Teachings,+Discipleship

Discipleship
(Kai Stormwalker)

In Christianity the disciples were the students of Jesus during his ministry. It is from the Latin word discipulus meaning “a learner.” It should not be confused with the word apostle, meaning “messenger, he that is sent.” While a disciple is one who learns from a teacher or master; an apostle is sent to deliver those teachings to others. So after Jesus was resurrected, his disciples became apostles for they were entrusted with his teachings. It is usually considered that an apostle is someone who had direct contact with Jesus; therefore, Paul earned the title when the spirit of Jesus confronted him on the road to Damascus, and later instructed him when he went into the desert for three years to meditate and pray.
 * What is a Disciple?**

Most of the attention in the gospels is given to a specific group of disciples called by Jesus and commissioned by him as the Twelve Apostles. These are men who traveled with Jesus and spent all their time learning directly from him. These men are:
 * The Twelve**

1. Simon, called Peter 2. Andrew, his brother 3. James, son of Zebedee 4. John, his brother 5. Philip 6. Bartholomew, also called Nathanael 7. Matthew, a tax collector, also called Levi 8. Thomas 9. James, son of Alphaeus 10. Simon, the zealot 11. Jude Thaddaeus 12. Judas Iscariot

There was a larger group among Jesus followers who were sent out in pairs to prepare the way for Jesus. They are sometimes referred to as “The Seventy” or “The Seventy Disciples.” Jesus instructed them to eat any food they were offered, heal the sick and spread the word that the kingdom of God is at hand; that whoever rejects Jesus rejects the One who sent him. They were granted great powers over the enemy and their names are written in heaven. Luke 10:1-16.
 * The Seventy**

Today many people claim to follow Jesus but act in ways that are contrary to his teachings. It was the same while he was alive. In Matthew 21:9 we read about the crowds who greeted Jesus on his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
 * Followers**

//The crowds that went ahead of him and that were following were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!//

But where were these crowds when he was taken before Pilate and later crucified?

I true follower or disciple of Jesus is one who takes Jesus as an example. As it says in the Sermon on the Mount:

//Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. - Matthew 5:11-12//

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that if you truly understand the Sermon on the Mount it is possible to truly understand the teachings of Jesus. The fullest version of The Sermon on the Mount is in the book of Mattthew. It starts at Matthew 5:3 and goes through Matthew 7:27.
 * The Sermon on the Mount**

I would ask that you read it.