As Christians we tend to have a stereotype definition of disciple. To us a disciple is usually patterned after The Twelve that Jesus selected, and who followed him during his ministry. This, however, is a very narrow definition of a disciple of Jesus.
We often forget that in addition to The Twelve, there were at least seventy (or seventy-two) others1 who were with Jesus during much of his ministry. Furthermore, Luke notes there were women who followed Jesus2.
We also have the idea that these disciples followed Jesus without interruption throughout his approximately three-and-a-half year ministry. But reading the different accounts of the calling of his disciples3, we can see that Jesus’ ministry was divided into phases: the early part appears to be more laid-back while the intensity increases during the latter phase.
We also make the wrong assumption that The Twelve (and the Seventy) represent the entire class of people who believed in Jesus. We need to recognize there were many more that believed in Jesus and were his disciples that didn’t follow him in the way the Twelve did4. We need to recognize the unique case of the Twelve (and possibly the Seventy). Jesus knew his time with them was very short, that he had to teach them a revolutionary way of thinking about the Kingdom that was contrary to everything that they had known, and that these were going to be the leaders of the new Kingdom after he was gone. These factors do not directly apply to followers of Jesus today.
Are there any examples of disciples who didn’t follow Jesus day-to-day? Yes. We find a brother and two sisters: Lazarus, Martha, and Mary of Bethany. Bethany and the siblings are first mentioned in connection with Jesus in Luke 10:38-42 when Jesus stops at their home and Martha chides Mary for not helping with hospitality duties. They are next mentioned in connection with Lazarus’ resurrection in John 11. Bethany makes its third appearance during Holy Week as Jesus’ place of respite prior to his arrest (Matthew 21:17; Mark 11:11,12; Luke 19:29). A fourth appearance is found in Matthew 26:6, Mark 14:3, and John 12:1-8 where Mary is found anointing Jesus with expensive perfume.
What can we observe from these friends of Jesus in Bethany? Unlike the Twelve and the Seventy, these friends with whom Jesus appears to have had a very close relationship, did not leave their homes to follow him. They stayed where they were, and their home became a place of refuge for Jesus. It was a place where they could minister to Jesus in their own way. They did not have the benefit of seeing and hearing Jesus on a daily basis, but they had a unique and special relationship with Jesus that could not be had while on the road and sleeping in the fields.
What should we conclude from this brief examination of three different types of disciples?
First, we need to broaden our definition of a disciple. Not all disciples of Jesus are called to leave everything behind to follow him. For some it may mean occasional periods of concentrated dedication during their otherwise, normal lives. For some others it may mean staying where they are, living life within its typical confines and serving Jesus in their own way.
Second, we must not take the unique situations of The Twelve and directly apply Jesus’ interactions with them to 21st century discipleship. We can seek to learn general principles and adapt them in appropriate ways. Perhaps some of Jesus’ extreme methods might be useful to some people, some of the time.
Third, we must recognize that every person is created uniquely, with unique combinations of gifts, abilities, interests, relationships, history, experiences, families, etc. We must not attempt to define discipleship in a uniform manner and fit people to that singular mold. Rather, we need to be sensitive to each person’s unique calling and not diminish how they have been fashioned to serve. There may be some that are made to give up all the comforts and security of modern culture and serve in areas totally foreign. Many others are not designed for that sort of service. All service is equally valuable and we must learn to recognize and appreciate equally the service that each person provides.
We can follow Jesus by not following – by rejecting the narrow definition of what following Jesus means.
1 Luke 10:1
2 Luke 8:2
3 John 1:35ff describes a call of the disciples immediately following Jesus’ baptism at the beginning of his ministry at and near the Jordan River. Matthew 4:18-22 and Mark 1:16-20 show some of the same disciples being called by the Sea of Galilee during a later period in Jesus’ ministry.
4 1 Corinthians 15:6. Paul writes that Jesus appeared to 500 of his disciples after his resurrection.
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