From Part One, we learned that being a disciple means coming to Jesus in surrender to His will, and sharing in His life. We are to share in His evangelistic mission, His Holy Spirit power, His suffering, and His glory! In Matthew 11:28-30, we find a couple more elements of discipleship which we explore now.
After we have come to Jesus and entered a shared life with Him, we must learn of Jesus. The word disciple itself means “learner.” If being a disciple means anything, it means being a learner, as Jesus invited in Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me.” This is a life-long process. II Peter 3:18 says, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Much like a plant grows gradually and constantly as it takes in nutrients, so we grow gradually and constantly as we take in knowledge of our Savior. Ephesians 4 says that God has given us spiritual leaders, such as pastors, teachers, and evangelists, to aid us in this spiritual growth. They minister to us so that “we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God . . .” As we absorb the spiritual nutrients provided by their ministry, Ephesians 4:55 says that we “may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” As we learn of Christ, through the preaching and teaching of spiritual leaders and our own personal Bible study, we are to grow up into Christ. This reminds us that the ultimate goal of discipleship is to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). The point of learning more about Jesus is to become more and more like Jesus. While this process is gradual, it should be a constant process in our lives. Someday, it will be completed when we see Jesus face to face and are glorified as He is (I John 3:2).
This spiritual growth necessitates that a disciple follow the example of Jesus. For our knowledge of Christ to result in growth in Christ, we must act on that knowledge. We must take Jesus’ steps after Him. While Christ’s primary mission on earth was to save the lost, He also left an example for the saved. Jesus showed us what true leadership looks like. In Matthew 11:29, after He told us to learn of Him, Jesus said, “for I am meek and lowly in heart.” In asking us to learn of Him, Jesus is not asking us to become or do something that He Himself is not or does not do. His leadership was the kind that says, “See what I’m doing? Follow me!” Let’s look briefly at two areas in which we can follow Christ’s example.
Christ’s earthly life demonstrated the nature of love. Before His last supper with His twelve disciples, Jesus performed a servant’s task. He washed His disciples’ feet. In John 13:15, Jesus said, “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” Later that night, Jesus said to them, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34-35). Jesus disciples are identified by their love for one another. We are Christ’s disciples when we follow His example of self-sacrificial love.
In addition to love, Christ left us an example of submission. In the garden, Jesus prayed for the anguish of the cross to be taken away from Him, but He ultimately surrendered to the Father’s will. Philippians 2:5-8 tells us, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross . . . .” The mind of Christ in us is one of humility and obedience. The call to discipleship is one of radical self-denial and submission to God. During His earthly ministry, Jesus made sure that His followers knew the cost of discipleship. In Matthew 16:24, He admonished, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” In submission to the Father, Jesus took up His cross, denied His human will, and gave His life for us. If we are going to follow His example, then we must also take up our cross, deny our human will, and give our lives to Him. While this element of discipleship is radical, it is only reasonable.
Jesus left us examples in so many areas, but His examples in love and submission are foundational to discipleship. Disciples are learners. However, learners who do not put into practice what they’ve learned will fail the test. True disciples follow the example of Christ.
So, how would you score on the test of discipleship? Based on Christ’s words in Matthew 11:28-30, to be a disciple we must come to Jesus, share the life of Jesus, learn of Jesus, and follow the example of Jesus. As we’ve briefly looked at each of these elements of discipleship, we have still only scratched the surface. Though difficult, the most significant, satisfying, and rewarding path we could walk is that of a true disciple of Jesus Christ. No turning back.