Authentic Discipleship
Pastor Leslie Chua
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?””
This is a classic biblical text on Christian discipleship. It is often quoted. Unfortunately, its essence is all but lost on most contemporary Christians in affluent countries.
Following Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, and Jesus’ disclosure of His impending death, Jesus made this statement concerning the cost of discipleship. In other words, the cost of following Him.
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There is a cost to following Jesus, which is often ignored in the preaching of the gospel today.
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There is a cost to following Jesus, which is often ignored in the preaching of the gospel today. Why? Because it is not an attractive proposition for potential followers. Today’s gospel message is laced with many sweeteners and promises of living the good life.
Given that, Christ’s message on the cost of following Him is inadvertently reframed. A distinction is made between believing in Jesus and discipleship. Essentially, many Christians are misled to believe that they can believe in Jesus and be saved without being a disciple.
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Christ’s message on the cost of following Him is inadvertently reframed. A distinction is made between believing in Jesus and discipleship. Essentially, many Christians are misled to believe that they can believe in Jesus and be saved without being a disciple.
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While it is not quite explicitly stated in that way, that is the posture assumed by most pastors, Christian leaders, and Christians.
I have a problem with this kind of thinking because I do not see the Gospels making such a distinction. Jesus did not make a distinction between believing in Him and following Him. The two are the same. To believe in Christ is to follow Him. That is, to obey Him in everything, including denying ourselves, carrying our cross, and even losing our lives for His sake.
This is the radical nature of Christian discipleship. It requires our wholehearted commitment and a total surrender of our lives. While we cannot do all this perfectly, we ought to have this mindset and posture.
Unfortunately, the bar has been lowered. Just believe. Discipleship is an option. It is not necessary. All you need to do is say the sinner’s prayer, and you will be saved no matter how you live.
Look at the four Gospels, and you will realise that it does not work this way!
The Son of Man Has Nowhere to Lay His Head
Jesus inspired His generation. He taught with authority. He preached with charisma. He healed the sick, cast out demons, and did many astounding miracles. He proclaimed the good news and gave hope to the lost. As a result, crowds flocked to see and hear Him wherever He appeared.
Many wanted to follow Him.
If we put ourselves in Jesus’ shoes, we would have responded with enthusiasm. We would seize the moment and clinch the deal by getting the people to say the sinner’s prayer. The church would increase in number and it would be another feather of accomplishment in our caps.
But Jesus responded differently. He did not seize the opportunity to amass more followers. On the contrary. His response was more akin to pouring cold water on their enthusiasm.
To a man who pledged to follow Him wherever He would go, Jesus said, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Luke 9:58).
To another who said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father,” Jesus responded, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:60).
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Jesus was not discouraging them from believing in Him and following Him. He was merely stating the reality of following Him. There is a cost to it. It is attractive to be identified with Jesus in the public glare, but there is more to it than meets the eye. Essentially, Jesus wanted them to check their motives and consider their decision carefully.
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To another who said, “I want to follow you, but let me first say farewell to those at my home,” Jesus responded, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:61-62).
At first glance, Jesus sounded rather unfriendly and demanding, even unreasonable. But that is because He knew they were not as serious as they sounded. They were just caught up in the excitement of the moment and attracted by the prestige of associating with Jesus.
Jesus was not discouraging them from believing in Him and following Him. He was merely stating the reality of following Him. There is a cost to it. It is attractive to be identified with Jesus in the public glare, but there is more to it than meets the eye. Essentially, Jesus wanted them to check their motives and consider their decision carefully.
Eat My Flesh & Drink My Blood
This is not an isolated case. Jesus did the same thing repeatedly. Another such occasion happened after He multiplied 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes to feed five thousand men.
The crowd was so convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. They wanted to take Him by force to make Him king. Jesus responded by withdrawing from them.
They searched frantically for Him. Finally, they found Him in Capernaum. Their ensuing conversation is instructive. What Jesus said challenges the common assumption that differentiates between believing in Jesus and discipleship. It destroys the narrative that you can believe in Jesus without following Him and thinking biblically and living biblically.
Jesus told them bluntly that they were following Him not because they believed in Him but because of the miracle of the multiplication of the five loaves and two fishes (John 6:26-30).
Strangely, they asked Jesus for more signs to convince them so that they would believe in Him (John 6:30), to which Jesus responded that He was the Bread of Life repeatedly.
Fascinatingly, Jesus concluded their intense exchange by saying – “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him” (John 6:53-56).
What Jesus said sounded repulsive.
Jesus was talking about His sacrificial death and the shedding of His blood and their need to appropriate His life for salvation. But He chose to paint it in such a graphically repulsive way as if to suggest cannibalism. He could have explained it more clearly and gently. But He chose otherwise.
Why?
Because these people were following Him for all the wrong reasons. Jesus wanted only true followers. He wanted only authentic disciples.
Notice the response of these people, including many of His disciples – John 6:60 - When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”
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Jesus was not afraid to offend His disciples and risk losing them. He was not into the number game. His goal was to recruit true believers and authentic disciples.
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Instead of relenting, Jesus doubled down, saying, “Do you take offense at this?” (John 6:61)
After this, many of Jesus’ disciples left Him (John 6:66).
Then, Jesus turned and asked His twelve closest disciples, “Do you want to go away as well?” (John 6:67).
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In the Parable of the Weeds, Jesus clearly says that the Kingdom of God comprises both wheat and weeds (Matthew 13:24-30). Wheat symbolises true believers while weeds false believers. Are you surprised that in the church of Jesus Christ, there are both authentic and fake followers of Christ?
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Jesus was not afraid to offend His disciples and risk losing them. He was not into the number game. His goal was to recruit true believers and authentic disciples.
In the Parable of the Weeds, Jesus clearly says that the Kingdom of God comprises both wheat and weeds (Matthew 13:24-30). Wheat symbolises true believers while weeds false believers. Are you surprised that in the church of Jesus Christ, there are both authentic and fake followers of Christ?
Many profess Christ, but not all are His true followers. They do not think biblically and live biblically. No wonder Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
Hence, the mission of our church is to raise a community of authentic disciples. Our vision is: We are a vibrant community of authentic disciples who think biblically and live biblically, who are committed to transforming lives, society, and nation, and who are prepared for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.