Mark 8:34 - Are You a Disciple?

Mark 8:34 (Also Matthew 16:24-27 and Luke 9:23)

24 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Give it some thought, then answer these two questions: 

        Do you consider yourself a Christian? 

        Do you consider yourself a disciple?

Be honest, did you hesitate on that second one?

The name “Christian” only appears in the Bible three times:  Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28 AND 1 Peter 4:16.) And yet it is the most used term to describe a believer today. The most common designation found in the New Testament is “disciple.” 

Calling yourself a disciple seems a little intimidating because we seem to think that a “disciple” is one who ascribes to more than we do  -- and that is the problem!

If we are Christians -- we are disciples! 

Why is that important? Because a disciple is actually someone described in scripture, not just a concept we can define any way we choose.

Matthew 7:21

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

But, to better understand what a disciple is, maybe it is best if we see how Jesus described one . . .

John 8:31

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 13:34-35

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Can we call ourselves Christians?  Yes. After all, disciples were called Christians also:

Acts 11:26 c

. . . The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

But when you do, remember that is not a title, but a description of a serious, devoted way of life!