What a Study of St. Mark's Gospel Can Tell Christians About What it Means to be a Disciple

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What a Study of St. Mark's Gospel Can Tell Christians About What it Means to be a Disciple

A disciple is someone who believes in and helps to spread the

teachings of one another. St Mark’s Gospel helps us understand the

nature of discipleship through various stories concerning the

disciples. In Mark’s Gospel, the disciples are called apostles

whenever they are sent out by Jesus on a mission of teaching and

healing. The disciples are told to travel light on their mission,

Jesus said, “Take nothing for your journey except a staff- no bread,

no bag, no money in your belts.” Jesus does not want his disciples to

be burdened down by material possessions. Real Christian discipleship

requires total commitment. It is about sacrificing everything for the

service of God. It is not important about the quantity you give but

the quality, and leave you totally dependant on God for survival. In

the calling of the first four disciples Jesus calls them individually,

this shows how great his power and charisma drew them to him. Jesus

said, “Come follow me”. They immediately responded without doubt and

followed him. They left all their belongings and families to follow

him no matter what. Jesus told the disciples, “I will make you fishers

of men”. Jesus meant they would bring people into the family of God.

They would follow Jesus’ footsteps and spread the good news and

convert people to Christianity. Jesus called a crowd to him along with

his disciples and said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny

himself and take up the cross and follow me.” The cost of

discipleship’s threefold. To deny ‘self’ means Jesus’ followers must

always put other people’s needs before their own. Jesus said, “But

many who are first will be last, and the last first.” They must be

honest, resist temptation. Learn to say no and love others which may

lead to making sacrifices for them. Christian disciples should put

their own needs and wishes last. To ‘take up your cross’ has two

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