Lessons on Discipleship from the Gospels of Mark and Mathew (Essay Sample)

Lessons on Discipleship from the Gospels of Mark and Mathew
"Aware of his situation, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.”This verse from Acts 12:12 give us the insight on who Mark really was to give an account of Jesus Christ. Mark, just like his mother, was a prominent follower of Jesus and later travelled with Paul and Peter spreading the gospel. He believed that the story of Jesus was so extraordinary that he needed to invent a new literary genre (Myers 1). It is because of him that in the years during and after the great Roman war, 66-74 A.D., the first gospel book was written. This essay aims at analyzing the theme of discipleship from the Gospel of Mark, vividly employing the use of examples and finally a comparison of the book with the gospel of Matthew.
To reassure, instruct and inform those of the faith, Mark uses disciples to express his ideas. He does not pretend to represent the word of God dispassionately or impartially, as if it was universally innocuous in its appeal to the rich and the poor alike. To the religious, ‘the gospel offers no proof from heaven’ (Mark 8:11), to the mighty in the society, the book records Jesus to offer no answer (Mark 11:27-33) but to those willing to face persecution and suffering, the gospel offers the way of discipleship (Mark 8:31-38). Mark presents the disciples more harshly than the other gospels, but this is only used as a tool to on how to follow Christ.
He starts by painting a good picture of how the disciples respond positively to Jesus calling. In Mark 1:16-20, a story is told of Simon Peter and his brother Andrew fishing, Jesus tells them to follow Him and catch people and immediately without questioning the two fishermen follow Him leaving everything behind. The same story takes place with James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who leave their father with the boat and go with Jesus. From this, the readers can identify with the everyday places, ordinary people and equally familiar activities noted in Mark’s gospel with ease. The appointment of the twelve disciples in chapter 3:13-19 further sheds light on how Jesus defines roles and continues to tag those who suit to be in His family. Whoever does what God wants is my brother, my sister, my mother (Mark 3:35). After a time with the disciples and revelations of heavenly mysteries through parables and teachings, Jesus sends out the twelve in chapter 6:7-13. They end up preaching, driving out demons and healing the sick. The author of this gospel brings out the narration so vividly that a reader can relate and follow the example of the first disciples. And just like the blind Bartimaeus, the reader is able to see the truth of the words Go, your faith has made you whole in Mark 10:52.
The book goes on and on giving examples of Jesus being anointed by a woman at Bethany (Mark 14:3-9) which shows devotion, Simon of Cyrene, who carries the cross (Mark8: 34), the confession by the centurion at the cross (Mark 15:39) and the burial of Jesus by Joseph of Arimathea (Mark 15:43). These examples give room to believers for self-evaluation in the their way of discipleship.
After this very good picture, Mark depicts the failures around three boat scenes, three predictions together with the arrest, trial and crucifixion. In chapter 4:35-41, the disciples are terribly afraid when Jesus calms the storm. They ask who the man is that even the waves should obey Him? After feeding the five thousand, in Mark 6:45-52, Jesus walks on water and calms the sea. The disciples’ disbelief makes them think of Him as a ghost and end up screaming. Mark records that they were all terrified to see Him. Having spent a considerable time with Christ leaves the impression that the disciples had understood who Jesus was. It is hilarious when Mark in verse 52 records that "their minds could not grasp it." The last scene of the boats comes from Mark 8:14. After feeding the five thousand and the four thousand, the disciples are still worried about having only one loaf of bread. Jesus warns them of worrying about Pharisees’ bread and Herod’s bread. He compares them to outsiders who have eyes but do not see and ears that do not hear showing the blindness of the disciples. These three scenes depict the disciples’ lack of trust and understanding.
To this point, one would assume that the disciples know who Jesus is and cannot question His word. Simon Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes Him when He predicts His suffering, death and rise to life. Jesus issues a call to discipleship after rebuking Peter and emphasizes that this call to follow Him means taking up the cross (Mark 8:31). When the disciples argue about who among them was the greatest, the conversation reveals that they still hold onto the notion that the messiah will bring a kingdom of power and glory. Christ clears this by telling them that power and glory come when one assumes the role of a servant. In chapter 14, the disciples who are the closest friends to Jesus desert Him. Peter rejects Him three times as recorded in verses 66-72. It is clear that the disciples reject suffering, but are ambitious for personal glory and power. These occurrences compel the readers to examine themselves and realize that true discipleship involves servant hood, suffering and even death.
Mark provides real examples to which Christians and the church can do a comparison. It encourages Christians suffering and being persecuted to be devoted and be assured that they are following the way of the cross and true discipleship. It reminds the believers to remain humble and have faith in Jesus avoiding the emphasis on personal achievement and power.
Matthew’s account of discipleship is somewhat an ambivalent portrait of Mark’s disciples. He tries to paint them in a more positive picture and in places where Mark insists on lack of faith, Matthew focuses on their little faith (Matthew 8:26). In Matthew’s account the disciples understand the parables of ...