The Rise and Fall of the Disciples - Research Paper Example

?The Rise and Fall of the Disciples Introduction The disciples were sometimes irrational, unforgiving and even demonstrated limited faith. In other situations, they were strong and loyal to Christ; performed supernatural acts and created examples that Christians today emulate. It is critical to study their journey during and after Christ’s ascension in order to place their rise and fall in context. This can allow for a n evaluation of the relevance of their presence in the bible. The rise and walk of the disciples Luke 6: 12-13 outlines the painstaking process that Christ went through in order to select the twelve disciples. It is said that he prayed the whole night for these men. When he called them, many of them seemed to be unlikely choices, but they all chose to follow him. As they continued their walk with Christ, he often prayed for them as stated in John 17. Even in instances when the disciples were less than steadfast in their walk, Jesus was still there to support and pray for them. In Luke 22:31, the Lord talks to his disciple Simon about prayers for him, he tells him that he will pray for him even if the devil tries to snatch him away. It is this commitment to his followers and his constant intercession for them that leads to their success in the future1. Jesus did not select persons of great educational merit. None of the disciples had studied law or done any scholarship work. Regardless of this, Jesus still chose them to be his followers. In doing so, he wanted to demonstrate to the world that any of them could become just like the disciples. Their commitment to the Lord was what caused them to become great men. He was also making a statement that the grand plan of salvation did not require majestic men. In several instances, these disciples proved that they were worthy of their calling. Peter, who happened to be Jesus’ favorite, exhibited a moment of great faith when he walked on water. Jesus had provided no safety cushion or anchor for him, and Peter only relied on his word for success. In fact, it was this great display of faith that earned him the right to witness Christ’s transfiguration. The extraordinary things carried out by this individual were such that they would convey great hope for the future of humanity. Jesus had initially declared that those who became his disciples would have to hate their families and everything else that mattered to them in order to fulfill the divine plan. Many of them sacrificed their personal lives for the sake of the Gospel. They remained loyal to him and experienced the rejection that he experienced. Essentially, they demonstrated an allegiance to the Lord that would eventually cause Christianity to manifest. This decision to stay with him was indicative of their conviction and strength2. Additionally, in Christ’s lifetime, the disciples performed supernatural acts through his name. In Luke 10:1 Jesus commanded the seventy to go and heal the sick. He also added that the kingdom of God would come near them in the same chapter. Luke 10:17 proves that they took his words seriously since they came back rejoicing to Christ. The seventy affirmed that it was possible to subdue demons through his name. These acts show that the disciples had faith in Jesus. At the time, it was sufficient enough to reach the supernatural realm. Feeble faith A number of disciples seemed to lack confidence in his ability to lead spiritually. Therefore, they displayed a great degree of ignorance that was unexpected from people who spent almost all their time with Jesus. A case in point was the case of the miracle of the five loaves and two fish. At the time, Christ instructed Andrew to find food within the crowd. When he came back, Andrew asserted that there were only five loaves and two fish to be found. He then asked what could come from such a small quantity if the crowd was so large. This statement implied that he had little faith in Jesus’ ability. One would expect more from a person who has seen Jesus perform miracles in the past3. The disciples also failed to demonstrate a degree of grace and forgiveness that would reflect Jesus’ teaching. In Luke 9:53, the Samaritans were hostile to the disciples that Jesus had sent ahead. John and James responded in a non spiritual and vengeful way. They asked Jesus whether they should pray for fire to be sent from above to consume them. Likewise, when Jesus was about to be arrested, Simon Peter cut off the ear of one of the attackers. Luke 6: 15 also talks about Simon the Zealot’s intention to use military means against the Palestinians. Violence was never a point of reference of Christ. The disciples also demonstrated the same unwillingness to forgive towards Christians too. In Mark 9:38, they wanted to forbid someone who was casting out demons in Jesus name. They affirmed that he had no right to do so because he was not a follower. However, Jesus stopped them from doing so because he believed that a person performing miracles in his name was incapable of opposing him. These acts of vengeance contracted the nature of training that the Lord had given the disciples. They went against his very nature by judging others and putting the primacy of the law over other things. The apostles were quick to use human standards to restore justice, yet Christ had his own way of doing so. Therefore, their preference for the use of these methods indicates that their faith was still undeveloped. Disbelief was also evident in several instances in the bible. Perhaps one of the most prominent ones is the case of Thomas after the resurrection. Jesus had told the disciples that he would come back after his death. Therefore, one would have expected rejoicing and