{"id":289,"date":"2025-01-09T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ytmatrimony.com\/blog\/?p=289"},"modified":"2024-11-21T05:01:54","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T05:01:54","slug":"discipleship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ytmatrimony.com\/blog\/discipleship\/","title":{"rendered":"Discipleship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The term \u2018Disciple\u2019 is often used by Apostle John to designate the group of \u2018twelve\u2019 chosen by Jesus (John 6:70, 15:19) to follow and accompany Him. A disciple is one who has recognized in the teaching of Jesus, the words of eternal life (John 6:68) and in the person of Jesus the holy one of God (John 6:69), and has been shaped in the school of Jesus and attached to him. In (John 1:35-51), John has clearly portrayed the scenario of \u2018call to discipleship\u2019 which includes different persons following Jesus like Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip, and Nathaniel. John also points to some aspects of discipleship in this call to discipleship like election and call, human testimony, hearing, following, seeking, remaining with Jesus, etc.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In this call to discipleship we can see the deepening of insights regarding how disciples attribute Jesus in different ways, like in (John 1:35-42) Jesus is attributed as Rabbi and messiah, in (46-50) they recognize Jesus as \u2018son of God\u2019 and king of Israel, and finally in v-51 as son of man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This understanding of Jesus by his disciples took a long process and both the Gospel of John and the synoptic Gospels witness that the understanding of Jesus by His own disciples took place only after the resurrection. So John uses this \u2018call to discipleship\u2019 to present \u2018discipleship\u2019 in its process of development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consequently, a disciple is one who lives with Jesus, attains deeper insight into the person of Jesus and who shares this experience with others. John is the one who saw men and women as disciples, a community of equals and in fact in John\u2019s gospel, we see that certain women emerge unmistakably and clearly as disciples. For example, the women of Samaria in John 4, where, John introduces the encounter between her and Jesus, he recognizes the potential for discipleship in the women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After realizing the power of Christ she gave witness to many and several people believed in Jesus on the strength of the testimony of the Samaritan women. The second example would be Mary Magdalene in John 20, we see that she hurried to the tomb, and was the first one to record the witness of seeing Jesus after resurrection. In addition, she also carried the message to other disciples at the command of Jesus, and everyone believed it. So it was the women who had an unique distinction of being the first to bear witness to the resurrection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus these two examples from John\u2019s gospel point to the equality of women as disciples and their major role in the ministry of Jesus. Prerequisite for discipleship: The gospel of John lays out certain conditions or qualities needed to become a real disciple. They are i) Remaining in the word ii) Self denial iii) Serving Jesus iv) Love and Unity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remaining in the word: John 8:31-32 (NIV) says \u2018if you remain in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free\u2019 so remaining in the word of Jesus becomes a condition to be a disciple. Further, John 5:38 states the abiding of the word in oneself, through which one remains in Jesus and develops fellowship with him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, if we base ourselves in his words then we become fruitful (15:7-8). Moreover, \u2018remaining in the Word is the last stage in a call to discipleship where the attachment to Jesus becomes deep rooted in one\u2019s very nature. Self denial: The concept of self denial is very much brought in the gospel of John wherein (12:32-33) the hour of Jesus is portrayed, when He is lifted up on the cross followed by the act of glorification, and in this context the author brings the parable of the seed that dies to produce much fruit (12:24) which is an illustration of the process of glorification. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This same parable is applied to the life of the disciple where he is expected to follow the life pattern of his master. John 12:25 says that \u2018he who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life\u2019 and herein John condemns the love of one\u2019s life in this world. As Jesus died in order to bring life to others; the follower is also expected to pass through death to his own eternal life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serving Jesus: John sees discipleship as \u2018serving Jesus\u2019. \u201cDiakonein\u201d (to serve) in the New Testament is a comprehensive term meaning – any loving assistance rendered to the neighbour. It is understood as the full and perfect sacrifice as offering of life for others. The association of 12:24 & 25 shows that discipleship of Jesus Christ demands service even to death. As for Jesus the exaltation on the cross is also his glorification, so also, the disciple should serve and follow the footsteps of Jesus to attain glory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Love and Unity: In John 13:35, Jesus says that \u2018by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another\u2019 the distinguishing feature of Jesus\u2019 disciples is brotherly love. The disciples are brought by Jesus into the unity and love of the Father-Son relationship. Moreover disciples are also brought into Jesus\u2019 relationship with the Father as a sent one. This develops the entire mission of the disciples in the orbit of love and unity between Father and Son. So the disciples\u2019 love and unity among one another will be the foundation for their representation of Jesus to the world, (John 13:35, 17:21, 23). Apostle John presents discipleship in terms of a life of faith and union with Jesus that demands a radical renunciation of all other connections. Discipleship is an advanced stage in the life of faith resulting from a constant presence of Jesus\u2019 words in us. This makes the disciple to be one and united with Jesus in suffering, death and glory. The key-note of discipleship is the brotherly love realized in Christian fellowship, which becomes a challenge to the world to acknowledge God\u2019s love revealed in Jesus Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Author: Mr. Joshua Das is a graduate of UTC, Bangalore and heads an NGO \u2018Human Development Foundation\u2019 working for the empowerment of gold miner\u2019s family at KGF.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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