The Art of Making Disciplesনমুনা

First Things First

To make disciples, we must first become one.

A disciple is defined as a follower or student of a teacher. In this context, Jesus is our Rabbi (Teacher), and we are His students. Over the next five days, we’ll explore what it truly means to follow Him. In the New Testament, the terms disciple and follower are used interchangeably. A disciple follows Jesus and adheres to His commands.

The Gospels frequently emphasize the cost of discipleship. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). This statement appears five times in the Gospels. Jesus elaborates in verses 25 and 26, declaring that to save our lives, we must lose them. His self-sacrifice on the cross exemplifies this: He gave His life to bring us new life.

Jesus often addressed the crowds, distinguishing between mere fans and faithful followers. In Matthew 8:20, a teacher of religious law promised to follow Jesus anywhere. Jesus responded, “Foxes have dens, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He challenged the man to consider the cost of following Him, highlighting the sacrifices and persecution involved.

Jesus further addressed a disciple wrestling with conditional faith—willing to follow but only on his terms. This struggle is common and calls us to complete surrender. True discipleship involves sacrificially submitting to Christ, imitating Him, and becoming more like our Teacher.

An old rabbinical proverb illustrates this well: “You are to be covered in the dust of your Rabbi.” In those times, walking on dusty roads was the norm. Following closely behind someone meant being covered in their dust. This vividly portrays what it means to follow Jesus closely.

Are you covered in the dust of your Rabbi, Jesus? Are His teachings shaping your life?

To make disciples, we must first be transformed by Christ ourselves. Teaching others requires a willingness to be taught, and leading requires a desire to be led.