Faith and discipleship I (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Revision Notes
Faith and discipleship I
Understanding discipleship in St Mark's Gospel
St Mark's Gospel provides a detailed account of how Jesus called his followers and established their mission to spread the Christian message. The concept of discipleship is central to understanding how the early Christian church developed and how believers are called to live their faith today.
In Christian terminology, a disciple refers to someone who follows and learns from Jesus. This word is commonly used to describe the twelve closest followers of Jesus mentioned in the Gospels. However, the term can also apply more broadly to any Christian who chooses to follow Jesus' teachings. The twelve disciples are also known as apostles, which describes their specific role as teachers and messengers who were responsible for spreading God's word to others.
It's important to note that Jesus had many followers beyond the famous twelve, including women who played significant roles in supporting his ministry and mission. This broader understanding of discipleship shows that the call to follow Jesus extends beyond the inner circle of the twelve apostles.
The call of the first disciples (Mark 1:16-20)
The Gospel of Mark describes how Jesus began gathering his closest followers. This calling was not merely an invitation to learn, but a commissioning for active service in God's kingdom.
The biblical account records Jesus' words to Simon Peter and Andrew:
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people." (Mark 1:17)
Biblical Analysis: The Call to Discipleship
This quotation reveals Jesus speaking directly to Simon Peter and Andrew, identifying their specific purpose in following him. The metaphor of "fishing for people" suggests that disciples are called to gather others into the faith community, much like fishermen gather fish in their nets. This imagery would have been particularly meaningful to these first disciples, who were actually fishermen by trade.
The mission of the twelve (Mark 6:7-13)
Jesus didn't simply ask people to follow him without giving them clear guidance. The Gospel records detailed instructions that Jesus provided to his twelve closest disciples when he sent them out to continue his work.
The biblical passage describes the authority and responsibilities Jesus gave to his followers:
"Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. These were his instructions: 'Take nothing for the journey except a staff - no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.' They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them." (Mark 6:7-13)
Practical Discipleship Instructions
This passage reveals several important aspects of discipleship:
- The disciples were given authority over evil spirits, demonstrating that Jesus shared his spiritual power with his followers
- They received practical instructions about what to bring and how to behave during their mission
- Jesus told them where they should stay and how to respond when people rejected their message
- Most importantly, they were commissioned to share Jesus' message and to offer healing to those who were suffering, following Jesus' own example of compassion and care
The commission and ascension (Mark 16:14-20)
After Jesus' resurrection, he met with his eleven remaining disciples to give them their final and most comprehensive mission. This passage, known as the Great Commission, outlines the ongoing work that Christians are called to undertake.
Jesus' final instructions to his disciples were:
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." (Mark 16:15-18)
This passage describes the global mission that Jesus entrusted to his followers - to spread the Gospel message throughout the entire world. It emphasises the importance of both belief and baptism in the process of salvation, while also warning of the consequences of rejecting the Christian message.
Different Interpretations of Miraculous Signs
The passage also mentions supernatural abilities that would accompany believers, including the ability to speak in tongues. Christians today hold different views about these verses:
- Some fundamental Christians believe that modern apostles can literally perform these miraculous signs, including speaking in different languages, casting out demons, and surviving poison
- However, many other Christians interpret these instructions symbolically rather than literally, seeing Jesus' commission as representing the broader mission that each Christian has to share their faith with others, without necessarily expecting to perform literal miracles
The gift of speaking in tongues, mentioned in this passage, refers to the ability to communicate in languages that the speaker hasn't learned. This occurred when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and enabled them to preach to people from many different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
Challenges for modern Christians
The teachings in St Mark's Gospel about salvation present some challenging questions for contemporary Christians.
Theological Challenges
The statement that "whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" suggests that only some people achieve salvation. This raises difficult theological questions about the fate of those who haven't had the opportunity to hear the Christian message or who follow different religious traditions. Some Christians find this teaching challenging because it seems to exclude many people from salvation, which may appear to contradict other Christian teachings about God's universal love and mercy.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
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Discipleship involves both following Jesus and actively sharing the faith with others - it's not just about personal belief but about mission and service
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Jesus gave his disciples specific authority and practical instructions for their work, showing that Christian ministry requires both spiritual power and practical wisdom
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The Great Commission extends the disciples' mission to all Christians throughout history, making evangelism a central Christian responsibility
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Biblical quotations like "Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people" demonstrate that discipleship is about gathering others into the faith community
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Different Christian denominations interpret the miraculous signs mentioned in Mark's Gospel in various ways - some literally, others symbolically