Discipleship Dimensions:
The 5 Marks of a True Disciple
What does it mean to live as a disciple of Jesus? The life of a true disciple of Jesus is characterized by five “marks”, namely that he or she follows Him, loves Him, obeys Him, worships Him, and submits to Him.
A true disciple follows Jesus. Disciples in Jesus’ day generally followed their teacher around in order to be with and learn from the teacher. Jesus specifically stated that His disciples must follow Him. He said, “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27. See also Matthew 10:38). Jesus Himself lights the way to, and is Himself the very path a true disciple must follow because He is the light (John 8:12) and the way (John 14:6). To follow Jesus means death to self. It means leaving behind the world and the things of the world, and focusing instead on the things of His kingdom. (See Matthew 8:21 & 22).
A true disciple loves Jesus. To the Pharisees who challenged Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God, Jesus said, “If God were your Father, you would love me …” (John 8:42). To His apostles He said, “He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (John 14:21b). After His resurrection, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. (John 21:15 & 16). To be a true disciple, one must have a selfless, giving love (i.e., agape) for the One who gave His life to bring salvation.
A true disciple obeys Jesus. Jesus said to His apostles, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15). At the time of the interchange with the Pharisees mentioned above, Jesus said to those Jews present who had believed Him, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.” (John 8:15b). Quite simply, then, a true disciple of Jesus obeys Him.
A true disciple worships Jesus. Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30). Jesus is therefore fully God. (See Col. 1:15-20; 2:9; Hebrews 1:2 & 3). God alone is to be worshiped. (Exodus 20:3 & 4). Upon being told by Jesus that He was the Son of Man, the blind man whose sight had been restored by Jesus believed and worshiped Him. (John 9:35-38). When Jesus appeared to His apostles and others after His resurrection, they worshiped Him. (Matthew 28:9 & 17). A true disciple of Jesus, then, worships Jesus because of who He is.
A true disciple submits to Jesus. Jesus said, “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.” (Matthew 10:24). Having accomplished His work on the cross, God exalted Jesus “and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord …” (Philippians 2:9-11). “And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church …” (Ephesians 1:22). To submit is voluntarily to place ones’ self under rightful authority. A true disciple of Jesus submits to the Teacher of truth, the exalted Jesus who is Lord of all.
Are you a disciple who FLOWS in your relationship with Jesus? Do you follow Him, love Him, obey Him, worship Him, and submit to Him? The life of the true disciple should be “marked” by these five characteristics, and the degree that such marks are evident should be growing continually.
I really believe in this, especially to the last one. Submission to Christ. The word “disciple” and “discipline comes” from the same root word.
Disciplines works with our submission to difficult things that might be hard to do. But it does helps later on.
For more on discipleship, please visit my website: http://www.thedisciplers.com