The True Disciples of Jesus Part Four
Personal Invitation of Jesus "Come Follow Me"!
By: Ptr. Jesse Amiel A. Ramoso
By: Ptr. Jesse Amiel A. Ramoso
Now, I am asking you, are you a true disciple of Jesus? You can only say “YES I AM” if you are ready to die physically for him and him alone. By the way all disciples of Jesus died as a martyr except John the beloved, when the Roman soldiers failed to "deep fry" him with boiling oil, they exile him in Patmos instead.
If we call ourselves a disciples of Jesus because we are a member of a discipleship group conducted by our churches, but without the realization of being a martyr is not a true disciple of Jesus; we just a disciple of our bible teacher in church. If your teachers cannot model what is martyr maybe they're not yet a disciple of Jesus. Therefore, Churches produce a so called none disciples of Jesus church members. Let’s check ourselves same as how we scan the followers of Jesus. Not all who followed Jesus are with Jesus, some of them are just waiting to see a fault and illegal actions of Jesus that they might use to accuse Him. Some, follow Jesus because they want to be healed, and some want to see miracles, some wants to be feed and others looks for a business opportunity like Judas. Judas saw business opportunity once, and was rebuked by Jesus when he said “ we can sell the perfume and give the money to the poor”. This is an important lessons to learn, that in today’s generation as king Solomon said ..."there is no new under the sun" history repeats itself. Therefore if this things happens during Jesus, much more in our generation where Jesus is nowhere to be found and yet He is there watching us.
There might be people going to the Church not because they want to be discipled, but they are there to look for an opportunity in business, medication, financial help "prosperity", and some they make the Church and position as cover-up for their crimes/immorality, or just want to be entertained. Again I will ask you, are a true disciple of Jesus? If this time you will say "YES I AM", then be ready to die right this moment. Start dying yourself by confessing your sin to Jesus and leaving your sins behind. Offer your life to Him and be ready to live a discomforting lifestyle. Be ready to face rejection and public humiliation. This will start maybe in your family, in your church or in your society because of following Him. Unless you are not ready to do this, don’t force yourself maybe you are not yet called to do this, ask Jesus to call you first because when He call you He will empower you.
Remember, Peter did not step on the water unless Jesus did virtually called him to walk on waters. Same with us, we cannot self appoint ourselves to be a disciple of Jesus. If we do self appoint ourselves, we end up like Judas or maybe those Pharisees and expert of the law who follow Jesus to trap him. Remember, Jesus refused some people who want's to follow him, not because Jesus don't want to, but rather Jesus aware that those kind of people he refused are not yet ready to leave their possessions and leaving leaving comfort lifestyle. In short they're pre-occupied with the materials of this world. That is why Jesus refused and said this way ..."The Son of Man has now place to lay his head" This means Jesus didn't sleep in a five start hotel after His evangelistic crusade as what they expect. That is why Jesus challenge them always, if you want to follow me sell your possessions. This is how Jesus eliminate false expectation, like they will get rich because Jesus is potential in making money through his miracles. Some disciples are thinking of building huge hospitals where Jesus is THE DOCTOR, or build schools were Jesus is the TEACHER, or build restaurant were Jesus is a CHEF through his magical skills by multiplying few fish and bread to feed thousands because HUGE MARKET are attracted to Jesus. This kind of DISCIPLE was rejected Jesus and reversed the motive to challenged them "SELL YOUR POSSESSIONS and give it to the poor"! If you are making your Church as income generator and appointing rich members as leaders to be as a stock holder, then you will guess what Jesus must said to you. Are you ready to follow Jesus? LOVE Him the way his Apostles loved him, and the kind they had for Jesus is death. We all die, but not all die for and with Jesus. God bless.
If we call ourselves a disciples of Jesus because we are a member of a discipleship group conducted by our churches, but without the realization of being a martyr is not a true disciple of Jesus; we just a disciple of our bible teacher in church. If your teachers cannot model what is martyr maybe they're not yet a disciple of Jesus. Therefore, Churches produce a so called none disciples of Jesus church members. Let’s check ourselves same as how we scan the followers of Jesus. Not all who followed Jesus are with Jesus, some of them are just waiting to see a fault and illegal actions of Jesus that they might use to accuse Him. Some, follow Jesus because they want to be healed, and some want to see miracles, some wants to be feed and others looks for a business opportunity like Judas. Judas saw business opportunity once, and was rebuked by Jesus when he said “ we can sell the perfume and give the money to the poor”. This is an important lessons to learn, that in today’s generation as king Solomon said ..."there is no new under the sun" history repeats itself. Therefore if this things happens during Jesus, much more in our generation where Jesus is nowhere to be found and yet He is there watching us.
There might be people going to the Church not because they want to be discipled, but they are there to look for an opportunity in business, medication, financial help "prosperity", and some they make the Church and position as cover-up for their crimes/immorality, or just want to be entertained. Again I will ask you, are a true disciple of Jesus? If this time you will say "YES I AM", then be ready to die right this moment. Start dying yourself by confessing your sin to Jesus and leaving your sins behind. Offer your life to Him and be ready to live a discomforting lifestyle. Be ready to face rejection and public humiliation. This will start maybe in your family, in your church or in your society because of following Him. Unless you are not ready to do this, don’t force yourself maybe you are not yet called to do this, ask Jesus to call you first because when He call you He will empower you.
Remember, Peter did not step on the water unless Jesus did virtually called him to walk on waters. Same with us, we cannot self appoint ourselves to be a disciple of Jesus. If we do self appoint ourselves, we end up like Judas or maybe those Pharisees and expert of the law who follow Jesus to trap him. Remember, Jesus refused some people who want's to follow him, not because Jesus don't want to, but rather Jesus aware that those kind of people he refused are not yet ready to leave their possessions and leaving leaving comfort lifestyle. In short they're pre-occupied with the materials of this world. That is why Jesus refused and said this way ..."The Son of Man has now place to lay his head" This means Jesus didn't sleep in a five start hotel after His evangelistic crusade as what they expect. That is why Jesus challenge them always, if you want to follow me sell your possessions. This is how Jesus eliminate false expectation, like they will get rich because Jesus is potential in making money through his miracles. Some disciples are thinking of building huge hospitals where Jesus is THE DOCTOR, or build schools were Jesus is the TEACHER, or build restaurant were Jesus is a CHEF through his magical skills by multiplying few fish and bread to feed thousands because HUGE MARKET are attracted to Jesus. This kind of DISCIPLE was rejected Jesus and reversed the motive to challenged them "SELL YOUR POSSESSIONS and give it to the poor"! If you are making your Church as income generator and appointing rich members as leaders to be as a stock holder, then you will guess what Jesus must said to you. Are you ready to follow Jesus? LOVE Him the way his Apostles loved him, and the kind they had for Jesus is death. We all die, but not all die for and with Jesus. God bless.
In my next article: I desire to write my testimony as I volunteer myself to be a tribal missionary. I experienced death threat from Military and NPA because they thought I was a spy either from this two group of people.
Disclaimer: The concept of MARTYR of the disciple of Jesus was came from Dietrich Bonehoffer, but the concept of MARTYRTHEOLOGY OF GOD "Jeus was slain since the foundation of the world"....was just developed in my thesis paper on theology at Asian Seminary of Christian Ministry in Makati as for my masteral course. Please feel free to give me feedback regarding this. jesse_amiel@yahoo.com
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