Students & Disciples

Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments. Whoever says, “I have come to know him,” but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says, “I abide in him,” ought to walk just as he walked. 

– 1 John 2:3-6

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 

– John 13:12-17

 Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 

– Ephesians 4:31-5:2

A professor once explained to me that, while students seek to gather information and learn what their teachers know, disciples seek to become exactly like their lord. Students ask teachers to pass along information. Disciples ask their lord to help them become the person their lord is – they desire to embody their lord’s being. Absolute, total commitment is the first step towards discipleship.

It was early morning. Disciples were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee far from shore. Suddenly they saw their Lord walking towards them on the water. Peter did not ask Jesus to explain how He was doing what He was doing, Peter did not inquire about the physics behind the act, Peter wanted to walk on water exactly like His Lord. He wanted to do the same thing. He did not merely want to gain knowledge; he wanted to embody Jesus (see Matthew 14:22-33).

As we consider our commitment to God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, we must each decide what we seek. Are we students or disciples? Do we seek intellectual knowledge or do we seek to embody Him? When we turn to Scripture and read God’s holy word, are we seeking mere knowledge or are we seeking Him, His word, His Word, His “sword of the spirit” (Ephesians 6:17)? God’s holy word emphatically urges us to seek a life embodying Him, to allow His love, His light, His life to flow through us so that we act like Him and our status as disciples is evident to people we encounter.  

Jesus calls us to do what He did. With that in mind, what did He do during His time on earth? We know that He taught, preached, demonstrated how we should live, healed many people, confronted people in authority and lifted up the outcast, but why did He do these things? What was His larger purpose?

Through His teaching, compassion, and signs and wonders, Jesus revealed God’s glory to everyone with eyes to see and ears to hear and He did it all out of love. He did it for you, for me, for us because He loves each of us. Jesus lowered Himself and exchanged His heavenly glory for an earthly body. Jesus came to earth, the place Scripture describes as the “dominion of darkness” (Colossians 1:13) and as the place where Satan roams seeking people to devour (see 1 Peter 5:8), with a multifaceted mission statement that involved nothing less than changing everything. He came to change the world order by offering Himself as the path leading to new life and bridging the chasm separating people from God, but He did not envision a new form of government, a new political power, a new human institution. He envisioned a new world comprised of individuals with transformed spirits and souls.

Ultimately, Jesus’ mission was revealing God’s glory to the world and He explains in His amazing prayer on the evening He surrendered Himself for us that He accomplished His mission (see John 17:1-5). God’s holy word urges us to do what Jesus did. How can we possibly do what He did? How might we reveal God’s glory to the world? The only way we have any hope of coming close to that is to allow Him to transform us so that we embody Him.  

Students seek knowledge. Disciples seek to embody their Lord and the path towards discipleship begins with commitment. Please join me as I ask myself, what do I seek and what commitment am I willing to make?