“Jesus went about among the villages teaching. And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two…” Mark 6:6-7

“And as he sat at dinner in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” Mark 2:15-17

Discipleship in the early church was a mix of learning and doing — once a disciple was sent out to teach what their mentor had taught them they were then called Apostles.

Jesus not only asked his disciples to learn from him, but he wanted them to think, and to act, and to step out of their comfort zones. Being a disciple has not changed in 2000+ years. Jesus still asks you and me to follow in his ways of discipleship.

We read the account of the calling of Levi, or Matthew the Tax Collector and we marvel at his willingness to leave everything and to follow Jesus. As such, it is not enough just to learn from the teacher — we are to “follow” the teacher, Jesus. When we become Apostles, or the “sent out ones” (for that is what an Apostle is) then Jesus expects us to put his teaching into ministry – into doing. You see, it is not enough to love, we need to do loving acts. And it is not enough to pray for help, we need to “be” the prayer, to be the hands and feet of Christ in helping the needy.

Here is what Martin Luther has to say on the matter in his writing “Concerning Christian Liberty”:

“I first lay down these two propositions, concerning spiritual liberty and servitude: A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and subject to none; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to every one.

You see, as Christians, there is a higher calling when we become a “follower” — higher than just our knowledge, or our length of membership in a church. It is our responsibility and our accountability to our Christian brothers and sisters and to all others in being disciples for Jesus. As Paul says, “Knowledge puffs us up, but love builds up.” (1 Cor. 8:1)

We are called to live within the limitations imposed by love — and that love compels us to “go and do”. Every day you and I have the opportunity to “share in the way of Jesus Christ” in our discipleship. It is our Christian responsibility. What will you do today to “share in the way” of being a disciple?

Pastor Dave