Following the Original Disciples

Disciples Daily – Following Jesus daily. In this blog, I share my journey and study of being a Christian with other Christians on how to truly follow Jesus the Biblical way. Following Jesus series is a study focused on how a Christian can be a Christian to its truest meaning. As we journey, the Following Jesus series will get on the path that Jesus called His disciples to walk on. The Blueprints of Following Jesus.

Christians are followers of Jesus. We are people who have left the world for Christ. But, what does it really mean to follow Jesus? This question is one of the most researched, discussed, and written topics in Christian scholarships today. It is not because it is evolving or it is new, but because modern Christianity has deviated from or misunderstood God’s Purpose and Mission of the Christian Movement. The word of God and the Blueprints He left for following Him have not changed.

Most Christians claim to follow Jesus because their names are registered in a church roll, or because they go to church once a week or month. To some, it is because they got involved in community service or charity a few times a year. Yet others consider themselves Christians because their parents are Christians or perceive Christianity as a good idea. How close are we, to what following Jesus actually looked like for the original disciples?

How did the original disciples follow Jesus?

When Jesus called the twelve, they left their businesses, hobbies, their former ways of living, dreams for the future, and their families. They simply had to follow Jesus and imitate Him as He led them, exemplifying a radical, revolutionary, and heavenly way of life. They were to learn to think like Jesus, be like Jesus, do things that He did, and ultimately embrace His mission. And these would be their everyday life as long as they lived.

The Calling to Follow Jesus, for the 12 disciples

Mark’s gospel summarizes this in a profound and beautiful way. He reports the reason why Jesus called the twelve:  

^“13 And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. ¹⁴ Then He appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach., ¹⁵ and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:” (Mark 3:13-15)

The first important thing here is that Jesus called them to BELONG to Him, and that is to give up their current way of life to come to Him. Secondly, to BE with Jesus. To learn and get to know Him and to have a personal relationship with Him. Finally, to SEND them to serve and witness for Him, that is to Do what Jesus did.

Purpose 1: Called to Belong to Him

These disciples were not kids; they had things going for them. They had dreams, families, careers, and businesses. Although we do not have all the information concerning each of the disciples’ lives, they definitely had life. They came from all sorts of backgrounds.

Just to mention a few Peter, Andrew, James, and John were fishermen (Matt 4:18-20; Mark 1:19- 20; Matt 9:9 Peter and Andrew are brothers, while James and John are brothers. It appears they had a fishing industry, and joint family business in Capernaum; they were successful and wealthy enough to have several boats in their time. Matthew also had a good life, although he made money through one of the despised jobs of his time, a tax collector.

However, when Jesus invited them to follow him they immediately left their boats, business, parents, and families and followed Jesus (Matt 4:18-20; Mark 1:19-20; Matt 9:9. He calls people from all sorts of backgrounds, statuses, and cultures but all of them had one thing in common, the problem of SIN. Because Jesus said he came “not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Lk 5:32). This is a call “to belong to Him.”

Purpose 2: Followers of Jesus “Called to Be with Jesus”

For three and half years, they fulfilled the purpose of “being with Jesus.” The disciples followed Jesus everywhere and made their home with Him. They observed Him closely and saw how He selflessly related and demonstrated His love to people. They learned how humble and willing he was to submit to accomplish the Father’s will. The climax of Jesus’ life and ministry was the Roman cross. The disciples did not fully understand Jesus’ mission until after His resurrection. It was after the commissioning and the Pentecost experience that they fully understood the end part of the calling. The call “to be the sent ones.”

Purpose 3: Followers of Jesus To be Sent

After Jesus left, they rose to their mission as the “sent ones,” the apostles. Although Jesus left, they were not to go alone because Jesus would “be with” them “even to the end of the age” (Matt 28:19-20). The calling to belong to Him, to Be with Him continues into being Sent, but going with Him.

They continued on this journey until they fell asleep, awaiting the 2nd coming of Jesus. Stephen died, stoned and buried under a pile of stones. John the revelator died on an isolated and lonely island, others in prison, yet others in heat and flames. This is what it meant for them to follow Jesus. They had learned enough to encourage believers, when they wrote about Jesus and His life and how we should follow Him.

The disciples’ Message to the followers of Jesus today

^“5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God., ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” ⁹Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name. ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth. ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phi 2: 5-11)

The Messiah had to give up heaven, His title, glory, and the right to sit on the throne of the universe. But for what? To become one like us. He became the most vulnerable one as a babe. The most rejected and despised, like a sheep led to the slaughter ( Isa.53). He did it all for the victory and joy set before Him. The disciples had to, “have the Mind of Jesus.” they are to “live the life of Jesus, and fulfill the mission assigned them. They will endure all things for the price God promised them, to be rulers together with Him. This is what means to follow Jesus. Christians today follow these Blueprints.

Conclusion 

Jesus called the disciples to “belong to Him”, “to be with Him,” and “to send them, but with Him.” This process is not a one-time commitment but a daily and continuous commitment for a lifetime. In the phase, “Following” is a present participle that is a continuous tense. We continue to follow Jesus daily, intentionally and consciously.

Jesus told His disciples, you have come but, ‘deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me daily’ (Luke 9:23). ‘Abide or remain in me daily’ (Jn 15:1-11), and be filled with the Holy Spirit continuously (Eph 5:18). The followers of Jesus are a people who believes, knows and lives as disciples daily. Continue with Part 2 of the Following Jesus Series: Part 2: Blueprints: Word of God, Surrender and Holy Spirit