The School of Discipleship

By Fr. Christopher Foeckler, MJ • Phoenix, AZ

Like a college course, the discipleship of Jesus as described in the Gospel has an undergraduate level, a graduate level, and then a graduation moment at the Last Supper with a commencement ceremony at the Ascension.

The undergraduate level consists of the initial “come and see” introduction to Jesus, followed by His invitation to “come follow Me”. This stage is essential for knowing the Lord and imitating Him closely – so closely, as was said in the day, that the dust of His sandals would cling to the disciple following so closely to the Master. This is when the disciple learns and strives to “become like Christ”, “put on Christ”, “have the same mind” and attitude as Christ, Who said, “learn of Me, Who am meek and humble of heart”! This undergraduate level also includes lab work, or a practicum, when Jesus sends the disciples out on mission to do what He was doing and to prepare the people for His coming to them, “where He intended to go”.

When the final journey to Jerusalem begins at Caesarea Philippi, the advanced courses of discipleship begin with the threefold announcements of the passion, death and resurrection of the Lord, Who followed each announcement with a lesson in discipleship. This includes, “Unless you deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me, you cannot be My disciple” in the follow-up to the first prediction when Peter balks at His talk of the cross. (Cf. Mt 16:24ff) Jesus offers two more images of discipleship after each of the final two predictions – of the “child” and of the “servant”, (Cf. Mt 18:2ff & 20:26ff) “Unless you change and become like this little child…” and “If you wish to be first in the Kingdom of Heaven you must be the servant of all…”. Both are vivid examples that convict as they teach. Just as Jesus presents a child in their midst, in the lesson of the servant He presents Himself as the definitive model: “for the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many”. (Cf. Mt 20:28) 

The final lesson of discipleship happens at the Last Supper and is a recapitulation of the whole process: “You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.” (Jn 13:13-17)

Then Jesus “graduates” the 11 when He says in the midst of His discourse, “I no longer call you slaves (disciples), because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.” (Jn 15:15) He has taught them everything He can at the time; the rest will be for the Holy Spirit to teach them, and hence forth He calls them His friends! 

Friendship with Jesus is the goal of discipleship. It is based on mutual love and obedience. Friendship with Jesus is a personal and loving relationship in which we strive to be like Him by keeping His word while He loves us and remains with us and within us. It is the culmination of conformity to Christ, where Jesus will abide with us – and not only Jesus, but His Father and the Holy Spirit as well. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments and My Father will love you and we will come to you and dwell with you!” (cf. John 14:15)