Jesus’ Teachings About Discipleship

³⁴ Then, calling the crowd to join His disciples, He said, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must TURN from your selfish ways (your own interests), TAKE up your cross, and FOLLOW Me (joining Jesus as His disciple). ³⁵ If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake and for the sake of the Good News (Gospel), you will save it. ³⁶ And what do you benefit (profit) if you gain the whole world but lose (forfeit) your own soul (life)? ³⁷ Is anything worth more than your soul (life)? ³⁸ If anyone is ashamed of Me and My message (words) in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man (Jesus’ favorite title of Himself) will be ashamed of that person when He returns in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38 (NLT)

After Jesus predicted His suffering and death (Mark 8:31-33; see also Matthew 16:21; Luke 9:22), Jesus teaches His disciples and the listening crowd the cost of being His disciple (follower). Jesus taught that all who follow Him must experience death to their selfishness and selfish ways (Mark 8:34-38; see also Matthew 16:24-28; Luke 9:23-27; Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20). In these verses,  Jesus called the listening crowd to Himself, along with His disciples (followers) and said, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must TURN from your selfish ways, TAKE up your cross, and FOLLOW Me (Mark 8:34, NLT; see also Matthew 10:38; Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:23; Luke 14:27; Acts 20:21). Another translation says, “Anyone who intends to come with Me has to let Me lead” (Mark 8:34, MSG; see also Romans 12:1-2).

To turn from our selfishness and selfish ways involves letting Jesus determine our goals and purposes in life. Mark 8:34-38 with parallel references at Matthew 16:24-28; Luke 9:23-27 reveal the total allegiance, surrender, and commitment to God required of Jesus’ disciples (followers) (see also Mark 1:15; Mark 10:52). To take up your cross is a metaphor for our wholehearted devotion to God and God’s will (Luke 9:23) rather than a call to martyrdom, although martyrdom is an ever-present possibility for Jesus’ disciples (followers) (see Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 10:21-22). Jesus wanted His disciples to surrender control of their lives and make God and God’s will FIRST and the center one’s life (see Matthew 6:33). If anyone wants to be a dedicated Jesus-follower, all Scripture consistently teaches that God and His purposes are to be our continual priority and commitment (e.g. see Matthew 10:37-39; Luke 14:25-33). Discipleship is not self-centeredness but God-centeredness! Faithfully following Jesus mean a continuous moment by moment, day by day, and step by step abandonment to Jesus (Luke 9:23)! For some, the call to discipleship is very hard (Mark 10:24), but God provides His grace to allow us to SEEK HIM FIRST (Mark 10:27)!

²³ Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross DAILY, and follow Me. ²⁴ If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it.” Luke 9:23-24 (NLT)

One of the apparent paradoxes of Jesus’ teaching on discipleship relates to the voluntary surrender of one’s life for the sake of Jesus and Jesus’ message (Mark 8:35-37; see also Matthew 16:25; Luke 9:23-24). Jesus told the listening crowd if anyone wants to follow Him, we must put aside our selfishness and self-centeredness and follow Jesus closely and obediently each day (Mark 8:34; see also Matthew 6:33; Luke 9:23; Galatians 2:20). Amazingly as we follow Jesus daily, we will find true life and meaning! Jesus says, “For whoever wants to save his life (soul) will lose it, but whoever loses his life for the Gospel and Me will save it” (Mark 8:35, NIV; see also Matthew 16:25; Luke 9:24). In other words, if we try to hang onto our lives, we will lose it. However, if we give up our lives for Jesus and His message, we will save our life forever (see also Mark 10:29-30). Only those who turn away from their selfish ways for Jesus’ sake and the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to find true life and victory (Mark 8:35-36). When we give our lives in service to Jesus, we discover the real purpose of living (Galatians 2:20).

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ; and I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the real life I now have within this body is a result of my trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (TLB)

The closest contemporary word to “disciple” is probably “apprentice.” A disciple of Jesus is more than a student who learns lessons using lectures and books. Jesus’ disciples are ones who learns by living and working with His Teacher in a daily “hands on” experience. Too many Christians are content to just listening to sermons but never putting that knowledge into practice. However, Jesus wants His followers to follow Him by imitating His life and obeying His commands (Luke 9:23; see also Luke 6:46-49; John 15:5-17; Romans 6:17). As Jesus' disciples, we are not to use our lives on earth for our selfish pleasures and self-interest but spend our lives serving God and loving people (Ephesians 2:10). A distinguishing mark of a true follower of Jesus is LOVE for one another (John 13:34-35; see also Matthew 22:37, 39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; 1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:7-8, 11-12, 19-21). God values unselfishness, generosity, and doing good deeds towards others (e.g., see Matthew 5:14-16; Matthew 7:12; Acts 20:32-35; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 10:23-24, 31-33).

²⁸ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28 (NLT)

Jesus exemplified service, goodness, and compassion towards others during His public ministry (e.g. see Matthew 4:23-25; Matthew 9:35-36; Matthew 14:14; Matthew 15:22; Matthew 20:34; Mark 1:41; Mark 6:34; Mark 8:2; Mark 10:45; Luke 22:26-27; Acts 10:37-38; Philippians 2:5, 7). While good works cannot bring our salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9), God created and saved all believers of Jesus for the purpose of loving Him and doing good works towards others (e.g., see Matthew 7:16-20; John 15:12, 16-17; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:14). At Jesus’ second coming, our faithful service toward others will be rewarded by God (Matthew 5:12). Our conduct and deeds (praxis) will be the basis for rewards, not our mere professions or verbal claims (Matthew 7:21).

²⁷ For the Son of Man (Jesus’ favorite title for Himself) will come with His angels in the glory of His Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. ²⁸ And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.” Matthew 16:27-28 (NLT)

Alongside Jesus’ demands for discipleship are the rewards of following Jesus. Those who faithfully follow Jesus are promised entrance into the Kingdom of God (see Mark 10:29-31). Jesus’ teaching to deny oneself and follow Him is rooted in the fact that Jesus will return to judge all people according to their deeds (Mark 8:38; see also Matthew 19:28; Matthew 24:29-31; Matthew 25:31; Luke 9:26; 2 Thessalonians 1:7). At Jesus’ second coming, Jesus will judge all people according to their deeds (Matthew 16:27), and we must give Jesus a final accounting of how we have spent our lives (Matthew 25:31-46; Romans 14:9-11; Philippians 2:9-11). Jesus will evaluate how we handled and spent our gifts and opportunities. If we reject Jesus and His message now, Jesus will reject us at His second coming (Mark 8:38; see also Romans 10:9).

Apostle Paul:  ²¹ I have had one message for Jews and Gentiles alike — the necessity of turning from sin to God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:21 (TLB)

References

Believer’s Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1995).

Disciple's Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 1988).

Faithlife Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2012).

Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).

Life Essentials Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2011).

NLT Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2008).

The Apologetics Study Bible: Understanding Why You Believe (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2012).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Loyd, Melton, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament (Due West, SC: Erskine Theological Seminary, 2015).

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament (Victor Books, 1989).