What Does It Means to be a Christ Follower?

If we are going to understand discipleship in Mark, we must first understand what it means to be a disciple. The first time we find disciple (mathētḗs) ion Mark, is in chapter two. The word here means a learner or a pupil of someone. 


It is said that in early Jewish writings the description of a disciple, or learner, was one who would

 “cover himself in the dust of [the rabbi’s] feet”. 

This basically meaning that one would follow the words and actions of their teacher so closely that the dust stirred up by them would cover their follower.

So, what was it that Jesus did? The first teachings that we find from Jesus is that of the good news of the gospel. Jesus begins His ministry on earth by preaching that we should repent and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15)

This proclamation is the lesson that we should take if we are to be disciples of Christ. The first instance of the twelve going out, this is exactly what they are commanded. (Mark 6:12)

Even later in the book of Acts tells us that Paul preached this same thing as a disciple or follower of Jesus as he went around proclaiming, “repentance towards God, and faith in Christ”. (Acts 20:21)

This was the beginning of the ministry of Christ, and this must be what is embraced by the church. Blomberg clarifies this by stating that, 

"Ultimately, Mark shows the inability of all people, including would-be disciples, to respond properly to God in this present age, apart from God's acting on their behalf.” (Blomberg p. 134)

In other words, for the church to truly embrace discipleship it must embrace the gospel, because only the gospel call is the initiating call from God. 

We must promote what the good news of Jesus Christ is, what this union means for us, and how it is practically played out in our daily lives. This is what it means to truly follow Christ.

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