The Cost of Discipleship

In Mark 8 Jesus said to his followers, if any one would follow me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. The question I have is this: Were they not already following him? Why then did he need to urge them to intensify their “followership”. As you survey the gospels, you see Jesus offering this call of discipleship to several people. Some responded, like the 12 disciples, and others didn’t for they had to attend to their own private matters. In the call to discipleship, Jesus’ challenge never wanes. Do you want to follow me, truly? Or are you willing to be in the crowd?

Being in the crowd is very common in Christianity today. In fact I believe majority of believers are the crowd. The crowd would be there for the miracles, constantly sought the spectacular and would be the first to devour the bread and the fish. However they did not know him. They would never be found in an intimate setting visiting with Jesus like Mary and Martha. Their adherence to Jesus never required anything from them. Their discipleship cost them nothing. In fact when Jesus’ rebuke would be too strong, they would vanish, offended and disillusioned. The crowd phenomenon can be very confusing to the world, for often Christianity is judged by the actions of its stated adherents. Yet the crowd do not truly represent Jesus. They may attend church services, but they have never been discipled. Thus, their faith in Christ is not authentic.

Discipleship involves a surrender of self, along with a clinging to the cross. In this self surrender, one begins to apply the cross to their heart attitudes which ultimately transforms them entirely. Motives, judgements, thinking patterns, are consistently weighted with the way of the cross. Is what I am about to do selfless, and characteristic of the suffering messiah? Am I elevating myself above my fellow man? Have I humbled myself to serve in whatever capacity, or do I seek self-aggrandizing even in my volunteer capacity at church. Such are the questions that constantly surface in the mind of a disciple. As these questions are wrestled with and applied to the cross of self denial, the believer finds their actions become more congruent with the teaching of Jesus. Slowly but steadily, the believer, a former member of the crowd becomes transformed to a disciple, who closely adheres to the teachings of Christ.

Does your discipleship cost you much? Have you had to deny yourself in living for God? As often said, salvation is free, but not cheap. So goes discipleship. It is very expensive in fact, and God determines the value. As Bonhoeffer (a 20th century martyred disciple) said, “Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ”. May you continue to follow the teachings of our Lord, and be drawn to deeper levels of commitment to his ways, bearing much fruit, thus proving a disciple of our Lord.