by Shane Carrington
Synopsis: As followers of Jesus Christ, let us look to His teaching and example to better understand the demands of discipleship.
Laid back. Casual. Lackadaisical. Blasé. Nonchalant. A dabbler. Can you conceive any of these descriptors as applying to Jesus? Hardly. Rather, "you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps" (1 Pet. 2:21). Jesus left large footprints into which we are to step, and they were not laid down casually. Throughout His ministry, Jesus exemplified and instructed concerning the commitment God gives, and expects in return, from His people. The following vignette makes this crystal clear:
Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:25-27).
Such startling words take time and thought to unpack, but when deciphered, these teachings of Jesus get to the core of discipleship: Family relationships are defined through our commitment to Jesus (Eph. 5:22-6:4). He exemplified complete and loving surrender to His Father (and for our sake) through crucifixion, and discipleship means imitating His love for God and others through complete surrender to God's will. Through both words and example, Jesus declared discipleship a matter of conviction, not convenience. Consider three teachings illuminating these.
In a world where talk is cheap, Jesus gave many powerful, challenging sayings concerning the kind of people His Father wants us to be. These sometimes cut deep. Consider three areas.
Concerning this, we read, "So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free'" (John 8:31-32). Casually approaching Jesus' words, intending to take what we want and leave the rest, leaves us far short of the challenge laid down by our Lord. Those who believe must commit to—and continue in—His teachings to be set free by the truth. This means a commitment to intense Bible study with intent. True disciples want to know Him, His word, the lifestyle of true discipleship, and the freedom that results.
Jesus taught disciples a servant spirit. In discussion with a lawyer (Luke 10:25-29), they discussed the importance of loving God and one's neighbor. Attempting self-justification, the lawyer replied, "And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29). Jesus responded with the story of the "good Samaritan," which was an oxymoron to Jewish listeners (Luke 10:30-37). The servant spirit of the Samaritan caused the lawyer to realize the true neighbor in the story was that Samaritan. Of this Jesus said, "Go and do the same" (Luke 10:37). True disciples learn the importance of love, committing themselves to lives of service.
When Peter asked about the extent of the forgiveness we extend to others ("Up to seven times?"), Jesus responded, "…up to seventy times seven" (Matt. 18:21-22)! That is quite challenging for many of us—we are more adept at justice than forgiveness. After a powerful, telling story about an unforgiving servant who was forgiven an extraordinary debt, but refused to show similar compassion to a fellow-servant, and was accordingly punished (Matt. 18:23-34), Jesus said, "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart" (Matt. 18:35).
Casual disciples struggle with this command, thinking it applies to others, but not to themselves. Yet, Jesus' teachings are the core of discipleship. Do you want to follow Jesus? Then listen, learn, and adhere to our Lord's teaching.
Jesus did more than instruct with words; He left a powerful example. In a world of "Do as I say, not as I do," Jesus showed, in every way, what it meant to commit to His Father. His example stands as a powerful, challenging illustration that moves us to make the same kind of commitment to our heavenly Father.
Jesus not only instructed disciples about commitment to God's word (John 8:30-32), He also lived it. In the garden of Gethsemane, He prayed the same basic prayer three times: "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will" (Matt. 26:36-44, esp. vv. 39, 42, 44). As difficult as it was for Jesus to follow the teaching of His Father about His impending death, our Lord did more than say, "Your will be done" (Matt. 26:42). By going to the cross, Jesus did the will of the Father. Our Master did more than instruct with words; He embodied the Father's teaching.
Jesus did not just instruct us with words about developing a servant's spirit (Luke 10:25-37). He took a towel and a basin of water, stooped down, and performed the job of a household slave: He washed the disciples' feet (John 13:5-20). When Jesus concluded this—after some struggle with Peter to bring him along—He said, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him" (John 16:12-16). Our Lord did not simply talk about a servant spirit—He showed humility and service, and through His example, urges us to do the same.
Jesus taught a lot about forgiveness (Matt. 18:21-35 above). Yet, His most powerful teaching about this came in the form of a cross. Jesus did not idly stand by, waiting for people to respond; He took the initiative. Jesus did not shout for personal justice (Isa. 53); He died to give the unjust opportunity for new birth (Rom. 5:6-11). Suspended between heaven and earth, Jesus cried from the cross, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). Many of us find forgiving to be excruciating; yet, Jesus was willing to die an excruciating (Latin, literally, "of the cross") death to give everyone an opportunity for forgiveness—even those who cried out for His blood that day (Acts 2:36-37).
Laid back. Casual. Lackadaisical. Blasé. Nonchalant. A dabbler. Is that how you would describe Jesus? Absolutely not! As disciples of the Lord Jesus, we must be like Him. We must be committed to walking with Him, exemplifying Him to a world that does not know Him. Peter said, "You have been called for this purpose… to follow in His steps" (1 Pet. 2:21). May we do exactly that: placing one committed foot in front of the other.
Author Bio: Shane has worked with the Southside church of Christ in Sulphur Springs, Texas for 20 years. He and his wife, Kelly, have two children. The church website is churchofchristss.com. He can be reached at bshanec@mac.com.
