The objective of this lesson: to emphasize the fact that a disciple was a pupil (student) and to contrast the concept of membership with the concept of discipleship.
The concept of discipleship was a Mediterranean world, Roman Empire concept, not just a Jewish concept. It was a concept known in both the religions and philosophies throughout the world of the Roman Empire, particularly Greece. It was common for a recognized teacher who was renowned for his accomplishments/knowledge in his area of thought/insight to allow a group of pupils to gather about him. The pupils would learn from what this teacher said and how this teacher behaved. The combination of teachings and behavior trained his pupils.
Emphasize that the basic concept of discipleship was a common concept in the relationship of a teacher and his pupils.
If the man was widely respected for his knowledge and insights, it was not unusual for him to have "disciples" after his death. These would be men who devoted themselves to the teacher's values and concepts. They submitted to a lifestyle based on the study of the teachers' teachings and behavior even though he was not alive.
If a teacher was respected and renowned for his insights, he could have disciples after he died.
Remember there were no electronic means of spreading/sharing information. There was no print of any kind, so there were no textbooks. Producing copies was a slow, labor intensive, expensive process that involved copying by hand and was beyond the economic means of most pupils then. Consequently, the best means for training men who could live as you lived and could continue to share your ideas was discipleship.
Spend a moment challenging your students to realize how much the world of a student is influenced by telecast, recordings, and textbooks. Have them consider how the experience of a student would change if none of that was available, and only males had the option to be pupils.
Jesus did what was common to do: he taught the twelve as his disciples. These men observed him on a daily basis. They watched as he handled demanding situations. They observed his value system as he applied his teachings to life.
Emphasize that the twelve had a "whole life" context for their learning experience. They not only heard Jesus' teachings, but they also witnessed Jesus' applications in difficult situations. It would be insightful to know "the hows" as well as "the whats."
These men heard his teachings. They witnessed his application of his teachings. His twelve knew because they saw as well as heard. Jesus frequently tried to deepen the twelve's understanding. Their understanding increased after Jesus' resurrection (see Luke 18:34; John 13:19; 16:4; Acts 10 especially verse 34, 35; and Galatians 3:29 for examples).
Help your students understand the twelve did not understand everything prior to Jesus' death and resurrection. Their learning process continued after Jesus' resurrection.
Therefore, Jesus taught the twelve so he could continue to teach through them. Jesus sent them out after instructing them (Matthew 10:5). They, at that time, were to go exclusively to Israelites (Matthew 10:5, 6). They were to preach, heal, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons (Matthew 10:7, 8). They were to make no physical preparations (Matthew 10:9-15), they were not to study (Matthew 10:19), they were to anticipate opposition (Matthew 10:21-39), and they were to expect to be rewarded for their efforts (Matthew 10:40-42).
Jesus empowered the twelve to do things that would increase the credibility of their sharing. They were not believed in Matthew 10 because they were popular, but because they reflected Jesus.
The Matthew 10 scripture is often known as the limited commission. The commission that occurred in Matthew 28:19-20 after Jesus' resurrection is a universal (whole world) commission.
Contrast the commission of the twelve in Matthew 10 with the commission of the eleven in Matthew 28:19, 20. It was God's intent that the Jewish people hear before the non-Jewish people (see Acts 13:26 and Romans 1:16).
The term "disciple" not only applied to the twelve men in Matthew 10 and the last of 28, but also to others who were influenced to follow Jesus and his teachings (see Luke 19:37-40 and John 6:66-71). Later, in Acts, the term "disciples" was also used to denote the people who were the ekklasie or church after the crucified Jesus was resurrected from the dead.
Emphasize that all who followed Jesus' teaching prior to his death were disciples, and after his death were the "ekklasie" or church.
Your attention is focused on this truth: a discipleship relationship is a teaching relationship. It is a relationship between a pupil (student) and his teacher. The pupil (student) looks to his teacher to teach him values and share with him (or her) the examples of (a) how to live and (b) for what to live. The teacher teaches more than facts. The teacher teaches life to his students as the teacher focuses the students' attention on the purpose of human existence.
Emphasize that discipleship was based on a teaching relationship.
A person becomes a student of a teacher because he (or she) is convinced that the teacher teaches the key to life and existence. With the resurrected Jesus, men and women become his students for a lifetime (consider John 10:9 and 14:6). People do not grasp a few facts, commit to Jesus, and live as they wish. They enter a quest for understanding that continues as long as they live. Everyone who follows Jesus is a student, no matter what the person's position or role happens to be. Learning how to live from Jesus never ends for any follower. Every level of maturing only opens more opportunities for increased understanding.
A person becomes a disciple because of confidence in the teacher. We become Jesus' disciples because of our confidence in Jesus. He shows us how to live and what should be our life's focus.
Being Jesus' disciples means we enter a teaching relationship with Jesus. To be a disciple means: (a) we accept through faith that Jesus has the key to life because of his relationship with God and his resurrection; (b) we understand that we do not know how to use our lives; (c) we need to learn, or we need a teacher; (d) our lives are an investment, and we need a teacher to show us how to invest life.
Stress the four things involved in being Jesus' disciple. Stress the fact that we need to be taught.
The concept of being Jesus' disciple is striking. Discipleship is basically an unending process of learning. It is not a membership relationship based on a few induction facts. It is a learning relationship based on our confidence that Jesus came from God, and that he can show us life that is stronger than death because he is the resurrected one. Discipleship is as big as life itself. It is much bigger than going to a church building a few hours a week. It literally encompasses all of life from entering Jesus Christ to death. It involves learning how to live, how to die, and expectations after death.
Discipleship involves an unending learning process. There is not merely a sequence of facts to be mastered and committed to memory. In fact, as we mature spiritually, some things we may have learned early are much too simple to encompass full life in Jesus Christ. Discipleship involves life seven days a week in all its relationships and aspects, not merely a building and what is done in the building a couple of days during the week.
For Thought and Discussion
It was a Mediterranean world, Roman Empire concept, and not just a Jewish concept.
It was a common relationship in a study of a religion and a study of philosophy.
It was not unusual for a renowned teacher to have disciples after his death. Remember they had no electronics or printing of any kind.
Jesus taught the twelve so he could continue to teach through them.
Matthew 10 is known as the limited commission. Matthew 28:19, 20 is known as the world commission.
Disciples referred to anyone who followed Jesus' teachings prior to his death, and to the "ekklasie" or church in Acts.
A discipleship relationship is a teaching relationship. One becomes a disciple to learn.
A teacher shared how to live and for what to live. The teacher focused his students on the purpose of human existence.
The person becomes a disciple because he (or she) is convinced the teacher teaches the key to life and existence.
Discipleship is an unending process of learning. It is as big as life itself.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 2