FORWARD TOGETHER
RAYMOND F. CULPEPPER GENERAL OVERSEER
DISCIPLESHIP IS MORE
THAN COMING TO JESUS,
CHOOSING TO FOLLOW HIM, OR BEING SAVED. DISCIPLESHIP IS DOING THE WILL OF THE FATHER IN HEAVEN.
The Great Commission and Discipleship
J
ESUS PLAINLY SAID to His follow- ers, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19).* Dis- cipleship is the essence of the Great Commission. The words go, teach, and bap- tize are subordinate terms. Yes, they are very important words. But the one com- mand arching over the Lord’s commission to the Church is, “Make disciples.” Christ’s choice of the word disciple was extraordinary. The word is not found in the Old Testament, but the Gospels use it over 240 times. This reflects the Lord’s acceptance of the word and shows His appreciation for its meaning. The Church today needs to understand exactly why Jesus said, “Make disciples of all nations.” Discipleship can be defined in differ- ent ways. But the word always involves a teacher and a learner. The Jews called the teacher a rabbi or master—literally, a “master teacher.” The followers who sat at the feet of the master were called disciples. Some refer to disciples as followers. Others call them learners, students, or pupils. I especially like the word pupil. In anatomy, the pupil of the eye is where the rays of light pass to the retina, and the pupil reflects a tiny image. That is why the Romans called a young student under an instructor a “pupil.” The image of the disciple was reflected in the eye of the master, and the image of the master was reflected in the eye of the disciple. This is a great analogy for the meaning of discipleship.
Discipleship involves more than going,
teaching, and baptizing. All of these are tools for discipleship. True discipleship occurs when there is a personal encoun- ter with Jesus. The pupil-disciple sees himself/herself in the loving eyes of the Master. The Lord sees His own image in the loving eyes of the disciple.
The Great Commission to the Church is a unique calling. To make disciples requires
6 EVANGEL | November 2010
a personal relationship with the Master. Discipleship was modeled by Jesus and His disciples in a threefold manner: (1) a blessed relationship of daily living, (2) a family rela- tionship of brotherly love, and (3) a sacrifi- cial relationship of committed service.
Discipleship Is a Blessed Relationship of Daily Living
The word disciple is first used in Scripture in Matthew 5. “And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them” (vv. 1-2). Jesus first taught His disciples the blessings of discipleship (the Beatitudes). He taught them the bless- ings of living in a relationship that is estab- lished in the kingdom of heaven on earth:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peace- makers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (vv. 3-10).
These are the first recorded words of Jesus to His disciples. It is impossible to fulfill the Great Commission without teaching the Lord’s first sermon. Some have called the Sermon on the Mount the “constitution” of discipleship. From that perspective, the Beatitudes can be called the “bill of rights” of discipleship. Observe first that these are blessings of present-day living. Eight times He says, “Blessed are.” Then carefully note that the disciples of Jesus are blessed. This is the first
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