In 1963, one of the most popular songs was, “Puff, The Magic Dragon”. It was recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary, who did much to sway the musical direction of the 60s to folk music. “Puff” was written about little boys who grew up and left the land of make-believe. Peter, Paul and Mary were very influential in our culture at the height of their popularity. Most of their music reflected social and political issues, to which they were committed and they used their talents to get the message out to others.
There was another group of people, with the same names, Peter, Paul and Mary, who lived in an earlier time. They also were committed to a cause and reached out to others, not with music, but with discipleship. In Greek the word 'disciple' normally referred to a follower of a particular teacher or religious/philosophical school. It was the task of the disciple to learn, study, and pass along the sayings and teachings of the master. (Holman Bible Dictionary)
However, there is far more to discipleship than just following someone. It is a commitment to serve Christ and places everything you hold dear to second place in your life. Jesus made this clear several times in the Bible. In Luke 14:26-27, He said: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
This doesn’t mean that we should hate our family members, nor does it mean we should dislike or disregard them. Jesus never taught us hate, or even dislike, but taught that we should love unconditionally. What this scripture means, is that our love for Christ should be so strong, that even those we hold the dearest, would be loved less than Him. No other person should ever stop us from loving and serving Christ, no matter who they are.
The Peter, Paul and Mary of the Bible are great examples, each in their own way, of practicing discipleship. We first read about Peter in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter four. Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, called Peter and his brother, Andrew, to leave their fishing trade and follow him. Peter was just an ordinary person, working in an ordinary occupation, as was common in those days. Perhaps many of us can see ourselves in the character of Peter. He was compulsive, uncommitted, coarse, and loud and occasionally his anger controlled him.
Christ will use anyone who is willing to answer His call. This does not mean that Peter had any special qualifications, but he responded to the call. With our intellect, we feel that we must first be qualified, and then God will call us into ministry. The fact of it is, God does not always call those who are qualified, but he qualifies those he calls. This is exactly what he did with Peter. Peter was willing to give all he had to follow Jesus; his possessions, job, time and talents. In doing that, he became a disciple.
Was it easy? Nothing seemed to be easy for impulsive Peter. It brings to mind some old clichés: “think before you speak”, or “look before you leap”. Peter did neither of these. Yet, he was the “rock” on which the church was built and the leader of the disciples. It was he that held the young, fledging church together and he remains today a hero in Christian history. Peter gave everything he had to serve Christ and in the end, even his life.
Paul, formerly known as Saul of Tarsus, was possibly the greatest of all the disciples of Christ. Thirteen of the books in the New Testament are attributed to him. Paul’s character was opposite from Peter in that he was well educated, committed, patient, and in his own words, “content in every situation” (Phil 4:12). Paul also had a trade as a tentmaker, which provided for him during the times he traveled. Paul was a Jew and had no use for gentiles; a most unlikely candidate to lead the gentiles to Christ. Yet, Jesus saw in him as a strength to get a big job done, and called to him on the road to Damascus
Through Paul’s discipleship, Christians today understand more about Christ, Gods gift to mankind, conversion, reconciliation, faith, hope, evangelism and living and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. The sacrifice was great, but the rewards even greater.
Are we then to believe that we must go through what Peter and Paul did to be disciples of Jesus? Let’s look at our third example of discipleship, Mary of Bethany.
Mary was the sister of Martha and Lazarus; the latter being the one Jesus wept for and raised from the dead. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus seem to have been part of an inner circle of Jesus' associates and he and his disciples stopped at their home many times. We find in Luke 10:40-42, that on one of these visits, Martha, being the industrious one, complained Mary was not helping with the work. Jesus answered her by saying, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." Mary was a student of Christ. She loved him with her whole being and didn’t want to miss anything he said or did. Mary must have communed with God, possibly being a great prayer warrior, for in John 12, we read that she anointed Jesus' feet with precious oil in preparation of his death. Mary is shown to be a follower, a disciple, who learned and prayed at the feet of Jesus. Her discipleship of priority, obedience and a deep love of the Master is an example for us to follow today.
Whoever you are, if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you have a call on your life to be a disciple. Just as he spoke to the Galilean fishermen, “follow me and I will make you fishers of men”, he speaks to each of us today. He will work within the abilities of our talents, skills, and background. We just need to be willing. You probably won’t be called to die upside down on a cross, as tradition tells us Peter did. You more than likely won’t go through all the physical sufferings Paul did. However, it is most definite that you will be called, as Mary of Bethany was, to sit at Jesus feet, learning, listening and praying.
You will be called into a commitment to discipleship by self-denial (putting away our own sinful passions and desires), standing on Christ’s word, “not my will, but thine, be done”, (Luke 22:42). You will also be committed to depend on the instructions and truths of God’s word, therefore practicing Holy Living. It also means that you will be ready at all times, in season and out of season, to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those who are lost and dying in sin.
Do the cares and concerns of this world take priority? Do you have dreams and ambitions that must be fulfilled before you are willing to become a disciple? If it is your ambition in life to become famous, perhaps like the Peter, Paul and Mary who wrote “Puff, The Magic Dragon”, your priorities may be out of order. There’s nothing wrong with writing songs, or singing for a living. They made their livelihood singing about make-believe, and a magic dragon that lives forever, as well as many other hit songs. We all need an occupation to sustain us. However, as a Christian, our first ambition should be to become disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, telling others of a loving Savior who died for them, so they might live forever with Him.
Let’s grow up and leave the land of make-believe. Let’s face the reality of a real Savior, a heaven and of a hell and the millions of people who are going into eternity without Him. You can make a difference, if you become his disciple. The benefits are great! You don’t need to buy an insurance policy, because as a Christian you have an Assurance Policy that guarantees you a heavenly home.
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