close and in position is seen in how we show up in His presence, and how we prioritize time in His word and in prayer.
Our closeness with Jesus will always be evident and will be seen. Just as it was with Peter and John in Acts 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus”
Closeness is cultivated by consistency and frequency. One of my favorite references is that there are two kinds of people; One who treats God’s presence as a hotel. checking in occasionally and another person who treats it as a home that they return to daily. Which person are you?
3. PURPOSE
The second part of Mark 3:14 “….and he might send them out to preach.” The disciples continued with the work Jesus assigned them even long after He ascended to heaven, They preached, healed, and even wrote part of the Scriptures as inspired by the Holy Spirit. More than anything, they multiplied. 2 Timothy 2:2 “Commit these faithful things to faithful men who will teach others also.’
Not all of us can have pulpits to minister from and in fact, it isn’t designed to be so but we influence people every single day. By how we dress, talk, walk, and live. Just as we are always watching people, so are we equally being watched. The question then is how can we intentionally live a purposeful life to influence people for the glory of God?
REFLECT:
- Who are you following?
- Who are you learning from?
- How are you Influencing people who watch you?