If you’ve been a Christian for any length of time, no doubt you’ve learned about discipleship or at least have heard the term. We read about the disciples of Jesus– both the chosen Twelve and other faithful followers– in the Gospels, and learn from their examples, and yes, mistakes. As I’ve been reading through the Gospels again, the Lord brought to my attention what Jesus said to His disciples before the feeding of the five thousand. In the context, Jesus had just learned of John the Baptist’s death and went in a boat to a secluded place, but the people followed Him on foot (Matthew 14:13). When He arrived at the shore, Jesus had compassion on the people and healed them (v. 14). In Mark’s Gospel, he writes that Jesus “felt compassion for them because they were like a sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34). Let’s look at what happened in Matthew 14:15-20:

“When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, ‘This place is desolate and the hour is already late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!’ They said to Him, ‘We have here only five loaves and two fish.’ And He said, ‘Bring them here to Me.’ Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds, and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets.”

“You give them something to eat!” In Mark’s Gospel, the disciples ask, “Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?” (Mark 6:37). A denarius was about a day’s wages so that would be at least 200 day’s worth of food! How often do we think of worldly issues over what God tells us? At this time, Jesus’ chosen Twelve had been with Him and witnessed many miracles, yet instead of thinking about the people’s needs first, they wanted them to go and take care of themselves. Now, this doesn’t sound unreasonable. A crowd full of 5,000 men (not including woman and children- see v. 21) would be quite overwhelming. But Jesus doesn’t say, “I’ll give them something to eat.” Rather, He presents it to the disciples as their responsibility. Jesus is teaching them what it means to be a disciple of Christ. It is not meant to be a lofty position but one of service.

 “He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.” After Jesus prays over the meager amount of food, He doesn’t hand out the food but gives it to His disciples to share it with the people. They not only physically served, but they had to have faith that the food would continue to multiply. The amazing miracle is that they had even more leftover than when they started! As disciples, we are called to be servants to those God calls us to and trust that if God asks us to do it (this is important to note), He will meet us there and provide. Jesus didn’t always feed every crowd, but in this case, He not only taught His disciples that the Lord can supply physical needs but spiritual ones as well. 

In John’s Gospel, the people who were fed followed Jesus and His disciples the following day to where they were ministering (John 6:22-25). Jesus used this opportunity to teach the people about Him being the bread of life. While food is important, it is only temporary; however, the Bread of Life provides salvation leading to eternal life. He later makes this incredible statement in vv. 53-55, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.” Just as Jesus was teaching the crowd, He was also teaching His disciples, separating the true followers from those who would go astray for they sought the temporary rather than yearning for spiritual truth and understanding. John writes in vv. 66-69:

“As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, ‘You do not want to go away also, do you?’ Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.’”

Being a true disciple is focusing on the eternal. If people are given food, but their soul is going to hell, what benefit is it? If we are worried about the temporary issues of life, how do we expect God to do miracles? The people that were fed didn’t just eat a little. They ate and were satisfied! How much more will we be satisfied if we eat and drink the truth of His Word and understand who the LORD- Father, Son, and Spirit- truly is? What if we were dialed in to what the will of the Lord is that we were able to use the spiritual gifts God has blessed us with? 

When Jesus sent out His disciples to the cities to preach and perform miracles, He didn’t sugarcoat the trials that would come. He said things like, “I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matt. 10:16). He continues in vv. 21-23:

“‘Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.’”

If we think that this was only for the Twelve, we are mistaken. Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane right before death about His current disciples and the disciples who had yet to come: 

“‘I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.’” John 17:14-21

Being a disciple is accepting that the world hates you. It’s a matter of light versus darkness, flesh versus Spirit. As a person who has sought man’s approval my whole life, this is an area of struggle for me. I don’t like to be disliked or hated. But if I am doing everything that a disciple ought to be doing (and this is an ongoing process of growth), then that hatred is cause to rejoice because I am following the Lord. 

As stated earlier, being a disciple is not one who holds himself or herself in high esteem but rather is humble. Jesus’ disciples had to understand this as well. Luke writes in Luke 9:46-48:

“‘An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, and said to them, ‘Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.’”

Discipleship is the opposite from what the world teaches: wealth, fame, superiority. Is it wrong to be wealthy? Contrary to what some may teach and preach, the answer is no. Wealth becomes an issue when it comes before God and is sought after like an idol. The question is, if God asked us to give it up, would we? In Jesus’ response to His disciples, He uses a child to demonstrate who the greatest is. A child is the very image of humility and dependence on those in authority over them. Therefore, as disciples, we also are supposed to be humble and rely on our Heavenly Father.

Jesus also set the example of staying in communication with the Father. Throughout the Gospels, the writers convey that Jesus would often find a secluded place after being with crowds in order to pray. Sometimes He would take His disciples, but other times He went alone. Even though Jesus is God, He demonstrated the importance of talking with the Heavenly Father. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He asked the Lord to remove the cup of suffering from Him, “‘Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will’” (Mark 14:36). He prayed this three times demonstrating to His disciples (including us) that we can ask the Father for anything, but it must be in line with His will. The Father didn’t take the cup from Jesus, and He suffered as no one ever has. Yet, it was for His glory and for our salvation. As disciples, we have the blessing to approach the Lord before His throne and ask anything, but we always need to have a heart that desires His will. 

Scripture is full of examples of what discipleship should look like, but the main criteria from the passages discussed are: servanthood, faith, focus on eternal and spiritual truth, humility, and a lifestyle of prayer. There are more qualities to add to this list, but this is a challenging start. As we are about to enter into a new year full of possibilities, let us pray for our lives to become more like the disciples of Christ He desires for us to be. May we set ourselves apart for His service and glory so that those who are lost may be found in Him. 

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Father, we thank You for another new year and all the blessings You’ve given us. We also thank You for being with us through the hardships. Help us to keep our focus ahead to eternity and live humble lives in service to You. Let us have ears to hear Your voice and minds to understand Your will and truth. May we live to gain Your approval alone. Thank You for your patience and grace You give us each day, even when we fail You. Thank You that You are a Father who never fails. We love You and pray for a wonderful year ahead. May Your will be done. Amen.