Jesus in his wisdom commanded us to! Ma. 28: 20
Jesus made many disciples, many of them turned back and did not continue in his word. Do you think that Jesus wasted His time, with these who did not continue to follow Him? I think not, in judgement day these who turned back, will well know they had good opportunity.
When Jesus began to teach that He is the bread of life, and saying things like , “ As the living Father hath sent me, so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me ......” John 6: 57 “ many therefore of the disciples, when they had heard this, said, this is an hard saying: who can hear it? vs. 6:60 Then vs 66 it says, “ From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Just prior to their departure, Jesus had stated, “there are some of you that believe not.” Then we are told that Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray Him. vs 64 It's important to notice that Jesus did not change the message to accommodate for those who did not believe.
These disciples turned back because of unbelief. The Apostle John said, “ They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” 1 Jo 1: 19 We shouldn't be surprised if this happens in our disciples making, nor be discouraged. We are told by the Apostle Paul to teach faithful men.( 2 Tim. 2: 2) We therefore are to look for faithful men. However it seems like our Lord desires to give everybody an ample opportunity.
A disciple is one who is following and learning from Jesus; the level of sincerity and commitment varies, from curious onlookers to those who are ready to follow Jesus unto death. Jesus of course is teaching them from the start, a good example is His sermon on the mount, this sermon takes place according to Luke right after went up into the mountains and prayed all night Jesus had chosen the twelve, then “He came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of His disciples, and a great multitude of people out of Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear Him, and to be healed of their diseases.” Lu.6: 17
This is when He lifted up his eyes on His disciples and said: And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, “Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate......... “Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.” Lu.7: 1 This sermon has become like the constitution of the Kingdom of God. Jesus was speaking to His disciples but in the audience of of the people. Saying things like;
“ If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” Mt 16: 24
In John: 8: 30 It says, “ As He spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus unto those Jews which believed on Him If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”
This is one benefit of discipleship that many overlook; to teach sinners the way.
Like it says in Ps. 25: 8 ‘ Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.” Then again in Ps.51: 13 “Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.”
Some will never be made free but the disciple indeed who continues in His word, will and go on to make more disciples, who will go on to make more disciples. 2 Tim: 2:2
Peter the fisherman is an example we have in the gospels. Jesus called him and his brother Andrew and said unto them come and I will make you fishers of men. Jesus had a vision of making them men to be used in the extension of His kingdom. Notice nothing is said about their conversion but they must have shown some sign of believing in Jesus. They did forsake all and follow him. But the level of their faith is still lacking. When crossing the sea and the storm came up and their lives were in jeopardy, they called out to Jesus in unbelief saying “ carest thou not that we perish?” Then Jesus rebukes them for their unbelief. Fishers of men, are men of faith.
Peter nevertheless was learning, when he was asked who he thought Jesus was, he answered and said, “ Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God.”
But right after that it is recorded that he rebuked Jesus and told him he did not need to suffer.
After Jesus informed him he was going up to Jerusalem
and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
“Then Jesus turned and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Ma. 16: 23 Satan loves for us to be taken up with caring for the flesh. Too often this is happening today. Caring for the flesh supersedes,
the taking of our cross.
On the night that Jesus was betrayed in the upper room, “Jesus says to Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not and when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren”. Lu 22: 31,32
Peter is going to be severely tested but Jesus has prayed for him and he is trusting that Peter will be converted and he is encouraging him that once he is converted to strengthen his brethren. ( Jesus had a vision of Peter being used to lead the disciples) Then Peter in sincerity but in ignorance of his own weakness, mainly pride. Declares that he is ready to go to prison and even death. Jesus knew that he would deny him three times, before morning. As you know, he did deny that he knew Jesus three times and this brought him to brokenness and the salvation that Jesus had prayed for. It is evident that Peter had godly sorrow that Brings repentance. “ For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 2 Cor. 7: 10
We don’t have any record when the other ten disciples were saved. It seems as if Jesus wasn’t putting conversion has a prerequisite of discipleship. Perhaps to do so might not be too wise. Many have worked hard to make converts, we were not told to make converts, but we were told to make disciples. Only God can make converts and when we try to do what only the Spirit of God can do, for sure we will make a mess. Salvation is of God and He chooses to initiate discipleship from the beginning with the sinner, this way His conversions are made by those who have a better understanding of salvation by faith.
We have been commissioned to preach the gospel, Jesus preached the gospel. This is how the seed is sown but only God can bring the increase. In the parable of the sower (Ma.13) we see that the seed may fall on several types of soil, rocky, or on the wayside or among weeds and even good ground. A good farmer will do everything he can to improve the ground. Then he will deliberately sow the seed in the prepared ground.
Jesus explained the parable of the sower and said. “He that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it, which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” Ma. 13: 23
If we don’t teach sinners the way of truth, their understanding is going to be limited. Discipleship starts with the sinner but it will continue on for life for those who are disciples indeed.
Jesus is our example of a disciple maker ; a disciples maker has a vision for his disciples. When Peter and Simon were called by Jesus he said: “Come and I will make you fishers of men.” In the last chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus knowing He will soon be going to heaven is still intent of making Peter a fisher of men.
I learned as a boy if you really want to catch fish you can chum (maybe not legally) for those who aren’t familiar, this means you get some bread or corn and you dump it in the water. Even though fish aren't accustomed to eating it, you put a lot out there they will quickly learn it's good food then you put the same on your hook and bam, now you are catching fish like crazy.
Now Jesus our creator never does anything illegal but He is wise and will do what's best to Bring in the souls of men. He has informed us that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. The sinner is not accustomed to the bread of life. Therefore the disciples maker needs to do a little chumming.
Read and see, Jesus teaching Peter to chum.
“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
John 21: 15-18
I am quite sure Peter understood this final lesson quite well.
If you love God you will feed His lambs (new believers)
If you love God you will feed His sheep (believers). Jesus wasn't reluctant to repeat it for this is of the utmost importance. Once the new believer taste the good word of life he is hooked for life. Faith is then born in his heart. Because ; “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Ro.10 : 17
Comments