WHAT IS A TRUE DISCIPLE?
The word disciple, simply mean learner, student or follower. And there are different kinds of students, learners and followers.
Jesus on the night of the Last Supper made a statement that caught the attention of the disciples:
Matt 26:20-22
20 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
KJV
The important thing here was not so much the Lord’s betrayal as was the disciple’s response. They were exceedingly sorrowful and each began to ask, “Lord is it I?” At this point however, Judas was not the likely candidate to betray the Lord, from this side of history it would more likely be Peter; he was the one that ultimately denied the Lord.
Matt 26:34-35
34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
KJV
But it would be of interest to note that Judas was one of the “twelve” that was actively involved in carrying out the work of the ministry like the other eleven.
Matt 10:5-8
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
KJV
Judas went and preached “the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” Judas went and “healed the sick,” Judas went and “cleanse the lepers,” Judas “raised the dead,” Judas “cast out devils,” Judas “freely gave.” Who could have spotted Judas as one that would betray Jesus? Judas was eternally saved, heard the message of the kingdom and performed signs, wonders and miracles in relation to it. Yet despite this, Judas betrayed Jesus. Why?
Matt 26:14-15
14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
KJV
All that happed here is that Judas was more mindful of the things of men than he was the things of God, [a mind full-of]. In very simple terms, “what is the difference between a ‘true disciple’ and a false?” – What his mind is “full – of”.
Look at the Lord’s comments relating to His betrayal:
Matt 26:23-24
23 And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
KJV
Many interpret verse 24 to be in reference to eternal destiny, this could not be the case; it has to be in reference to Millennial Kingdom – all the disciples were being warned the very same way. All believers, will stand before Christ at the Judgment Seat and give account for the things they do, Judas one day will. The writer of the Hebrews issued a warning to believers that it would do us well to heed:
Heb 10:26-27, 31
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries…….
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
KJV
What we need to see here is that Judas was not a lost person, not was he inherently more evil than anyone else; nor was he demonically possessed. Every Christian including you and I have the potential to be just like Judas. Most of us would like to deny that but be let’s be honest with ourselves, because God knows our hearts.
Peter denied the Lord three times, not a lost person but one that appeared with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration.
Luke 22:59-62
59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.
60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
KJV
Here is a most poignant picture of events that will take place at the Judgment Seat for those that denies Christ:
Matt 10:32-33
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
KJV
The Lord gives commentary on the same subject in Revelation:
Rev 3:5
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
KJV
We see the Lord turning around and looking at Peter – remember His eyes like a flame of fire – then Peter leaving the lighted courtyard – going into darkness outside and weeping bitterly in realization of what he had done. When I see that I am compelled to consider Matthew 25:30.
Matt 25:30
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
KJV
What reason do we have here for Peter’s denial of the Lord and the distraction of the other disciples? They at this point had a greater fear of man than of God. They were more “mind-full” of the things of men, than the things of God.
Being a true disciple indicates that a life action is accompanying the man’s belief. A true disciple is one that not only follows Christ, but one who obeys what he hears. He proclaims the message of Christ, while at the same time shows forth His Life:
Gal 5:25
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
KJV
The word disciple, simply mean learner, student or follower. And there are different kinds of students, learners and followers.
Jesus on the night of the Last Supper made a statement that caught the attention of the disciples:
Matt 26:20-22
20 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
KJV
The important thing here was not so much the Lord’s betrayal as was the disciple’s response. They were exceedingly sorrowful and each began to ask, “Lord is it I?” At this point however, Judas was not the likely candidate to betray the Lord, from this side of history it would more likely be Peter; he was the one that ultimately denied the Lord.
Matt 26:34-35
34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
KJV
But it would be of interest to note that Judas was one of the “twelve” that was actively involved in carrying out the work of the ministry like the other eleven.
Matt 10:5-8
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
KJV
Judas went and preached “the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” Judas went and “healed the sick,” Judas went and “cleanse the lepers,” Judas “raised the dead,” Judas “cast out devils,” Judas “freely gave.” Who could have spotted Judas as one that would betray Jesus? Judas was eternally saved, heard the message of the kingdom and performed signs, wonders and miracles in relation to it. Yet despite this, Judas betrayed Jesus. Why?
Matt 26:14-15
14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
KJV
All that happed here is that Judas was more mindful of the things of men than he was the things of God, [a mind full-of]. In very simple terms, “what is the difference between a ‘true disciple’ and a false?” – What his mind is “full – of”.
Look at the Lord’s comments relating to His betrayal:
Matt 26:23-24
23 And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
KJV
Many interpret verse 24 to be in reference to eternal destiny, this could not be the case; it has to be in reference to Millennial Kingdom – all the disciples were being warned the very same way. All believers, will stand before Christ at the Judgment Seat and give account for the things they do, Judas one day will. The writer of the Hebrews issued a warning to believers that it would do us well to heed:
Heb 10:26-27, 31
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries…….
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
KJV
What we need to see here is that Judas was not a lost person, not was he inherently more evil than anyone else; nor was he demonically possessed. Every Christian including you and I have the potential to be just like Judas. Most of us would like to deny that but be let’s be honest with ourselves, because God knows our hearts.
Peter denied the Lord three times, not a lost person but one that appeared with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration.
Luke 22:59-62
59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.
60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
KJV
Here is a most poignant picture of events that will take place at the Judgment Seat for those that denies Christ:
Matt 10:32-33
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
KJV
The Lord gives commentary on the same subject in Revelation:
Rev 3:5
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
KJV
We see the Lord turning around and looking at Peter – remember His eyes like a flame of fire – then Peter leaving the lighted courtyard – going into darkness outside and weeping bitterly in realization of what he had done. When I see that I am compelled to consider Matthew 25:30.
Matt 25:30
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
KJV
What reason do we have here for Peter’s denial of the Lord and the distraction of the other disciples? They at this point had a greater fear of man than of God. They were more “mind-full” of the things of men, than the things of God.
Being a true disciple indicates that a life action is accompanying the man’s belief. A true disciple is one that not only follows Christ, but one who obeys what he hears. He proclaims the message of Christ, while at the same time shows forth His Life:
Gal 5:25
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
KJV
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