What Is a Disciple?

​August 30, 2026
What is a Disciple?
 
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. Matthew 16:24-25
 
“Christian” was not the normal name for us in the first century. “Disciples” and “people of the Way” were the common names used. These point to following Jesus and following his way of life to describe us. Jesus certainly speaks this way when he said that those who want to be disciples “must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow (him).”  This kind of language leads us to think of worship life, sacrifice and obedience as the barometers of our “discipleship.” If our being disciples of Jesus (Christians) depends on what we do, we are in BIG trouble.
 
What draws us to Jesus is our brokenness only he can heal, our emptiness only he can fill and our fears that only he can calm. He gives us all of that. In his death and resurrection Jesus redeemed us. He set us free from the power of sin and death. He gives strength and purpose to all who look to him. And yet, we did not choose Jesus—He chose us.  We are followers of Jesus because God “has called us by the gospel and enlightened us with his gifts.” (explanation of 3rd Article of the Apostles’ Creed). We are Christians because God, his in rich mercy, “has called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.”  (I Pet.2:9)
 
Christians follow Jesus—at his invitation, but where will one find Jesus? We still find him standing up to those who seek to change the gospel message, sitting with those who are hurting and embracing those who are rejected by the world. To follow Jesus is to embrace the consequences of doing these same things. Why? Because as Jesus has changed our hearts he has enabled us to love those whom he loves. He moves us to sacrifice for the sake of bringing blessing to another. He empowers us to suffer in the hope that by our actions others might come to know his love as we know it.
 
The disciples were all martyred for the gospel of Jesus except for John. I do not think that any of them looked back with regret at leaving their old lives behind when Jesus called them to follow him. The privilege of having Jesus walk with me, carry me, through life is worth giving up any plans I had for myself. The joy of knowing love as HE pours it out so much greater than anything I might ever give up. I can never brag of my faith life—all I have is a precious gift from HIM. May we thank God for the privilege of carrying his name by virtue of baptism. It is pure joy to follow him wherever he leads.
 
Holy Father, I thank you for calling me to be your child. I ask you to fill me with your Holy Spirit, to fill my heart with your love, that I might joyfully follow Jesus in the way I think and act in love. I ask this in the precious name of Jesus. AMEN.