DISCIPLESHIP AND JOHN'S GOSPEL
HELEN HARRAY
Approaching the Gospel of John:
it's not like the Synoptic gospels
" Not a straightforward historical account of Jesus' life and teaching
" John has far more Christian interpretation than the other 3.
" It was written around 90CE as opposed to 50CE when Mark was written
" Synoptics: parables, sayings Mark 4 and kingdom of God, little about himself
" John has long involved discourses or sermons, eg John 6, 15; little about the kingdom and heaps about Jesus eg the I AM's. Profound, staggering claims
" John's gospel helps to fill out the picture in several instances eg. The early days of Jesus' ministry, John shows that Jesus earliest period of ministry overlaps with that of John the Baptist and that there were earlier encounters between Jesus and his first disciples. In Mark, the account begins with the Baptist off the scene and the abrupt call of the disciples to Follow.
" the Jesus of John's gospel reflects the increasing understanding of who Jesus was, not simply an historical portrayal.
JOHN 1: 35-42
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39 He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). 42 He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).
When I first read a passage like this it means nothing much to me. Ho hum, so what. I have to dig into it.
So I start drawing and writing…
I ask questions…
So if we can imagine this scene: we have John and these two disciples and John says:
"Look here is the Lamb of God"
and his two disciples start following Jesus. Whew there's an interesting dynamic. How would you like it?
Jesus turns around and says: "What do you want; what are you looking for?"
"Rabbi, where are you staying?"
"Come and see. "
So they did and they stuck around for a day from 4pm.
The two disciples were Andrew and John the writer.
Andrew then went off and got his brother Peter and said: "We have found the Messiah and took him to Jesus."
Jesus says: "You are Simon but I call you Cephas or Peter the Rock."
MY PROCESS:
- Drawing and writing, makes me focus on the dynamics and who's saying what.
- I ask questions. Why, who, what. Why does this seem odd?
- I use cross references and Bible notes to illuminate words or find out a bit more about something
- Investigate using commentaries all the while asking what has this got to do with me, or what can this tell me about Jesus and his love for me, what can it tell me about how to live. I try to observe how Jesus is doing things, how he operates.
- Very often something goes aha, other times I have to work pretty hard at that.
- What does this mean for me? How will it change me and my behaviour?
Now I want to dig a little deeper.
Mathetes = Greek for disciple, occurs 76 times in John, is from the verb manthano ("to learn").
So in Mark's account, if we read it alongside John, that wasn't the first time the disciples have seen Jesus. That's a little too crazy to believe. There have been encounters.
But at this point in John's gospel this is still the: Come and you will see stage.
John must have been constantly pointing beyond himself and once he had identified the coming one, then it was to be expected that they would follow him, become his disciples.
So they are being true to his teaching! Wow says a lot about John.
They followed Jesus: 2 levels of meaning… literally and taking the first steps of genuine discipleship
Connected with the term for disciple is following. John introduces this idea in 1:37 and 4 times in the following 7 verses.
Two other themes which emerge here are seeking and finding. The verb for seeking zeteo is used 34 times in John.
Mostly about seeking Jesus.
What are you seeking? What do you want?
An empowering question, one that makes you think about what you are doing.
These are the first words of Jesus in the Gospel and are therefore very significant.
Jesus is presented as the elusive Christ, not always easy to find or understand, so seeking and this question are an important theme.
2 levels: what are you doing following me now and what do you really want in life?
Rabbi: recognized him as a public teacher of divine things
In the first half of John, the disciples call Jesus 'rabbi' or teacher, master.
After ch 12 it is more likely to be 'kurios' or Lord.
What Jesus is to us is a progression of understanding and time and journeying.
When we first come to Jesus, we can only be what we know,
as we spend time with Jesus we will grow toward him in a way that will call much from us.
This is the meaning of discipleship.
Where are you staying? Verb is abiding or remaining cf John 15 a characteristic of John's gospel.
Come and you will see: Another important theme is that of coming to Jesus.
