What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?

Since the beginning of his earthly ministry, Jesus called people to follow him as his disciples. What did it mean to be a disciple of Jesus then? And what does it mean to be his disciple today? Is it the same today for us as with the original disciples?

A disciple of Jesus is also a believer in Jesus and vice versa, but these terms describe different aspects of a Christian’s relationship with Christ. In this article, we will focus on being a disciple and not on believing.

The rabbi of ancient Israel

In first century Israel, a rabbi was a teacher of the law and a spiritual leader. Rabbis typically had disciples who would follow them, learn from them, and even travel with them. The lessons were not just informational but also lessons of life and character. They learned not just how to interpret the Torah, but how to live it. A student was expected to emulate their teacher in their words as well as their lifestyle.

Jesus was considered a rabbi by his disciples (Mark 4:38, 9:38), common people (Mark 9:17), rich people (Matthew 19:16), teachers of the law (Matthew 22:35-36), and even Pharisees and Sadducees (Luke 19:39, 20:27-28). And he lived and taught like a Jewish rabbi. In calling his disciples, Jesus called them to walk with him, live with him, and learn from him. The goal was for them to become like him. As he told them:

The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.   (Luke 6:40)

Jesus calls his first disciples

Jesus called his disciples individually and personally. As he called Peter and Andrew, they became his followers:

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19)

And when they followed him, they joined his mission. It was the same with Matthew:

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. (Matthew 9:9)

So, by definition, those who followed Jesus were his disciples, and this is how most believers today understand these terms. However, some people use the word follower to mean only a learner and not a committed disciple.

The costs of discipleship

After following Jesus for a time, the disciples soon realized that he was not a typical rabbi. He could perform miracles and heal the sick. And he taught God’s Word with authority. His claim to being the Messiah clearly demanded more faith and commitment than other rabbis.

For most there was a significant cost to following him. Service to him would sometimes require leaving family obligations. Jesus’ call was a high priority, and their commitment would inevitably be challenged. As they found out, these challenges often came from people close to them, by members of their extended family.

As a result, some couldn’t make the sacrifices Jesus laid down for discipleship. They couldn’t withstand the family pressures and obligations.

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:57-62)

It’s important to note that Jesus never asked anyone to abandon their wife or children. But clearly his followers might suffer disapproval and rejection from their family members.

Learners versus disciples

Many people followed Jesus around and listened to him. Some just wanted to see a miracle or be healed. But many left him after some of his teachings offended them (John 6:60-66). Although they were all learning from him, most of them weren’t truly his disciples. Later, Jesus defined what a true disciple was:

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

So, a true disciple by Jesus’ definition is one who commits to his transforming word, holding to it and obeying it.

Jesus’ instructions to his disciples

The disciples were to become servants of God’s kingdom in both word and deed. This meant preaching the good news of the kingdom, ministering to the poor, and healing the sick. As part of their training, Jesus sent them out to minister in the surrounding Jewish towns:

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.  (Matthew 10:5-8)

It’s clear that many of these specific instructions don’t apply to followers of Jesus today. Jesus also gave detailed instructions to his larger group of disciples (Luke 10:1-11):

Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. (Luke 10:4-7)

Jesus obviously did not speak these words directly to believers today. These details were specific to his ministry plan for the people and culture of that time. But we can still glean important principles from these passages. The sayings “freely you have received so freely give” and “the worker deserves his wages” are still guiding ministry principles for disciples today.

Persecution and suffering

Toward the end of his ministry, Jesus advised his disciples of his main mission, which was to die for the sins of the world.

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. (Matthew 16:21)

Jesus warned his disciples of his coming persecution and death. Immediately after saying this, he laid out a major requirement for serving him: being willing to suffer persecution.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”  (Matthew 16:24-25)

As we know from history, most of the twelve disciples did in fact give their lives in their service to Christ. He also promised that at the final judgment he would reward anyone who served him:

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. (Matthew 16:27)

Following Jesus Today

Once we have accepted forgiveness through faith in Christ and are reconciled to God, we start a life-long journey of learning from him in discipleship. But how does one be a disciple of Jesus today? What elements of Jesus’ call to his original disciples still apply to us now?

