189. Being a Disciple

Short Meditations in Mark’s Gospel: 189. Being a Disciple

Mk 9:30,31   They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples.

We sometimes forget that the key aspect of the life of a disciple was to learn what the Master has to teach. Jesus call to the disciples had been to follow him and that meant being with him and learning through him who he was and what he was capable of and why he was doing what he was doing – so that they could do the same and continue doing what he was doing (Jn 14:12)

So there has been activity and the disciples have even had cause to ask Jesus to explain what had been happening but now he takes them away through Galilee in such a way that the crowds don’t know where he is – and all this with the intent of teaching the disciples without interruption. Now what is interesting about the Gospels (and frustrating?) is that we occasionally have these references to Jesus teaching his disciples but are not actually told what he taught them. I wish one or more of the disciples had kept notes of what he said, but even if they did, for some reason they never share it. The nearest we get to it is in, for example Acts 1:3 where “he spoke of the kingdom of God”. I suppose ultimately all of Jesus’ teaching could be summarised as that in some form or other, but we aren’t told just what he said at these times.

But the fact is that Jesus realised that one of his key roles was to prepare this bunch of men (and women) to carry on when he had gone. His plan was not to carry on for years and years to follow, but after his resurrection and a short period of reassurance, to leave the disciples and return to heaven. His primary goal is for us, his followers, to continue the work that he begun – to share the good news of God’s love with all mankind.

But part of that, quite clearly from the Gospel accounts, was to also teach his followers to minister the power of God in the same way to bring healing and deliverance. A large part of Jesus’ ministry was not only to input to the mind, but to also impact the physical side of our lives as well. Being a disciple isn’t merely knowing a lot of information; it is also applying that into practical, everyday life. When Jesus gave the disciples what we call the Great Commission, it also included the instruction, “teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:20) Obey means do.  So we may not know what Jesus actually taught on these occasions, but we know that it would be imparting information and teaching them to put it into practice. May we do the same!