What Does a Study of St. Mark's Gospel Tell Us About What It Means to Be a Christian Disciple?

A disciple is a person who follows and loves Jesus and helps to spread the teachings of what Jesus taught. They are a member of the new community, and they become more and more like Jesus through a life of faith and obedience. Jesus taught that the life of a disciple must be like his own, which is a journey to the cross: a disciple must 'take up his cross and follow' (8:34-35). St Mark's Gospel helps us understand the nature of discipleship through various stories concerning the disciples. Jesus required a tremendous amount of commitment in order for anyone to be accepted as a disciple, which is why he only ended up with a few deeply committed followers. It was a commitment to be dedicated to Jesus, who had no self interest but was more concerned for a development in God and the life of others. Jesus was extremely committed and he wanted the same commitment from the disciples in return. He wanted them to trust him with every move he made as he took their lives and moulded them into the accordance of his will. A disciple should expect trials and difficulties in this life. Jesus has said a true disciple should not be surprised if he or she is treated poorly. The character of a true discipleship is repentance and occupation, being called to preach, control, example and modesty.

He wanted them to trust him with every move he made as he took their lives and moulded them into the accordance of his will. Mark illustrates this in The Widow at the Treasury (12:41-44), when the Widow gave all she possessed. Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more money into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on.". This illustrates that the Widow showed commitment and trust in Jesus. Jesus said 'If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all' (9:35) . He made this point as He did not want to be served he wanted to serve and and because of this, he laid down his life for other people. Mark also explains this in the story of the Request of James and John, 'whoever wants to be first must be slave of all'. Jesus also stressed to his disciples that being a Christian was not accepting a life of misery and constant suffering and persecution but the opposite which can be seen from what Jesus said in Mark 10:28-31, where Peter asked Jesus how the disciples would be rewarded