Discipleship- be with and become like

In the New Testament we see the primacy of discipleship- beginning with Christ’s commission to His first disciples. “Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Jesus lays out His mission for His church; make disciples.

Disciple is used 269 times in the NT, Christian 3 times. Two main ideas in the term disciple; a follower, an adherent and a pupil, an apprentice. A disciple is follower of a person, an adherent of His teaching, 2ndly, a disciple is one who is learning the teaching and the ways of the Master.

A disciple of Jesus is an apprentice who by following Jesus learns to live out His teachings in a manner consistent with the Master; consistent with the life and teachings of His Master.

I think Eugene Peterson gets at the heart of it with his translation of Matthew 28:18-20. “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you.”

“train in His way of life…instruct them in the practice of..”
Carefully apprentice them in the life and teachings of Jesus. The teaching wasn’t just to be learned, it was intended to shape and transform the disciple’s life, so that they resembled the Master; reflected His life, teaching and character. Lived like He did.

 The mission of Christ’s church set forth from the beginning was to use His all encompassing power and authority to make disciples, apprentices of Jesus. The first century church followed His plan and turned the world upside down.

 In the first century, when a rabbi called a disciple, he simply said follow me; be with me, learn from me watch how I do it, then do it. A rabbi’s disciple was a reflection of the rabbi. When Jesus called His disciples He said “Come follow Me” and “I will make you fishers of men. Follow me and you’ll become like me, you’ll fish for men; you’ll do what I do. Be with Him, and they would do what He did; that’s what happens to disciples they become like their teacher, their Master. Be with and learn from

Matthew 11:28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? (P) Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace…” from The Message

 Be with and become like. Discipleship is the process of becoming like Jesus- to be like, a disciple needs to be with; if he is with, he’ll become like; that’s the process of discipleship. “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.” Luke 6:40

Not simply know what the teacher knows; be like, reflect, imitate.

In the heart of a disciple there is a desire to be like Jesus and a commitment to be with Him. So a disciple frames his life around being with and becoming like, Jesus. Out of the desire to be like Jesus, a disciple rearranges the affairs of his life toward the end of resembling the Master; reflecting His life, teaching and character. Decisions and choices are made with that in mind; practices are engaged in that will enhance my being with Him, learning from Him and following Him.