acceptance from all concerned. However, Thomas responded with doubt and skepticism. He insisted on seeing the wounds on Jesus side and even placed his fingers on Jesus’ body (John 20:25). After all the things the disciples had witnessed throughout Jess’ life, it would have been expected that he knew better than to doubt him. During the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus calls aside three of his closest disciples; John, James and Peer (Mark 14:33). Jesus appoints them to stay awake during the prayer. He further tells them to shun away from temptation by watching and praying. In this incident, the followers took a heavy meal and slept quickly. It was not common for Jesus to demand that the disciples stay awake praying. However, because this was an emergency situation, it was necessary to result to dire measures. The disciples failed in the test regardless of their pledge of loyalty to Christ.4 Jesus even likened them to children who usually fall asleep since they are children of the earth. When the disciples failed to heed this warning and fell asleep, they demonstrate that are indeed children of the earth. One may thus deduce that the Lord is the only son of God. The disciples, therefore ‘fell’ in this instance, because they failed to go beyond demands of the flesh. They were weak and could not be there for Jesus when he needed them the most. Betrayal of Jesus Some of the disciples betrayed Jesus in minor and significant ways. Judas Iscariot initially complained when a woman came to anoint Jesus’ feet with oil (John 12: 4-6). He stated that the oil was expensive and could have been used to feed the poor. However, what he really meant was that the oil would have been sold and used for his personal benefit. Judas, through the ultimate betrayal, would later show that his loyalty was towards money and material well being. The follower was thus an antithesis of everything that good discipleship stands for. In Matthew 26: 14, one can find an illustration of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. He plotted for Jesus’ arrest with the Pharisees. This follower of Jesus was well aware of the impending death of Christ, because Jesus had talked about it before. It was almost as if Judas wanted to bring about the Kingdom of God using his terms rather than Jesus’. The thirty pieces of silver would later prove to be no match for Christ’s followership. In fact, his participation in the betrayal of Jesus would eat at his conscious so much that it caused him to commit suicide.5 Judas would later be the only disciple who did not contribute towards the spread of the Gospel. In the book of Mathew 26 verse 69 to 75, Peter, who was one of Jesus’ favorites, denied him three times. He did not have the courage to stand up for Christ when in a dire situation. Jesus had warned Peter about this when he talked about the cock crowing three times after Peter’s betrayal. The prediction would soon come to pass when Peter lacked the muscle to stand behind God’s son. It almost seemed as if Peter relied on his own devotion to Christ rather than Christ’s devotion to him. The Apostle had initially denied that he would betray Jesus, however after realizing that he had, the matter disturbed him so much that he cried bitterly.6 This incident thus demonstrated a failure and downfall on the part of Apostle Peter. The failure was so real to him that it prevented him from being there during Christ’s crucifixion. He felt that it would be hypocritical for him to attend it when he had let him down. Peter had boasted about his commitment to Christ during the last supper. It is likely that such an attitude may have led to his feelings of disappointment at Jesus’ death. The reliance on his own strength rather than God’s may caused his downfall at that point. Spreading the Gospel The Lord commissioned the apostles to carry God’s word to the ends of the earth in Mark 16:15. The 12 of them (except Judas) accepted this calling and executed the mandate with zeal. In fact, it was their accomplishments in this area that sowed the seeds of Christianity today. One may thus assert that even though they exhibited moments of weakness and failure, they were ultimately successful in their divine mandate. Peter, who had previously displayed an irrational and erratic attitude towards Jesus, later became a strong evangelist. He was regarded as a spokesman for the early church and remained committed to this mission until his death. The weaknesses displayed in his earlier life seemed to have faded away after Christ’s crucifixion. If Peter had not existed in the earlier church, it is likely that it would not have become what is today.7 In the books of Acts 3:6-3, the apostles conducted one of the first miracles after Christ’s death. Peter came a across a lame man who asked them for some money. Peter replied that he did not have silver and gold but would give him what he had. Through the name of Jesus Christ, the Apostle proclaimed that the lame man should walk. Indeed, this individual received strength and walked. The person was ecstatic about receiving this miracle, and shouted and praised God. The disciples seemed to have developed a high degree of confidence in Christ after his ascension if they were capable of carrying out such a supernatural act. Acts 5:12 shows that the apostles performed several wonders and signs among the people. The disciples dedicated their lives towards spreading the Gospel. Apostle John lived in Ephesus where he taught about love until a ripe old age. Phillip went to Phrygia and Asia Minor to preach the gospel. His pursuit of the same continued until his death in martyrdom. Additionally Jude went on to wrote the book of Jude which contained several verses about God’s splendor.8 Their