The Cost of Discipleship

Because Jesus was going to be killed as a revolutionary, he recognized that being a follower of his is no easy task.  They would be attacked, arrested and even killed for following him.  And not only that, but Jesus wanted everyone to recognize that if they were going to be given honor from God on the judgement day, they needed to be servants and the lowest of all in this world.  This makes following Jesus very difficult, and Jesus didn’t make it easy to do.

Jesus at one point had a large crowd following him, and many of them were thinking about being his disciple.  Jesus announced to the crowd, “If you want to follow me, your parents and friends and everyone you know will think you hate them.  You will have to act like it, because you must give up everything to be my disciple.  In fact, you will have to give up your inheritance, your possessions, even your own life, if you are a disciple of mine.

            “Let’s say someone wanted to build a skyscraper, and then halfway through it, he ran out of money.  Everyone passing by would laugh at it because he didn’t plan ahead to know how much it would cost.  Even so, before you become my disciple, look at how much it will cost you.

            “In the same way, if there was a king that had an army of ten thousand, but he was being attacked by another king with an army of twenty thousand.  Wouldn’t the first king wave the white flag and ask for terms of surrender?  And wouldn’t he give up everything he has in order to gain peace?  Even so, if you want peace on the day of judgement, you will have to give up everything you possess.”

            One of the crowd then came up to Jesus and said, “I want to be your disciple. I will follow you wherever you go.”  Jesus replied, “God has provided even the animals of the world homes, but I have no home—remember that, if you choose to follow me.”

            Another wanted to be Jesus’ disciple, and they asked, “But first let me say goodbye to my family.”  Jesus replied, “Elijah allowed his disciple Elisha to say goodbye to his family.  But one more important than Elijah is here now.  If you turn back away from me, then you are not worthy of God’s kingdom.”

            Jesus came up to another and said, “Follow me.”  That one asked, “Let me first bury my father, he is sick.”  Jesus replied, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you follow me.”

            Two of Jesus’ disciples, James and John, came up to Jesus and asked, “Lord, when you are ruler of the kingdom of God, we have a great favor to ask you.”  Jesus said, “Yes, what is it?”  They replied, “We would like to rule with you, one of us on one side of you, and the other on the other.”  Jesus said, “You don’t know what you are asking.  Are you able to drink the cup I am to drink and to be baptized the way that I will?  Are you ready to suffer and die?”  They said, “Yes, anything, Lord.”  Jesus said, “Well, you will suffer like that, but I don’t think you really understand.  Even so, the high positions in the kingdom of God aren’t mine to grant—only the Father can determine those positions.”

            The other 10 heard that James and John asked this, and they were angry.  Jesus heard their murmuring and said, “Look, if you guys really want the top positions in God’s kingdom, then you’ll have to work at it now.  If you want to be first, then be last.  If you want to be great, then be lowly.  The rulers of this world, they call themselves “ministers” or “servants of the state”.  But in fact they rule harshly.  But you are not to be like that.  If you want to be the greatest, then now you need to be a slave.  In the same way, the Son of Man is giving up everything for the sake of others, in order to deliver them from slavery to sin.”

            At one point, Jesus was at a party, and he told the guests of the party, “Let me give you a good rule.  If you want to be seen as important, don’t fight for the best seats.  Otherwise your host will ask you to move somewhere else, and then you will look like an idiot.  Rather, sit in the worst places, so your host will come up to you and say, ‘Why are you sitting here?  Why don’t you sit up front?’  And then everyone will see how important you are.”

            Jesus then spoke to the host of the party, “If you want to have a party that will really give you honor, then don’t bother inviting your friends and family who can pay you back.  Sure, they’ll like you, but God will give you nothing.  But if you invite the poor, homeless and needy to your party, then God will give you honor that you would never gain on earth.”

Jesus Didn't Call Believers

Believing is nice.  It's great when someone believes in you, they say "I know you can do it", like the cheerers at the Special Olympics.  We all want people to encourage us, to push us on, to let us know that we are cool.

God has got plenty of people like that.  A lot of worshipers, a lot of people to praise Him, to believe in Him.  And I'm sure he appreciates that.

But when Jesus was on earth, he wasn't looking for cheerleaders, or those who would affirm his existence or his glory.  He's a pretty self-confident guy.  He knew he could rule the world.  He knew he was capable of anything.  Literally.  He really didn't need more people to remind him of that.

When Jesus came to earth, he sought followers.  Not people who would stay on the sidelines, but players who would get in the game.  Jesus wasn't seeking people who would tell him how cool he was-- he wanted people who would get their hands dirty and join in the work.