Here Jesus invites the disciples to : Come and see.
The deeper meaning implied in these words is: Come into relationship with me and receive true sight.
Coming to Jesus is used to describe active faith in John's story.
We have found the Messiah
Finding heurisko 19 x in John.
Andrew is witness and evangelist.
The FIRST thing Andrew did was find and bring some one else to Jesus.
DISCIPLES ARE WITNESSES to the bread they have found.
In 6:8-9 he brings to Jesus a young boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish.
In 12:22 we see Andrew and Phillip helping to bring some Greeks to the attention of Jesus.
Andrew's character is defined in relation to his role: he is an evangelist par excellence.
You are Simon Son of John. You will be called Cephas. Kepa= rock
A declaration of what Jesus will make of him.
The assignation was given right at the beginning, not contradicted by Matt 16:18 or Mark 3:16.
Jesus knows people thoroughly and not only sees into them but so calls them that he makes them what he calls them to be.
JOHN 1: 43-51
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." 46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." 49 Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." 51 And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."
Another 'call' story.
I had to question why it says Jesus found Philip. It didn't seem to line up with the other accounts, where everyone else who comes to Jesus is brought by another's witness. Does that make Philip really special? But in the commentary it says that the Greek text leaves it open as to whether it was Jesus or Andrew. In fact it is possible that Andrew found his brother Simon and then Philip. We are not sure who the subject of the sentence in v 43 is.
If Andrew is then there are no exceptions and the theological point about witness is reinforced. Jesus does not 'call' any of these fledgling disciples as he later does according to the accounts of the Synoptics. That also explains why Nathaniel is not listed as one of the 12. Although it could be that Nathanael is the personal name of Bartholomew. In 3 of the four lists of disciples Bart is linked with Philip.
Philip is characterized as the model disciple.
Mathetes connotes imitation. The rabbinic master-pupil relationship in 1st c Palestinian Judaism could be summed up in this idea.
You teach and demonstrate and the disciple imitates. Action/ reflection model.
Jesus finds Philip or Andrew brings Philip = Philip finds Nathaniel.
Foundational principle : new followers bear witness to others, who in turn become disciples and repeat the process.
Jesus says: Come and see
Philip says to Nathanael: Come and see.
Nathanael: prejudice: Can anything good come from Nazareth?? Bit of a local rivalry like NZ and Oz. Cana and Nazareth of Galilee
So Philip says: come and see
Jesus saw him and saw through him and said: a true Israelite in whom there is nothing false. He saw: Transparent integrity: one in whom there was nothing false.
What you saw was what you got. He was willing to examine this Jesus without ill motive. NO guile, no deceit
He is a representative character: a true Israelite
Yet also an individual : how do you know me? Jesus brief summary of his character had hit the mark.
I saw you under the fig tree: supernatural knowledge. This encounter with Jesus radically transforms the man and he declares: rabbi, you are the Son of God, the King of Israel.
Man, that must have been some encounter with Jesus!
Did Nathanael understand what he was saying?
It is dangerous to form your faith on a miracle like this, maybe that's why Jesus declares, you will see greater things than this, the greatness of the Son of man! This is whom you put your faith and trust in not in a miracle. Jesus here assigns the appellation King of Israel with the Son of Man. The definition of the Son of Man will take John the rest of the Gospel to unpack.
DISCIPLESHIP TODAY
Acts continues to use the word "disciple," but there mathetes is synonymous with "believer." Luke tells of the time at Antioch when "the disciples were first called Christians" (Ac 11:26).
Although it is dangerous to build on silence, it does seem significant that the term "disciple" is simply not used in the Epistles, nor even in John's later writings.
The NT has several images that replace the image of disciples gathered around a rabbi.
The Epistles speak of the Christian community as family, teaching us that we must build intimate relationships with our brothers and sisters.
There is the image of Christ's body, a living organism, and this teaches us to look to each other for ministries that will facilitate our transformation.
There is the image of a holy temple, indicating that we are to serve God and others.
