What makes a disciple?
“Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.’ When He got into the boat, His disciples followed.” (Matthew 8:22-23)
Jesus was moving, and someone wanted to bury their father before following Him. It is interesting how Jesus, who is life, referred to those who did not follow Him. “Dead.” His disciples got into the boat. By following Christ they left every thing behind.
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25)
To be a disciple of Christ there were some pretty stiff requirements. Have the requirements changed? It would be very good to know. The first disciples were told, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
So, a disciple of Christ is needed to make disciples who will in turn make more disciples. Jesus moves in the Spirit and is calling us to follow Him by observing all that He commands. If we do, Jesus has promised that we “will find” life as God intends. Although we are riddled with imperfections they are left behind as we continue to follow God’s Spirit. Jesus is with us, and He wants all men to know those who are His disciples.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciple, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
His Family Table 