martyrdom Regardless of the rise and walk of the disciples during Jesus’ lifetime and their zealous declaration of the gospel after his death, all of them would actually fall. It was their love for him which would lead to their failure. In Mark 14:27-28, Jesus had the last supper with his disciples. During this event, he declared that they would all fail him. They did not believe that he could say such a thing when they cared and loved him so much. It is likely that Christ may have referred to their demise after his ascension. However, he may also have been highlighting their silence during his crucifixion. If one relies on the first interpretation, then it is evident that the painful and humiliating death of the disciples was a depiction of their fall.9 As mentioned earlier, Peter was one of the most committed members of the early church. He went about doing missionary work and evangelizing. However, these efforts rattled the authorities. Many leaders in Israel and beyond thought of Christian teachings as a threat towards their majesty. Therefore, they organized for the execution of these persons. Peter was crucified because of his passion for salvation. He requested that his assailants place him upside down so that he would not mimic the way in which Christ himself died. The Apostle died a horrible death because of his commitment to the Lord. The scriptures do not give much detail about the death of the rest of the disciples. However, writers of the New Testament have mentioned these events in brief. For instance, it is known that James was the first disciple to die as a martyr in 44 AD. Phillip on the other hand died in Hierapolis as a martyr. All these incidences of death illustrate that the disciples paid a heavy price for the path they chose. After going round in circles concerning their commitment to Christ, 11 of them decided to commit to him. However, it seems as though they would never live to enjoy the effects of their faith. 10 The world was quick to judge and eradicate the disciples for the commitment they demonstrated. If one only focuses on their lives on earth, then their death seems like an antithesis. It was pitiful and sad that such people would die humiliating deaths. On the other hand, if one looks beyond their death, one realizes that the occurrences led to even firmer convictions thereafter. Conclusion The rise and subsequent fall of the disciples demonstrates the weakness of humanity. The disciples represented man in so many ways. Jesus became flesh and lived among men. He needed people around him to help him with God’s plan for salvation. However, the disciples failed him at a time when failure was least desirable. This indicates that they were human; many Christians today may learn from their tumultuous relationship with the Lord. They are often asleep when they need to be executing their mandate. The disciples were thus demonstrating that human beings are imperfect. Another theme that comes from the rise and fall of the disciples is the importance of tests when fulfilling a certain mission. The greatness of Christ was manifested when the disciples’ weaknesses were converted into strengths. Flaws, denials, betrayals and feeble faith were all indicative of an immature discipleship. However, as they continued in this path, their faith grew stronger and even led them to die for Christ. Their fall was reflective of the tumultuous path that is salvation. Many Christians will demonstrate instances of imperfection but this should not delineate them from their great mission. The turbulent journey of the apostles also brings out the theme of Christ’s forgiveness. Jesus was willing to work with Judas Iscariot even when he knew about his ultimate betrayal. Additionally, Simon Peter’s flaws were many but they did not cause him to become separated from Jesus. Instead, he was the rock upon which the church would be built. The disciples’ struggles ought to serve as a source of encouragement to Christians today because Jesus will always be there for individuals as they struggle to grow spiritually. His constant forgiveness and grace towards them is what makes their downfalls something worth studying. Finally, the rise, walk and fall of the disciples also shows that love and self sufficiency are barely enough in the kingdom of God. One cannot choose what they prefer simply because they love the Lord. Their path only implies that one must face the challenge as soon as it presents itself. The disciples who relied on their own loyalty to Jesus failed because human strength is never sufficient. On the other hand, those who depended on Christ’s strength succeeded. Even in their death, the disciples were confident of their future because of surrender to him. References Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Discipleship. Washington DC: Fortress Press, 2003. Clem, Bill. Disciple: Getting your identity from Jesus. Oregon: Crossway, 2011. Dodson, Jonathan. Gospel-centered discipleship. Oregon: Crossway, 2012. Dorsett, Terry. Developing leadership teams in the bivocational church. NY: Crossbooks publishing, 2010. Hull, Bill. The complete book of discipleship: On being and making followers of Christ. TX: Navpress, 2006. McCallum, Dennis and Jessica Lowery. Organic disciple making: Mentoring others into spiritual maturity and leadership. Ohio: Touch Publications, 2006. Melton, Alan. Disciple like Jesus for parents. Washington DC: Xullon Press, 2009. Ogden, Greg. Discipleship essentials: A guide to building your life in Christ. Colorado: IVP, 2007. Towns, Elmer. The names of Jesus: Disciple’s book. NY: Accent Publications, 2007. Wedell, Sherry. Forming intentional disciples: The path to knowing and following Jesus. Minneapolis: Our Sunday Visitors, 2012. Read More