A friend of mine asked on Facebook, “What are the characteristics of a disciple? How would you know if a person is one?” which led me to search for the term μαθητης (Greek word for disciple) in the New Testament. The word μαθητης occurs 261 times between the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Acts. Here is what I found:
- Disciples eat with IRS employees and other sinners – Matthew 9:10, Mark 2:16, Luke 5:30
- Disciples do not like to skip meals – Matthew 9:14, Mark 2:18
- Disciples have authority over unclean spirits and can heal every kind of disease and sickness – Matthew 10:1; Just kidding – Mark 9:18, Luke 9:40
- Disciples do not observe the Sabbath – Matthew 12:2-3
- Disciples do not understand parables – Matthew 13:36, Mark 7:17, Luke 8:9
- Disciples do not wash their hands before they eat – Matthew 15:2, Mark 7:5
- Disciples do not like to waste expensive perfume – Mathew 26:7-8
- Disciples like to sleep – Matthew 26:40-45, Luke 22:45-46
- Disciples betray Jesus – Matthew 26:8, Luke 22:47-48, John 12:4
- Disciples will be like Jesus – Luke 6:40
- Disciples sometimes can get a little postal – Luke 9:54
- Disciples don’t know how to pray – Luke 11:1
- Disciples hate their father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and themselves – Luke 14:26
- Disciples carry their own cross – Luke 14:27
- Disciples give up all their own possessions – Luke 14:33
- Disciples don’t like kids, but should – Luke 18:15
- Disciples abide in Jesus’ words – John 8:31
- Disciples like pedicures – John 13:5
- Disciples love one another – John 13:35
- Disciples lie about knowing Jesus – John 18:17-27
- Disciples comfort their mothers, sometimes – John 19:27
- Some disciples take a lot of convincing – John 20:25
- Some disciples do not like to serve tables – Acts 6:2
- Disciples are continually filled with joy and the Holy Spirit – Acts 13:52
- Um… and one to grow on…
Obviously this isn’t a complete list of what a disciple of Jesus looks like, but it should get you started on your journey.