The word Disciple comes from the greek word mathetes. It has a context of being a scholar, student or pupil, essentially learning from someone. When Jesus told his disciples to go out and make disciples in all the nations in Matthew 28:19 however; he was speaking to a Jewish audience, with a Jewish context - the language is simply preserved in Greek. In Jewish culture, being a disciple meant so much more than simply being a student. As young Jewish men came to maturity, those interested in studying God's Law more fully, would look for and find a Rabbi that they could disciple under. Someone whose interpretation of God's law was favorable to them, who could answer the application-style questions of life. Once they found that Rabbi - they molded their lives to conform to his pattern of thought, attitude, manner of speaking, actions and mannerisms. They followed him closely and as time went on - began to become more and more like him. As modern day disciples of Jesus Christ, it is in our interest to understand this context in our own lives - especially as we enter the Spring Holy Day examination season, and in particular the words written in Luke 14. In this passage, Jesus Christ spoke to the multitudes and gave them three conditions that would PREVENT someone from being able to be his disciple. Not just initially - but as their discipleship went on. Where are we in our own lives with regards to these three conditions? Have we allowed something to prevent us from drawing more closely to our Rabbi, Jesus the Messiah?
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