Disciple

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.”  Matthew 10:24

Disciple – In the school where Jesus teaches, enrollment alone doesn’t count.  Being a disciple means a lot more than simply showing up for class.  It’s not even about taking notes and reading the books.  It’s about listening, understanding and acting accordingly.  Jesus’ disciples are the ones who put His instruction into action.  Jesus teaches Living 101 and the only way to pass is to exhibit the results in daily behavior.

The word “disciple” comes from the Greek mathetes.  In Classical Greek, this word covers everyone who is a student or pupil.  But in the New Testament, the word takes on a much stronger meaning.  Jesus’ disciples were not those who just tagged along, enjoying the thrill of the crowds or the intellectual stimulation of the debates.  Jesus’ disciples were the ones who fully accepted His instruction and changed their lives as a result.  These people made Jesus’ words the basis of their way of life.  What the teacher said and did, they said and did.  That’s why Jesus can say that no disciple is above the teacher.  This is copycat instruction.  If you want to be a disciple of Jesus, you need to copy exactly what he does.  In the end, you will be just like the teacher, not above him.

Consider for a moment how long it took the first century followers of Jesus to live like the Teacher.  He spent night and day with these people for three years and in the end they all ran away.  They just didn’t get it.  But Jesus didn’t give up on them.  The Teacher never let them go until they reached the goal of Living 101 – to be a copy of the Teacher.

It’s easy to get discouraged in this class.  We seem to make progress, then we get a pop-quiz and everything falls apart.  But the Teacher doesn’t give up on us.  He is there, going over the material again, helping us see the light until one day the lesson becomes an automatic part of living.  He is committed to us forever.  No matter how stubborn, obtuse or downright rebellious we are, He never quits.  As long as we want to be disciples, He will teach us to be like He is.

The next 24:  Ask the disciple’s question:  Teacher, can you show me today how my life needs to be shaped into a copy of You?  I’m ready to learn.