The term “Disciple”, represents the Koine Greek word mathetes, which generally means “one who engages in learning through instructions from another, pupil, apprentice” or in religious contexts, such as the Bible, “One who is rather constantly associated with someone who has a pedagogical reputation or a particular set of various disciple adherent”. The word “Disciple” comes into English usage by way of the Latin discipulus meaning a learner, but given its biblical background, should not be confused with the more common English word “Student”.
Nowadays, discipleship as a theological concept and Christian practice is justifiably traced back to the Christic model available in the New Testament. Discipleship is defined as the period or process of undergoing spiritual parenting which is displayed all through the scriptures, in both Old and New Testament. Let us go through some points about discipleship from the Bible.
Furthermore, Moses gave Joshua an opportunity to go in service and training, following the victory over Amalek (Ex. 24: 12-14). He was given the chance to see places that the 70 elders did not get to experience (Ex. 24: 12-14, 32: 15-18). Moses as a leader, shows a lot of patience over his disciple in that, he didn’t just make him second or third in command (in spite of all his qualities). Indeed, he still gave him an opportunity to serve but Joshua was constantly around, learning, watching, growing and maturing. In short, after all his dedication and hard work, Moses prepared Joshua to receive the baton of leadership (Number 27:12-23) He honored him in front of the people, encouraged him, challenged him and reminded him that God would be with him (Deut. 31).
From this short passage, we could learn that Moses knows well of what is true success, he ordained his disciple Joshua to be his successor. Indeed, God can directly appoint whoever He wants but to be a disciple as we could see in this context, Moses helped the man prepare so that God will choose Joshua. So, the day had finally come for Joshua to step up and lead the people without Moses’ help (Joshua 1).
2. Elijah and Elisha (I Kings 19: 19; II Kings 2: 1-25): - Elisha, the disciple of Elijah knows very well who his discipler is and his calling. He recognized that God wanted Elijah to be his trainer in his Ministry. Elisha knows the right time for the right issue. He was not simply deceived by the persuasions of the sons of the prophet (II King 2: 3-7). He knows his discipler Elijah’s ability and tries his best not to get fooled by him (II King 2: 9 & 13, 4 & 6). The disciple Elisha was hard-working, patient, ready to learn and inherit from his master, had the same heart, etc. (II King 1-11 ). Meanwhile Elijah, the discipler had some characteristics that we found in the scripture. He knew his God (I King 2:10), he was a man of authority (I King 17: 1), also a man of prayers (I King 18: 36 & 42) (James 5: 17-18) and most of all he was a prophet. (I King 17: 24; 18: 22).
As we have mentioned earlier, the word discipleship in a Christian practice is always Christ Centric and we could see that in John 1: 35-39, John the Baptist encouraged his disciples to call onto Jesus as “Rabbi” and teaches this turn of events as devotion to his own teaching about his relationship with Jesus.
2. Jesus as the great discipler and His disciples: Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, has a clear conviction that what he had done for mankind is not low-cost. His disciple’s training process include practical assignments, such as the little commission, the commission after the resurrection of Jesus, or the conversion of Paul, making them Apostles, charged with proclaiming the gospel (The Good News) to the world. Jesus emphasized that being his disciple would be costly.
Jesus the discipler did something that is astonishing. One of the most conventional reasons to sacrifice for mankind was out of love, which other religions don’t have. He poured his life into men, especially the twelve disciple and when he returned to heaven, he left them to evangelize the world. Jesus the discipler had that capability in which, his disciples would follow him without any hesitation. (At the same way, his disciples were extraordinarily called. He called them to follow him (Mark 1: 14-18), kept them with him in order to train them and sent them out to share his message (Mk. 3: 14). At the same way, his disciples effectively carried out his mission because they followed the same plan of pouring their lives into the lives of others, as their Discipler did.
It is just the way any athlete who wants to become a world champion will need to grow properly, in faith one would need a discipler to help him grow up to maturity. Therefore, let us run with patience the race that is before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12: 1-2).
[“Discipleship” thugelh honpia, Lia M. Roslyn Luanneikim @ Roslyn Kimbuang tung ah lungdam lua hang. Lia Rosyln ahihleh lasak a kiva, TOUPA mizat, EBCC Delhi ah zong 28 August 2019 in Testimony Sharing hong nei khata hi. Thugelh, TOUPA’N sathau hong nilhsakta hen!]