We can learn much from a study of Jesus' relationship with the Twelve. But just as the word "disciple" was discarded when new terminology was needed to express new truths, so we should study the Epistles for nurture principles by which modern men and women of faith and commitment can be developed.
What are the key things for us?
1. FOLLOWING JESUS.
The texts seem to imply a leaving or letting go of something. e.g.nets, let go of your wealth.. the rich young ruler
What are we leaving? Houses, family, land … relationships, possessions, security
Mark 8:34 deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.
Wow: how do you disown yourself for the sake of Jesus?
On many levels, different for the new Christian as for the old.
A daily challenge of bringing the old self to the cross, submitting to God and to others,
being teachable and humble, repenting and being healed and forgiven.
Maybe Jesus releases us from the past so we can follow.
The verb to follow here is the same one used for forgiveness in the story of the paralytic Mk 2: 5, 7, 9, 10.
We are forgiven so we can follow.
Eg taking responsibility for my own stuff. My own response to being unwanted, my anger towards my parents, compensating by being good and performing, rebelliousness… every single aspect of this I've had to deny myself, admit my need and bring it to the cross where I've seen Jesus take it and heal me.
Disciples are called to deny themselves, Adolf Hitler denied himself things like alcohol and tobacco to preserve his throat so he could address the German people more effectively, but disciples are called to deny themselves.
Whatever they take to be themselves at the deepest level that must be denied.
V35 The next verse describes this as life.
Not just physical life but life at the deepest personal and concrete level.
Those who forget themselves or deny themselves at the deepest levels will save themselves.
BUT we can't do this. Self denial is not a human possibility.
I am not going to deny myself for the sake of it!!
We need some point outside of ourselves so that by working from it we can get ourselves outside of ourselves.
This point is addressed in v35…FOR MY SAKE and the gospel.
We can only do this through the dedication of self to Jesus and the gospel.
Discipleship / following Jesus is thus much more than merely imitation.
I could decide to imitate Mother Teresa, but it would be on a different level to what Jesus is calling us to be in relation to him. It is more profound, more integrally tied up with the person of Jesus and his action upon the cross.
It is a call of intimacy. For my sake!
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR ME TO FOLLOW JESUS IN REGARD TO MARK 8: 34-35?
2. TO BE WITH JESUS AND TO BE LIKE JESUS.
The disciples were constantly with Jesus. Following is a close up job. You can't be a follower and live as you please. Jesus was always there too, except when he went to pray and then died! The proper response for those who receive form Jesus is to be with him. This is the only source of doing anything else.
I really appreciate full on commitment from Richard. He's as passionate and committed as I am. He's there, he's praying, he's on board, I can rely on him and trust him. It's awesome to know that kind of team and sense of strength. I hope my life is like that for Jesus too. Cos essentially Jesus wants my full on total, no holds barred lifetime commitment.
To me this is what discipleship is all about. I give my life 100% to Jesus. This is progressive as I understand what that means. You can't give or lay down what you don't have.
Suffering was an integral part of Jesus' life and mission.
Discipleship is not about conforming to a set of theories and maxims or teachings. Not the normal rabbi pupil relationship.
It's about your life given over to the hands of another. I am not my own, I am bought with a price.
It's the way of the cross. It's costly, it involves suffering as part of the norm. Paul's experience was persecution, ship wreck, hunger, stoning, prison.
Are there great rules? Discipleship is open-ended and demanding.
3. DISCIPLESHIP INVOLVES MISSION:
Like breathing and prayer, discipleship must have an outlet. We follow the rabbi, he sends us out, it's our call and dedication of our life. You can't be a disciple without imitating the one you serve.
Be fishers of men. Go find someone else and bring them to Jesus.
Let Jesus do the rest.
Jesus mentored, demonstrated and sent the disciples out. He brought them back, debriefed and repeated the process. You have to do something with the information and the food otherwise it becomes foul and inappropriate and plain disrespectful to Jesus. The church, our faith becomes impotent without this.
Use it or lose it.
