{"id":945,"date":"2014-11-04T21:50:51","date_gmt":"2014-11-04T21:50:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/?p=945"},"modified":"2014-11-04T21:50:51","modified_gmt":"2014-11-04T21:50:51","slug":"imitating-jesus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2014\/11\/04\/imitating-jesus\/","title":{"rendered":"Imitating Jesus"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"imitating<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Today I want to set aside our study of discipleship<\/a> in John\u2019s Gospel to look at a particular aspect of how we follow Jesus, namely the idea of imitating Christ. There are several questions related to this topic. What about Jesus\u2019 character and life are we imitate? Are we actually supposed to imitate Jesus?<\/p>\n

I recently read an essay by Richard N. Longenecker, \u201c\u2018Son of Man\u2019 Imagery: Implications for Theology and Discipleship,\u201d in Studies in Hermeneutics, Christology, and Discipleship<\/em>, 222-243. In it Longenecker makes the connection between what Jesus said about his own Messiahship, through use of the Son of Man sayings in Mark\u2019s Gospel, and what that means for discipleship. Longenecker argues that the background to Jesus\u2019 usage of the \u201cSon of Man\u201d was primarily Daniel 7 (233). In doing so, Jesus\u2019 identifies himself with humanity, and also with the glory that he receives through suffering (234). Longenecker goes on to note that Jesus reinterprets Messiahship in \u201cthree parallel cycles of material\u201d in Mark\u2019s Gospel (235). Those three texts are as follows:<\/p>\n

Mark 8:31.<\/strong> He [Jesus] then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.<\/p>\n

Mark 9:31.<\/strong> He [Jesus] said to them, \u201cThe Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mark 10:32-34.<\/strong> They [the disciples] were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. \u201cWe are going up to Jerusalem,\u201d he said, \u201cand the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.\u201d<\/p>\n

In each of these passages Jesus indicates that his atoning work will require him to suffer prior to entering into his glory. This fits with Longenecker\u2019s claim that Jesus had Daniel 7 in mind as the background to his use of the phrase.<\/p>\n

What does this have to do with discipleship? When one looks at the immediate context, in particular the words of Christ following each of the above passages, there seems to be a connection. In Longenecker\u2019s own words, \u201c[I]n chapters 8, 9, and 10 \u2026, Mark not only presents Jesus as three times defining the nature of his ministry in terms of the suffering Son of Man and three times depicting the disciples as unable to apprehend Jesus at this point, but also three times portrays Jesus as setting forth the nature of true discipleship\u201d (240). Let\u2019s look at each of the following passages:<\/p>\n

Mark 8:34-35.<\/strong> Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: \u201cWhoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mark 9:35.<\/strong> Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, \u201cAnyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mark 10:42-45.<\/strong> Jesus called them together and said, \u201cYou know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.\u201d<\/p>\n

What we find is that Jesus clearly serves as the pattern for the life of his disciples. Just as their Lord is called to suffer, so too they are called to suffer. Granted, the disciples\u2019 suffering does not atone for anyone\u2019s sins. Nevertheless, there seems to be clear evidence that Jesus expects his disciples to suffer like him. And this is something we find throughout the rest of the New Testament. Jesus\u2019 disciples are called to share in his sufferings (cf. Romans 8:17; Philippians 3:10-11) and to follow Jesus\u2019 example of how one should handle suffering (1 Peter 2:21-23).<\/p>\n

How else does Jesus serve as an example for his disciples? Are these examples clearly taught in Scripture?<\/p>\n

\"Keith<\/a><\/p>\n

Keith Marriner joined LifeSprings in 2009 and serves as executive editor of all IPHC Sunday school curriculum. Prior to that he served at Emmanuel College in a variety of roles, including admissions counselor and adjunct professor in the School of Christian Ministries. He received a B.A. in Christian ministries from Emmanuel College and an M.Div. and a Th.M. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Christian Education from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Keith resides in Franklin Springs, GA with his wife Jennifer and their two daughters, Cora and Eleanor. <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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The ministry of Jesus is drawing large crowds. People are wanting to get as close as possible to hear the Teacher share Kingdom principles for living. 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Are there any additional features that should be added to the \u201cparadigm of discipleship\u201d in light of what we find in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Discipleship Ministries"","block_context":{"text":"Discipleship Ministries","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/category\/discipleship-ministries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/01\/paradigm-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/01\/paradigm-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/01\/paradigm-copy.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/01\/paradigm-copy.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1470,"url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2015\/05\/21\/discipleship-in-john-9\/","url_meta":{"origin":945,"position":5},"title":"Discipleship in John 9","author":"Kaleigh","date":"May 21, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Today we continue with our look at the theme of discipleship in the Gospel of John. 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