Requirements for Disciples: Mark 8:27-38

“So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free’” (Jn. 8:31-32, NASB).

It is not hard to find people that claim to be a Christian. Rarely do we hear someone say, “I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.” A local pastor often uses the phrase, “a Christ follower.” There is the possibility that a person might be a “Christian” and not be a disciple of Jesus Christ. A person can be a good Christian and not be a Christ follower. In fact, Jesus never referred to those that followed him as Christians. The designation of people that claimed to be Christ followers as Christians first took place after Jesus had ascended to the Father. “And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers, and the disciples were first call Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:25-26, NASB). In this article I want to briefly mention the requirements that Jesus left with the people in order to be a disciple of His.

The synoptic gospels, Matthew (16:240, Mark (8:34), and Luke (9:23) record that Jesus stated that there were requirements for disciples. Luke records these words: “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow Me’” (Lk. 9:23). I like Luke’s wording of this statement because only Luke has the word “daily” in his account. It clarifies that a disciple is one who follows Jesus daily. A disciple of Jesus is not simply a member of a church. A disciple is not one who adopts the label Christian through church membership. A disciple is one who submits to the authority and teaching of Jesus Christ. A disciple is one who is willing to make sacrifices for the cause of Christ daily. A disciple is one who follows the directions of the Holy Spirit in order to provide service for the kingdom of God. John records that Jesus said that a true disciple is one who not only hears the words and ascent to the truth of His principles. No, a disciple is one who hears the word and lives continuously by the word (Jn. 8:31-32). With this in mind let us look at the words “submit,” “sacrifice,” and “service.”

In the synoptic gospels Jesus feeds five thousand people. Then Jesus takes His disciples to Caesarea Philippi, and He asked His disciple who they think that He is. Peter says that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and Jesus commends him for his insight. Then Jesus begins to tell the disciples that He will go to Jerusalem and suffer. “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised on the third day” (Lk. 9:22, NASB). Peter rejects the idea that Jesus the Son of God will suffer at the hands of men. Peter, like many of us today cannot fathom the idea that God requires suffering on the part of those that are His children. We tend to attribute anything bad that takes place in our lives to the work of Satan. Peter’s rejection is because of his misunderstand and unbelief. Peter’s rejection is an indication that He is not yet ready to submit to the will of God.

Jesus teaches us that we must submit to the will of God. Many of us have problems with the word submit. We often associate the word "submit" with mistreatment and abuse. For many it means the loss of dignity and self respect. However, Jesus teaches us that He submits to the will of the Father because of the love that He has for the Father and the love that the Father has for Him (See John 5:18-24). It was the will of the Father that Jesus would come into the world so that Jesus could demonstrate God’s love by dying on the cross. “‘I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep’” (Jn. 10:14-15). “‘For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again’” (v. 17). We can see that disciples of Jesus submit to the will of the Father because when we submit we do the will of the Father. Paul writes that Jesus submission was a voluntary act for a purpose that results in a reward (See Phil. 2:3-11). Thus, when we submit to the authority and teaching of Jesus we deny ourselves. We are prepared to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of the kingdom of God.

We deny ourselves when we submit to the authority and words of Jesus. We no longer seek our own will. Rather, we seek to do the will of Jesus. Jesus informs the disciples that denying oneself; submission necessitates sacrifice indicated by the words “take up his cross.” Disciples of Jesus do not seek to please the religious leaders; especially when the religious leaders have their own agendas in mind instead of the purpose of God. The religious leaders teaching and methods were not the ways of God. Their goals were in direct opposition to the purposes of God. Let me mention two things. The religious leaders sought to keep the people in bondage, but Jesus came to set people free (See Luke 4:18-19). The religious leaders wanted to maintain their good status with Rome for their own benefit. Jesus came to set people free from their sins and all the things that sin makes a person bondage to.

The Jews handed Jesus over to Pilate the Roman government. It was Roman law that determined that Jesus would die on the cross. The criminal charge against Jesus was written over His cross; JESUS THE NAZERENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS” (Jn. 19:19). According to Roman law only Caesar was king. Thus, taking up the cross means standing in opposition to both religious leaders that refuse to obey the words of Jesus and the rules of the world systems.

A disciple of Jesus must follow Jesus every day. Just as Jesus lived a life of service, so must His disciples. You might be wondering why Jesus would live a life of service to the people. Did not Jesus know that His works of miracles on behalf of people rejected by the religious leaders would mean rejection and suffering at their hands? Yes, Jesus knew this and He said so (See Mk. 8:31). Disciples live a life of service on behalf of the kingdom of God knowing that serving people often leads to suffering. You see, it is alright to discharge one’s Christian duties of service in the name of the church. It is okay to discharge one’s Christian duties as long as the glory goes to the church and the religious leaders. It is when the disciple of Jesus makes known the love of God that caused Him to send His Son into the world to save people from their sins and all the consequences of sins that trouble begins.

A person can be a Christian with good standing in the local church and not be a disciple of Jesus. Hopefully, church members will seek to be Christians in their local church while being a true disciple of Jesus Christ. A disciple of Jesus denies themselves (submit), takes up their cross (sacrifice), and follow Him (service).