Mission and Evangelism is the result and purpose of being with Jesus.
We preach, teach, deliver, serve and heal.
Isaiah 1: 13-17 stop bringing meaningless offerings… they are a burden to me. Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.
Is 58: 6-7 Is not this the fast which I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the chords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke. To share your food with the hungry and to provide the wanderer with shelter_ when you see the naked to clothe him?
Faith without works is dead and useless. James What are the action points of my faith?
In the church, 20%of the people do all of the work.
A healthy church must have a concern for the poor, those on the margins. We can have great worship, teaching, small groups but can you be healthy and balanced without a concern for the poor that translates into action? There are nearly 400 passages demonstrating God's concern for the poor, disabled, hungry, sick, alien and prisoner…
Everyone is called to serve. Our third value.
Pray for the city. Seek its peace and prosperity. Jer 29:7 How can we the church effect these things in Dunedin, in the local community?
Critical mass is one person with a vision and the conviction that discipleship means doing something about what Jesus means to me. Good news and good deeds go together. It is at the very core of what the church is. The community, the city needs the church. We are not called out to be separate but to be salt and light in it. When we remove ourselves from the community we leave it souless, a shell. We are called to serve the city, to bless it, influence it, not control it. To build bridges instead of walls.
These things should be a normal expression of our life, because we grow best when we are serving and giving ourselves away.
People will know we are Christians by our love. Showing others the love of Christ with no strings attached will see people come to faith. Small things done with great love will change the world.
Hence our two emphases this semester. Healing and serving.
4. THE POSSIBILITY OF FAILURE
The disciples stuff up. They fail to understand who Jesus is and…
" Failing in mission: They couldn't drive the spirit out Mark 9. Lack of knowledge and understanding.
" Failing in relationships: Who is the greatest? Power dynamics. How do we relate to each other as equals in the family?
How do we get on? Unity, love. How do we work out freedom and sensitivity to one another? We stuff up, then how is that treated?
Whoever will be first must place himself the last of all.
Disciples are the servants of one another.
Disciples are to care for the weaker members of the community.
True greatness in the Christian family consists in receiving, welcoming and caring for the insignificant, weaker and unimportant brothers and sisters. Mark 9:30-32 Discipleship is about relationships beyond themselves. Greatness is not realized in the accomplishment of mighty or inspiring tasks and duties, but in the reception of and care for the under-privileged in our society, the little children and the least of all the brethren.
Mark 10:32-45 Greatness consists in service and slavery. Authority is subservient to service. We serve because Jesus served us. He gave his life and we are called to do the same. Discipleship is founded on this.
We are always in community. The disciple is not meant to suffer or to serve alone. We always have the companionship of Christ and of the family of God.
" Failure of confession: the failure to remain true to Jesus. Peter: I don't know this man.
Yet even the most horrific failure is not beyond the restoring forgiveness of the One we follow.
How will we think of ourselves as disciples in the face of failure.
Our own and the world's?
I don't have the goods Lord, the energy, the compassion, the grace, the power.
I can't save the university.
I can't do enough in the face of all the need.
This is a new thought for me. Being a disciple should be getting it all right. Making progress. God empowering us.
But Lord I don't have what it takes and certainly not on my own.
This will constantly bring me to my knees acknowledging that I cannot do anything good on my own.
It's not by might, it's not by power, but by my spirit says the Lord.
I will fail, but failing isn't fatal, it's an invitation to link myself even more intimately with my Lord and rabbi.
It's an invitation to lay down my life again and to be even further healed.
Even yesterday, inviting Jesus to heal the little part of me that seems to have to strive to feel what she is is ok.
If we were strong, miracle workers, supermen and women, where would Jesus be?
We live in two modes of existence. One of suffering and one of risen life. The cross is not the goal, nor is mission. The goal is Jesus, a dynamic goal who is continually moving ahead of us. The journey on which disciples go is an open-ended one, a journey in mission towards the world, determined in its nature by the cross and resurrection but never a limited journey. The road ends when Christ returns.