Discipling Is Never-Ending
“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also.”
(2 Timothy 2:2 NASB)
A Never-ending age.
A Never-ending holiday.
A Never-ending date.
A Never-ending inheritance.
A Never-ending faith.
A Never-ending childhood.
A Never-ending life.
A Never-ending . . .
In this life, we are faced with situations that must come to an end.
For example, the other day, my husband and I sat down with a financial planner to determine if we are saving “enough” for our retirement. I never dreamed it would become a time of laughter. You see, in order to discuss one’s finances, then one must know a few details: The age he hopes to retire & The age he hopes to live to. I knew my husband’s answers before he spoke them aloud; my husband knew my answers before I voiced them aloud.
6 more years until retirement & live into my 70s.
29 more years until retirement & live until the age of 103.
Now, you must know that my husband and I share the same age (56), and in fact, I am ahead of him in age by forty-five days. The humor began when the financial planner asked us the two simple questions about retirement age and livelihood; after we spoke our answers, he began to smile. Maybe you do not know me, but when he questioned us more, he chuckled out loud when he asked: Would you be satisfied to list 70 as your retirement age (rather than 85), and I replied, “Seventy seems so young to retire.”
In this life, we face situations that we really just do not want to come to an end.
A Never-ending career.
A Never-ending source of income.
A Never-ending marriage.
A Never-ending friendship.
A Never-ending relationship.
A Never-ending love.
A Never-ending memory.
A Never-ending faith.
For example, in the Bible, we are told in the Gospels of Jesus’ life as the Son of Man. When He came to earth and took upon flesh and blood, the Son of God revealed to us how we are to go, how we are to do, how we are to be, how we are to believe, and how we are to disciple. Do not believe me but read through the sixteen chapters of the book of Mark to see the life of Jesus.
“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
(Mark 1: 1-3 NASB)
just as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
BEHOLD, I AM SENDING MY
MESSENGER BEFORE YOU,
WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;
THE VOICE OF ONE CALLING
OUT IN THE WILDERNESS,
‘PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!’ “
For sake of time (in this writing), I will only give a portion of many verses to solidify this truth: We Have Received a Never-ending FAITH; thus, Discipling is Never-Ending!
Isaiah spoke of John the Baptist who would come to proclaim the Messiah.
John the Baptist spoke of Jesus Christ the Savior of the world.
Jesus came to bring salvation to humanity so that all people might come to know God.
“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.” (Mark 1: 9 NASB)
“Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,
(Mark 1: 14-16a NASB)
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the gospel.”
As He was going along the Sea of Galilee, . . . “
“And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time.” (Mark 1: 35 NASB)
“When Jesus came back to Capernaum a few days later, it was heard that He was at home.
(Mark 2: 1-2 NASB)
And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer space, not even near the door, and He was speaking the word to them.”
As he passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.” (Mark 2: 14 NASB)
“And it happened that He was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain.” (Mark 2: 23 NASB)
Discipling is Never-ending!
“And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted,
(Mark 3: 13-15 NASB)
and they came to Him.
And He appointed twelve,
so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach,
and to have authority to cast out the demons.”
“Again He began to teach by the sea. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat on the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land.” (Mark 4: 1 NASB)
“They came to the other side of the sea, into the region of the Gerasenes.
(Mark 5: 1-3 NASB)
When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him.
He lived among the tombs, and no one was able to bind him anymore, not even with a chain,
[no one but the Son of God]”
“When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and He stayed by the seashore.” (Mark 5: 21 NASB)
Discipling is Never-ending!
“Jesus went out from there and came into His hometown; and His disciples followed Him.” (Mark 6: 1 NASB)
“And whenever He entered villages, or cities, or a countryside, they were laying the sick in the marketplaces and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and all who touched it were being healed.” (Mark 6: 56 NASB)
“Now Jesus got up and went from there to the region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He wanted no one to know about it; and yet He could not escape notice.” (Mark 7: 24 NASB)
“Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?” (Mark 8: 27 NASB)
“And six days later Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them;
(Mark 9: 2-3 NASB)
and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them.”
Discipling is Never-ending!
“Setting out from there, Jesus went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; crowds gathered to Him again, and, as He was accustomed, He once more began to teach them.” (Mark 10: 1 NASB)
“As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do so that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10: 17 NASB)
“And as they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples,
(Mark 11: 1-3 NASB)
and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat; untie it and bring it here.
And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it’; and immediately he will send it back here.”
“And they were seeking to seize Him, and yet they feared the people, for they understood that He told the parable against them.
And so they left Him and went away.” (Mark 12: 12 NASB)
“As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look! What wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” (Mark 13: 1 NASB)
Discipling is Never-ending!
“On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?” (Mark 14: 12 NASB)
“They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples,
(Mark 14: 32-36 NASB)
“Sit here until I have prayed.”
And He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled.
And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.”
And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began praying that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by.
And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.”
“Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders, scribes, and the entire Council immediately held a consultation; and they bound Jesus and led Him away, and turned Him over to Pilate.” (Mark 15: 1 NASB)
They questioned Him.
They slandered His name.
They mocked Him & flogged Him.
They repeatedly beat & tortured Him.
They crucified Him!
“When evening had already come, since it was the preparation day,
(Mark 15: 42-46 NASB)
that is, the day before the Sabbath,
Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself also waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.
Now Pilate wondered if He was dead by this time, [JESUS] and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He was already dead.
And after learning this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.
Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb which had been cut out in the rock; [JESUS]
and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.”
“When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might come and anoint Him. . . .”
(Mark 16: 1 & 5-7 NASB)
And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe;
and they were amazed.
But he said to them,
“Do not be amazed;
you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene,
who has been crucified.
He has risen;
He is not here;
see,
here is the place where they laid Him.
But go,
tell His disciples and Peter,
‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’ “
Discipling is Never-ending!
“So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, [to His disciples, commissioning them]
(Mark 16: 19-20 NASB)
He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.”
We are entrusted with the Gospel.
History has proven that where churches are planted, where the Gospel is shared, there will be persecution.
Still, we are commanded & commissioned by Jesus Himself: to Go & to Tell the world about the Savior!
- Discipling is Never-ending!
- We are to Share Jesus with the world surrounding us!
Until the day Jesus brings us home to heaven, we are to disciple others for the cause of Christ!
Discipling is Never-ending because We Have Received a Never-ending FAITH!