Obviously, we can’t learn directly from Jesus today, as he’s not with us physically. So, we can’t personally apply to ourselves many of the specific instructions he gave to the twelve. But spiritually, every requirement and principle of discipleship applies to us today:

• a personal response to his call
• learning from and obeying his teaching
• a commitment to serve with the gifts and capacities he gives
• mentoring or discipling others
• the promise of persecution and suffering
• a reward for faithful service at his return

Following Jesus is a personal commitment 

Being a disciple of Jesus today means personally responding to his call to follow him. It’s first a commitment to learn from him, which means reading and studying his word. Then we are to apply and obey that teaching in service for the kingdom of God. This means leaving behind some things that we would have liked to do, to carry out activities and plans that are important to God.

We could be required to sacrifice anything from family commitments to material possessions:

But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” (Matthew 8:22)

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21)

But each person has their own path in following Jesus. He requires greater sacrifice of some, while less from others. Some will give possessions, others will give up friendships, others their jobs, and some even their own lives. Christ himself decides the responsibilities and sacrifices required of each person.

Responding to God’s call

The apostle Paul used the term “when God called” to refer to a person’s call by the Lord to follow him in obedience and service:

Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. (1 Corinthians 7:20)

Here Paul is saying that becoming a disciple of Jesus does not require changing our marital status, nationality, or citizenship. In our service to the Lord, we are free to remain in whatever social status we were in when he called us. And it usually doesn’t mean we have to quit our job or lose our friends. But in some cases, it might, if our job or friends force us to compromise our faith (called an unequal yoke).

Mentoring others

Timothy was a disciple of Jesus and was also Paul’s trusted helper. His spiritual gift was teaching, and Paul expected him to use this gift to expand God’s kingdom. Although Timothy is thought to have been somewhat timid, Paul instructed him to overcome that weakness and make other disciples:

… the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.       (2 Timothy 2:2)

And Jesus expects his followers today to mentor and disciple others as stated in his Great Commission command (Matthew 28:18-20).

Mentoring could be through formal commitments such as teaching Sunday school or leading Bible studies. But most of us are not evangelists or teachers and will fulfill Jesus’ command through more informal means. These could include reaching out to neighbors or co-workers, teaching our children in the home, or spending time mentoring younger or less spiritually mature people.

Carrying our cross

Following Jesus involves taking up our cross. The phrase “taking up our cross” is not talking about salvation per se. As Jesus carried his cross to Golgotha, he suffered shame and disgrace. Disciples today carry their cross by enduring the suffering and shame of being associated with Christ in a world hostile to him.

On several occasions, Jesus told his disciples that the religious leaders were going to reject and kill him, and then he would rise again (Mark 8:31-32). If they wanted to serve him, they needed to be willing to suffer as he suffered:

Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.  (John 15:20)

For us today, this can take many forms: disrespect, ridicule, rejection, exclusion, loss of employment, and even physical violence.

Bearing fruit

A follower of Christ can be an obedient, Spirit-filled disciple at times while at other times not as committed or focused. Certainly, none of us walk perfectly with the Lord at all times.

But when we obey the Lord’s commands, we show we are his followers. And if we are good followers, we bear spiritual fruit and demonstrate to the world that we belong to him. And this brings glory to God:

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.  (John 15:8)

Blessings and privileges of following Jesus

Jesus gave commitments and responsibilities to us, but he also promised great blessings:

We belong to him and he cares for us

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27)

Jesus knows and cares for his sheep and they live safely and securely under his care. When we stray, the Good Shepherd will bring us back to safety.

We gain new family and friends

…no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields…  (Mark 10:29-30)

We live in his light

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.  (John 8:12)

Christ’s followers live in the light provided by the Lord, which illuminates their paths and keeps them from harm. We will never stumble if we walk in his light.

God honors us

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. (John 12:26)

God honors those who dedicate their lives to Christ’s service. As his followers, he gives us high positions in his kingdom and will reward us richly.

Responding to Jesus’ call

If you a believer in Christ, then you are also his disciple. So, strive to be the best disciple that you can possibly be! Make it your goal to study his word and apply his teachings to your life. Take his commands seriously! Be obedient to him and seek to serve him every day. Spend time in prayer, seeking God’s direction.

If you do these things, you can expect hard work and sacrifice, and also opposition from our enemy the devil. You may be persecuted. But you will also have untold blessings in this life and a great reward when Jesus returns and commends you for your service:

‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’  (Matthew 25:23)

Christ in Scripture is listed on Feedspot Top 200 Christian Blogs.