4: The benefits of discipleship
In the previous chapter we looked at the cost of following Jesus. But what about all the benefits? Anyone who is contemplating starting a risky new venture should begin by performing a cost/benefit analysis to see whether it's (a) worthwhile and (b) doable.
So. Having examined the downside, let's now consider the upside. What can you gain from following Christ?
"Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. (Mark 10:29–30)
This. I can personally testify that what Jesus promises here is 100% absolutely guaranteed to come true—in this life, at least. With persecutions of course.
(I can't vouch for the age to come though as I'm not there yet. But I do have 100% confidence that I will receive the promise of eternal life—not because of what I've done, but because of what Jesus has done by laying down his life as a sacrifice for my sins.)
How do Jesus' followers receive a hundredfold in this present age? I once heard John Wimber say, Why would anyone not want to become a Christian? Your marriage gets better, your health gets better, your business gets better, even your kids behave better. What's to lose?
The same has been true in my own life. My earthly father cared for me but was distant because he cared most of all for himself. I grew up as a result lacking in confidence and unsure of my place in this world. By contrast, my heavenly Father has always stayed near to me, healing my broken manhood and instilling confidence in me to seize and take hold of life's opportunities (like getting married to the most wonderful woman in the world.)
Truth is, without God my whole life would have been a total mess or ended even worse. I can honestly say that my life is a hundredfold—no, a thousandfold—bigger and better by knowing God than not knowing him. And it is Jesus' death on the cross that has made it possible for me (and for you) to meet the living God and become his son or daughter, to be born again into the family of God.
Be crazy for Jesus
This man—
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." (Matt 13:44)
was clearly not crazy. Because if you knew there was a guaranteed-to-be-winning lottery ticket worth many millions in a vacant building somewhere, wouldn't you drain your own bank account to buy the building, take possession of it and redeem the ticket? It's a no-brainer when you spend X and get many times X in return.
The following man however must have been totally nuts:
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matt 13:45–46)
What's he going to do with this priceless pearl? He has no house or bed or cookware because he's sold everything he owned to buy that one beautiful pearl he had become obsessed about. If he's hungry, will he eat it? If he's thirsty, can he drink it? Where will he live? Where will he sleep?
What a jerk. Or is he?
Entering the kingdom
Does one really have to give up everything to enter the kingdom of heaven? A cursory reading of the context behind what Jesus told his disciples in Mark 10:29–30 about what they would gain by following him seems to suggest this is true. Let's look at the whole story:
And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth." And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God." Peter began to say to him, "See, we have left everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first." (Mark 10:17–31)
The primary issue the man had that was holding him back from entering the kingdom was his wealth. Others who wanted to become disciples had different things that held them back, such as a need for security (Luke 9:57–58), an ailing parent (vv. 59–60), ties to family (vv. 61–62) and so on.
Note also how Jesus told Peter that "no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands etc." he used the word "or" not "and" in his reply. In other words, it's whatever that's hindering you from following Christ that you may need to give up if you want to be his disciple.
It might be the security of a well-paying job you have to give up. Or your plans for a future career. Or a man or woman you feel strongly attracted to, but they're not Christians so you need to let them go.
What's holding you back from following Jesus?
Letting go and letting God
Some words from Spirit Song by John Wimber came to mind as I was writing this chapter:
Oh let him have the things that hold you
And his Spirit like a dove
Will descend upon your life
And make you whole
John meant to let Jesus have the things that have a hold on you, that hold you captive and keep you from enjoying what God wants to give you. And it might not be just one thing, or just one time, that you might need to let go of something so you can keep following Jesus.
Look at Peter for example. At the beginning of Jesus' ministry, he invited Peter to follow him, and he did. Then later when Jesus was arrested, Peter denied he knew Jesus, and in remorse afterwards he went back to his previous profession of fishing. But Jesus restored Peter, and told him "follow me" a second time (John 20:21).
Following Jesus is a process, it doesn't happen in an instant or overnight. You don't go from zero to ninety in six seconds and "zoom!" you're a fully-trained disciple. The path of discipleship takes time to walk along, and there are many pitfalls along the way. And you can step onto that path again at any point of your Christian life. In the next chapter we will examine some of the ways we can grow as disciples and become more like the Man from Galilee who is inviting us to follow him.
---> Go to chapter 5
