A good number of the candidates were attracted to this question. However, most of them failed to mention the salient points and this made them to lose some of the obtainable marks. Candidates should have highlighted some of the following points:
(a) DEMANDS MADE OF PROSPECTIVE DISCIPLES
(Matt 8: 18-22, Luke 9: 57-63, 14: 25-33)
- A teacher of the law came to Jesus and expressed his desire to follow him wherever he went.
- Jesus’ reply to him was: “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head”.
- Another would-be disciple told Jesus to allow him first to go and bury his father.
- But Jesus told him to leave the dead to bury their own dead and follow him to proclaim the Kingdom of God.
- Luke’s account also presents a disciple who wanted to follow Jesus but wanted permission to go back and say farewell to his family.
Jesus replied “No one who puts his hand on a plough and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God.
- He also said that if anyone would follow him and did not hate his father, mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, he could not become a disciple.
- If one wants to build a tower, one must first sit down and estimate the cost to see if one has enough money to start and complete it to avoid being mocked by people.
- Secondly, a king whose military strength does not measure up to that of his enemy, must immediately negotiate for peace.
- Jesus, in essence, did not want a naïve commitment that expected only blessings.
- Thus, whoever cannot take his cross to follow Jesus is not worthy of him.
- To follow Jesus requires self-denial, complete dedication and willingness to obey him and his cause.
(b) ATTITUDES TO BE EXHIBITED BY DISCIPLES
- Commitment
- Truthfulness
- Open mindedness
- Obedience
- Steadfastness
- Diligence
- Self-control
- Endurance
- Perseverance
- Humility
- Selflessness/Self denial
- Sacrifice
- God fearing
- Renouncing materialism
- Ready to undergo persecution and suffering.
