What is a disciple of Jesus Christ?
Hello Bride of Christ!
Ever wonder what it really means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? When I first heard the term disciple I thought it was too hard of a task and too holy of a task for me to be able to fulfill it, because I was no Peter, James, John or Matthew!
The word disciple as Webster defines it means:
personal follower of Jesus during his life, especially one of the twelve Apostles.
a follower or student of a teacher, leader, or philosopher.
As we study scripture, we will come to see the fallacy of this definition. The first, implies that disciples only existed during Jesus lifetime and not afterwards. However, we will study here together today Matthew chapters 5-7 the sermon on the mount where Jesus teaches His disciples what it takes to be a disciple and those attributes are not limited by His physical presence.
The second, implies that a disciple is simply a student. However, students only learn from teachers and are not called to do everything exactly like the teacher. You can relate. How many of us had multiple teachers while going to school and did we act exactly like them or did we pick and chose the methods and lessons they taught that we would remember and keep? A disciple is much more than a student.
As we study the sermon on the mount, we will come to understand that a disciple of Jesus Christ is someone who has accepted Jesus not only as their Savior, but as their Lord.
Disciple's Identity
Read with me 2 Corinthians 3:3, here Paul is writing a letter of thanks to the church of Corinth cause most of the church goers had repented of going astray and beginning to follow false teachings. In Chapter 3 Paul is encouraging the believers and reminding them who they are and why. He writes, “clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.” (2 Corinth 3:3)
Paul reminds the believers, disciples are epistles of Christ; books written by the living God. The Spirit of the living God has written on the heart of the disciple. The Spirit of the living God has written on my heart and your heart as soon as we accepted His work on the cross. Resulting, in a change of heart commitments and desires.
Disciple's Heart
Let’s us dive into the gospel of Matthew chapters 5-7, often referred to as the beatitudes or Jesus sermon on the mount. Here we will find Jesus teaching his disciples how to be disciples. He begins with reframing heart commitments. Jesus takes time to explain to them the things their heart will be confronted with and the expected response. Here are just a few of the heart commitments you will read about:
Persecution
"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets before you." Matthew 5: 11-12
Peacemaker
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgement.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgement....Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the alter, go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come offer your gift." Matthew 5:21-24
Purity
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:27-30
The heart commitments go on: Performance (see Matthew 5:33-37), Patient (see Matthew 5:38-41), Pardon (see Matthew 5:43-47), Perfection (Matt 5:48), Prize (see Matthew 6:1-13), Perspective (see Matthew 6:19-34), Prayer (see Matthew 7:7-11)
Jesus encouraged His disciples that whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. But we are human. How can we possibly do all these things?! Make all these commitments?!?
Well, we feel the same way about the law. We miss the mark.
Disciple Heart Commitment Simplified
So, it’s important to remember Jesus answer to the lawyer in Matthew 22:35-40, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
To simplify it, Love.
The disciple's heart commitment is to love God with all she has and love people.
So what is a disciple of Jesus Christ? Someone who follows Jesus as their Savior and Lord and cannot help, but love, love God and people.
Go forth and love today Bride of Christ! Love because you have first been loved by Him!
