February 7, 2012

What Is a "Disciple" of Jesus?

By John Spadafora

Blog

One-third of the world’s population claims to be “Christian.” Yet we see an enormous disparity between the biblical description of a Christian and Christian profession. Perhaps some of the confusion would be eliminated if we simply spoke of being a disciple of Jesus as Jesus Himself spoke. After all, making “disciples of all nations” is the Church’s mandate. In his first of three articles about disciple-making, Crossworld President Dale Losch takes a brief look at the fundamental characteristics of Jesus’ disciples.

What Is a “Disciple” of Jesus?

by Dale Losch, President of Crossworld

It’s an important question, given that disciple-making is at the heart of what Jesus told us to do.

In the broadest sense, the word referred to anyone who was following Jesus — even an unbeliever. John 6, for example, tells us that “many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore” (NASB). These were certainly not believers, but rather pre-faith followers who turned away from Jesus because they were offended.

But the most accurate meaning of the word is learner. A disciple is one who is learning to imitate his teacher. Jesus said to those who were “weary and heavy-laden ... 'Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me'" (Matthew 11:28-29, NASB). That’s the verb form of our word disciple.

At Crossworld, we’ve defined a disciple as “one who is learning to live and love like Jesus and helps others to do the same.” What must a disciple learn? Three things seem to rise to the top in Jesus’ description of those who would imitate him.

The first, of course, is love. “By this,” said Jesus, “all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35, NASB). Jesus’ disciples love. They love God. They love one another. They love people.

The second mark is really the first one taken to its ultimate expression — self-sacrifice. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13, NASB).

Thirdly, obedience. This is precisely what Jesus said when he gave his disciples the charge to go make disciples of all nations — “teaching them to obey all that I commanded you” (Matthew 28:20, NASB).

Love, Obedience and Self-Sacrifice. They form a simple acronym that itself defines a disciple of Jesus: L.O.S.S. “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow Me. For … whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it” (Luke 9:23-24, NASB).

Read the series: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4