A Closer Look at Discipleship

 



A disciple is a "learner."  In the original Greek of the New Testament, the word is mathetes. We also use the terms "student" and "follower" in describing a disciple.   Last year one of our confirmands called the disciples "choice-makers!" 

Who are the disciples in the gospel stories?   The list is much bigger than you might imagine.

Simon Peter  (the fisherman in Luke 5:1-11 and later a leader among the disciples)

Andrew  (Simon's brother; in John's gospel, Andrew is the first disciple!)

James and John  (these are the sons of Zebedee and fishing partners with Simon and Andrew)

Matthew  (a Roman tax collector called to follow Jesus)

Judas Iscariot  ( known as the one who betrays Jesus; also the treasurer of the movement)

Philip

Bartholomew

Thomas  (wrongly labeled "Doubting Thomas")

The Other Simon:  the "Zealot" or the "Canaanean"  (the Zealots were revolutionaries who fought the Roman occupation )

James son of Alphaeus

Thaddeus

Nathaniel

Levi (also identified as a tax collector0

Judas son of James

We often hear about "The Twelve;"  but the first count here is fifteen!

And Jesus' followers are not just men:

Mary Magdalene  (a key follower of Jesus and first witness to the resurrection)

Joanna (the wife of King Herod's Chuza, which is amazing since it was this King Herod that killed John the Baptist!)

Susanna (also identified among the women who provided for Jesus' ministry out of their resources)

"The Other Mary,"  Mary the mother of James, and Salome are all mentioned in the resurrection narratives.

In Matthew's gospel it is clear that Jesus has not only called Matthew but gathers other tax collectors around his table.

In Luke Chapter 10 we hear Jesus sending out seventy (or seventy-two) to go ahead and prepare the way!  The emerging communion of disciples is much bigger and more diverse than we might have imagined!

The artwork at the outset of the post includes: (a) an icon of Mary Magdalene (b) a representation of Matthew the tax collector being called from his tax booth by Jesus.



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