A STUDENT OF JESUS

Dr. Jochuhyulo Tsela

“To be a disciple of Jesus is the greatest privilege and honor in the world.”

The word ‘disciple’ in the Greek New Testament is ‘Mathetes’, which is translated as a follower,
a pupil, or a student. When we think about followers or students, we normally assume based on
our experience that it is students who seek and join schools or training institutes to learn from
teachers. Similarly, we also learn that this was typically practiced in the Jewish world during
the time of Jesus; a disciple would voluntarily join a school, or otherwise, seek out a Rabbi to
learn from them. However, the story of Jesus is different. Jesus who is the Teacher and the
Lord sought and chose His disciples (Mark 1:17; 2:14; Matthew 4:18-21). Again, a dedicated
disciple was generally expected to become a Rabbi (teacher) someday, but Jesus taught his
disciples that he will always be their Rabbi and that they will be His disciples for a lifetime
(Matthew 23:8; Luke 14:26-27).

JESUS CHOSE US

To His disciples, Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that
you might go and bear fruit, fruit that will last and so that whatever you ask in my name the
Father will give you” (John 15:16). One thing should be clear to us: ‘Jesus always takes the first
move.’ Also, Jesus never chooses disciples based on their performance, race, righteousness, or
status; He simply chooses them because of His great love and good plans for them. The words
of Jesus stated in John 15:16, are true for us as well. Jesus has chosen us to be His disciples not
because we are good people, but because of His great love, mercy, and plans for us. We are
chosen to be His followers all the days of our lives. We are all recipients of God’s grace and
love.

A GROWING DISCIPLE KEEPS LEARNING

One of the primary duties and purposes of a disciple or a student is to learn, and when learning
takes place the result is growth. If a disciple stops learning, he or she will stop growing and
become a stagnant or a dormant disciple. The saying, ‘decay begins when growth stops’ is also
true for disciples of Jesus. One can also easily notice a distinction of growth (mental faculty)
between a student who studies in a prestigious university and learns at the feet of a prominent
professor and a person who never went to a school, or learned anything from teachers.

Learning is vital in the process of growth. As disciples of Jesus, we are to keep learning to grow
and become godly men and women. We learn about God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Love, Church,
Discipleship, Faith, Serving, Giving, Sin, Redemption, Mission, and the list goes on. Various
things are involved in the learning process, but two important factors that stand out
are intention and attitude or our mindset. Without intentional effort, what we learn will not
remain in us, and without the right attitude, learning cannot take place.
Jesus has chosen us to be His disciples and commissioned us to make others his disciples as well.
This special task Jesus gave us is to be fulfilled particularly through the institution He has
established which is the Church. For this reason, Jesus gave the Church the apostles, the
prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and teachers, to equip the saints (Christians/disciples of
Christ) for the service, so that the body of Christ may be built-up, until we all reach unity in the
faith and the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining the whole measure of
the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13). Hence, we are to learn from our Church leaders, the
apostles, the evangelist, the pastors, etc., and also from one another.

A GROWING DISCIPLE KEEPS PRACTICING

In his letter to Timothy, describing the kind of people in the End Time Paul says, “There are
people who always learn but never able to come to the truth” (2 Timothy 3:6); similarly James
also warned his readers, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what
it says (James 1:22). We must remember this truth: “Growing disciples are doers, not just
listeners or readers.”

No human being is born on earth and has grown up to become a world-class footballer without
rigorous exercise and practice, nor is there any human being on earth without practicing has
become an expert in driving cars. Everyone who desires growth must put into practice what he
or she learns and desires.

Learning and practicing are the two sides of the same coin. One side cannot do away without
the other. A person who learns about who God is, but never puts into practice what God says
cannot grow in his walk and relationship with God. The Scripture tells us, “In fact, this is love
for God: To keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). A
growing disciple keeps practicing what he or she learns from the Scripture; he submits and
obeys a still voice of the Holy Spirit inside of him; he obeys and honors his parents, he receives
counsel from the servants of God, he participates and serves in the fellowship of God’s people,
and He keeps practicing what he learns.

A LIFETIME STUDENT

Christ has chosen us to be his disciples for a lifetime, which also means He will be our teacher
for a lifetime as well. What can be more exciting than being a lifetime student of Jesus! And
indeed, “To be a disciple of Jesus is the greatest privilege and honor in the world.”

“God guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way” (Psalm 25:9)