And he made the most severe demands on his followers.

He demanded they leave everything they had, all that they had worked for their entire lives.

He demanded they memorize all he said, so they could repeat it to others.

He demanded they go wherever he went, living out his lifestyle.

He demanded they followed the impulses of compassion, like he did, and that they give according to the provision of God, as he did.

And he demanded they trusted in God, completely, because they wouldn't know where their next meal or next support would come from.

Jesus didn't require believe-- he demanded faith.  When he comes back to earth, will he find that faith?

Jesus' Followers

Jesus knew that he was not long for this world, and needed to have others who were committed to the teaching of the kingdom of God to spread his word when he was gone.  So he decided to have a “school”, even as Elisha and John the Baptist both had, over which he would be the teacher. He called them even as Elijah called Elisha, telling the student to follow the teacher.  From that point on, the disciple would go wherever the teacher went, doing whatever he told them to. The school would focus on him and memorize his teachings.  They would also look at his life and imitate it the best they could.  After they had memorized his teachings, he would send them out to give the world his teachings and life. 

One day, Jesus was passing by where John the Baptist was teaching.  John, remembering the revelation he had heard from God at Jesus’ baptism, declared: “There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  At this point, two of John’s students or “disciples” left John and started to follow Jesus.  One of these disciples was named Andrew.  Jesus turned to them and said, “What are you doing?”  They answered, “Master, where are you staying?”  He answered, “Come and see.”  So they stayed with him.  After hearing his teaching, he went to his brother Simon and said, “We have found the Messiah!”  Simon doubted that, but agreed to see Jesus.

            Jesus was standing by the lakeside in Capernum, where Simon lived.  The crowds were so many, that Jesus asked Simon, who was a fisherman, if he could stand on his boat, a little ways from shore to teach them.  Simon agreed, and Jesus taught.  Jesus then turned to Simon and said, “Put out your nets and you will catch quite a few fish.”  Simon replied, “ ‘Master’, we worked all night and caught nothing—can’t you see that?  I’m a fisherman, I know my job.”  Jesus replied, “Just do as I say.”  Simon replied, “As you command.”  Simon and his partners let down their nets and a huge amount of fish was caught, so that another boat was necessary to pull them all up. 

After they returned to shore with the fish, Simon knelt before Jesus and said, “I don’t deserve you to stay with me, Lord.  I am a sinful man.”  Jesus replied, “Don’t be afraid.  From now on, you will fish for humans.  Get up and follow me!  From now on, you will not be called Simon, but Rock.”  Simon got up, left his boat and nets and fish, and followed Jesus.  And so his name became Cephus (“rock” in Aramaic) or Peter (“rock” in Greek).  

Jesus then went to Peter’s partners, James and John, who was caring for their fish with their Father, Zebedee.  Jesus told them, “Follow me.”  They then dropped their nets, left their father and followed Jesus.  None of them went back to their nets for three years.

            Jesus saw another disciple of John’s named Phillip and said, “Follow me.”  Phillip did, and heard all that Jesus taught.  Then he went to his friend, Nathaniel, who was sitting under a fig tree.  Phillip said, “We have found the one of whom Moses and the prophets wrote about—Jesus of Nazareth!”  Nathaniel replied, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”  Phillip replied, “Come and see.” 

            Phillip then introduced Nathaniel to Jesus and Jesus said immediately, “Ah!  You are a son of Jacob in whom there is no deceit!”  Nathaniel said, “How can you know who I am?”  Jesus replied, “I saw you when Phillip called you, when you were sitting under a fig tree.”  Nathaniel was shocked and said, “You are the Christ!  You are the Son of God!”  Jesus said, “You’re impressed because I saw you under the fig tree?  You will see greater things than that.  In fact, you will see the Son of Man as the way to heaven, with the angels of God walking going up and coming down upon him.”

            Even so, Jesus gathered many disciples, and soon he had a large crowd of followers, all competing for his attention and memorizing every word he said.  

Challenging Like Jesus

Jesus’ Life
Mark 1:16-20
Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat.
Jesus called disciples. When they heard his call, they already knew that they were being called to be prophets, to be an alternative to the teachers who were in Israel already. They were honored to be called, but they also recognized that it was also a sacrifice. Just as Elisha had to give up his occupation and home to follow Elijah, so did the disciples have to give everything they knew up in order to follow Jesus. In the simple word, “Follow me” Jesus told them this. And they accepted the call of Jesus readily.

