What Is a Disciple?

During the first century, when Jesus walked the earth, the concept of a disciple was common. This was understood as a teacher-student relationship, similar to an apprenticeship with a religious undertone. Jesus adopted this concept of disciple as He gathered 12 men to live their lives with Him. For three years, the 12 lived every day with Jesus, learnt the ways of Jesus and ultimately were pulled into all that God had called them to be.

At the end of these three years, and the end of Jesus’ time on Earth, He gathered his followers and gave them a command to go into all the world and make disciples. They were commissioned to continue the work of Jesus, but not because they had become masters; rather, they’d be lifelong students who pointed others to the master Jesus.

Carrying over two millennia, the commission continues today as disciples show other people how to become like Jesus. This is the ultimate invitation of a Christian: to not just change their religious affiliation on a census, but to have their lives completely transformed by the person of Jesus and allow every part of their being to become like Him. As we continue the journey of discipleship, we can experience the fullness of what this life has to offer and become everything we were created to be.

The journey of discipleship isn’t a small task; in fact, Jesus says it’ll cost everything. But that means you can trust God completely that He’ll give you everything back better than it could’ve ever been.