John 6 — Discipleship Is Relationship
The prominent building block of John 6 is a relationship called discipleship. Jesus was a Jewish Rabbi who had hundreds of disciples. How did someone qualify for this unique relationship?
If we think Jesus selected only MVP candidates to be disciples, we’ll assume that we are not in their league. However, the first disciples were no more qualified than you and I.
You see, most of Jesus’ followers had already flunked Disciple Training School. Every Jewish boy was taught to read and study the Bible, and the sharpest knives in the drawer advanced to become disciples of a rabbi. As for the dull knives, they learned a trade and found a job.
Jesus broke with tradition by recruiting His disciples from among the dull knives: fishermen, a tax collector, a freedom fighter. Other disciples were women, which broke even more with custom. So whether failures or females, every last one of them was utterly astonished that Rabbi Jesus desired a disciple relationship with them.
Still today, Jesus is offering you and me the same “Follow Me” invitation into this profound, personal relationship called discipleship. What does it entail? In the 1st century, discipleship was an all-or-nothing bond with a Jewish rabbi. Therefore, Jesus’ disciples committed to:
- Submit totally to Jesus’ will.
- Memorize Jesus’ teachings.
- Understand and accept Jesus’ traditions and Scripture interpretations.
- Imitate the lifestyle of Jesus.
- Train the next generation of disciples in the same manner as the Lord had taught them.*
Wow! This is more demanding than being a church member. How can we learn this role? In every chapter of the Gospels Jesus teaches us more about discipleship and our life in Christ. For example, John 6 features these lessons:
1. As Jesus feeds the 5000, we learn that fruitfulness arrives when we grant Him control over the little that we have.
2. Amid raging waves, Jesus reveals the fullness of His identity. So, when troubled by any kind of storm, let’s welcome Jesus into our boat.
3. When Jesus urges people to continually munch on His flesh, we realize that knowing Him is not a one-and-done meal, but a series of nows, constantly nourishing our life in Christ.
4. Many disciples quit on Rabbi Jesus and walk away. Feeling the pushback of unbelief, the Twelve have to weigh their allegiance: Are they all in or all out? How about you and me?
Are you a Christian or a disciple? There is a difference. Discipleship is a relationship of profound commitment. Discipleship means you are never alone as you walk with Rabbi Jesus through every event of your life. Discipleship starts with Christ’s commitment to you; He died on the cross, rose again, and pours out the Holy Spirit to qualify you as His disciple.
Jesus is all in! Are you? If so, walk with Him and learn from Him daily. If not, ask the Lord to show you what is holding you back and how to address the obstacles.
Whether you are ready or not, He will not fail you, because no one is a better a teacher than Rabbi Jesus.
This is post #7 in an ongoing dialog about the Gospel of John occurring online at www.philbickel.com, Facebook, and Youtube. You’re invited to join the conversation.
A catalyst for the dialogue is a free 97-page ebook by Phil Bickel, Fullness or Fraction in the Gospel of John, which introduces readers to 10 essential building blocks of life in Christ.
* Source: Are You a Christian or a Disciple? by Edward N. Gross, pp. 45-47. Xulon Press, 2014.