Luke 9:57-62
He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
Jesus had many disciples beyond the twelve apostles. Many wanted to prove that they were dedicated enough to follow Jesus. But with many of them, Jesus had to challenge them to a greater commitment. Many disciples thought that Jesus could be just a part of their lives, or something they do for a time and then return to their old lives. Jesus clearly taught that once a person begins to follow him, the sacrifices they make are total and can’t be surrendered later. He told one that to follow Jesus, he needs to expect homelessness. He told another that he cannot turn back to his family once he has begun to follow Jesus. To another, he said that he cannot fulfill his social commitment to bury his family. Because the commitment to the kingdom is total—no turning back, no compromise.

Mark 10:17-22
Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.
Another one wasn’t seeking to follow Jesus. He was seeking the kingdom of God, salvation, eternal life. But he wasn’t sure how he would gain it. Jesus gave the standard answer, follow the commandments. But the man wasn’t satisfied with that answer—he expected something more from Jesus. And so Jesus said, “If you want your devotion to be complete, then sell your possessions, give to the poor and follow me.” Jesus told him to irreversibly surrender all he had and surrender his whole self to God’s kingdom. This man did not make this choice, but Jesus didn’t compromise it in any way. To be devoted requires complete surrender.

Our Lives
I Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
We are to speak to one another, building each other up in Jesus. To "encourage" doesn't mean to say nice things necessarily, but to literally "en-courage", to put boldness in another to live a life of faith.

Hebrews 10:24-25
Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
We are to regularly meet together—not to just sit in a worship service, nor just to sing, nor just to listen to someone else teach the Bible. We are to gather together so that we can teach each other to do good and to love each other more. We aren’t to meet together to tell each other off or to argue about insigificant doctrinal points. Rather, we need to focus on God’s commands to us, to teacher us to be more obedient and loving.

Colossians 3:16-17
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.
We need to speak to one another in whatever way we can. Through songs we have memorized, through the Scripture we know, through the wisdom God gives us directly—but in all these ways, we are to reflect the teaching of Jesus. We are not to remain silent—hoping that the Lord will teach others what they need to know. We need to take responsibility and teach each other and quote to each other the word of Jesus.

II Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
We are to use Scripture in many ways—to correct people from false teaching; to gently rebuke those who are in sin; to teach the truth of the kingdom of God; or to teach the righteousness of Jesus. But if we focus only on one aspect of the Scripture, then we have an unbalanced perception of the wholeness of life in accordance with the Scripture.

Examples
After Paul and Barnabas began many churches, they determined that they needed to return to those churches in various cities to encourage them (Acts 14:21-22). They set up leadership in each church and also encouraged each other to endure through opposition and trials.

Billy Graham is well known to be an evangelist of unbelievers, calling them to a commitment to Jesus. But he also spends much time exhorting believers, challenging them to a more consistent faith and to bold outreach. He has encouraged evangelists, missionaries and organized the whole evangelical church to work together in outreach.

Mother Teresa is well known for her work among the poor and dying in Calcutta. But her even greater work was in training and encouraging thousands of Catholics and Protestants to devote themselves to Jesus to prepare them for similar work among the poor.

Living It Out
Challenge yourself to a complete devotion to God
Look for your devotion to God and your love to others to be deeper and deeper. Don’t accept where you are at, but look at how your love for the Lord can be greater than it is right now.

Live a holistic faith
It is not enough to have a faith that says what one believes. Faith is our obedience, our complete devotion to God, our commitment to God’s promises and our boldness for Jesus’ word. Our faith isn’t just what is in our head, but how we respond to others, especially the most difficult people. Our faith is our whole life, even our opinions and seemingly insignificant speech.

Preach the whole gospel—both the grace and the obedience
When we evangelize, it is not enough to speak of God’s grace. Nor is it enough to speak of repentance. We need to do both. Realize and tell others that God demands our obedience and love—and that he recognizes that we cannot do it ourselves and that we need his help. Challenge people to live like Jesus and then help them realize that they need to depend on him to live it out.

Teach both unbelievers and disciples
The gospel is not just for unbelievers. As disciples, we constantly need to be challenged and recommitted to the Lord. We need to be refilled with the Spirit and constantly praying for renewal. Thus, the gospel of commitment to the Lord Jesus is something not only unbelievers need to hear, but also believers and disciples.

Follow the word of Jesus, not fruitless challenges
Many of us have made foolish vows before the Lord, or obeyed a teacher that was telling us to do more than Jesus asks us to. To overcommit is no blessing to us, and it is possibly also distracts us from what the Lord wants us to focus on. To follow Jesus is enough and it is difficult enough. Let us not increase the burden to be unbearable—it is hard enough just to love.