Article February 20, 1909 Issue

THE SIGN OF DISCIPLESHIP

MARY I. MESECHRE.

But twelve men are commonly named as the disciples of the Master, of whose calling and fellowship we are given some detailed account. It is recorded that he sent out those twelve, and "other seventy also," who, with the addition of Joseph of Arimathea, known as "a disciple of Jesus, but secretly," and possibly of Nicodemus, who sought Jesus by night, and the two men, Joseph the Just and Matthias, between whom choice was made to fill the place forfeited by Judas, complete the list of those named in the sacred narrative as immediate followers of Jesus. By inference we may include part at least of the Pentecostal company, and of the five hundred brethren to whom the Master appeared. Even this is a somewhat insignificant following for that wondrous Teacher who spake as never man spake, and to whose students had been vouchsafed such signal instances of divine power as enabled them to emulate in some degree the example of their Master.

After the crucifixion and ascension of Jesus, we find plentiful evidence that this term was no longer limited to those who had been closely associated with him. In the book of Acts are numerous references to disciples among persons who manifestly were not followers of Jesus when he walked the hills and vales of Palestine. Notable among these is Saul, or Paul, as he is better known, whose bitter prejudice was so marked that even after his marvelous conversion, when he humbly essayed to join himself to the disciples, they were afraid to receive him, not believing him to be sincere, and whose probation, had it not been for the timely intervention of Barnabas, might have been indefinitely prolonged. We are told that the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch, and it is improbable that the band in that city was composed of those personally instructed by the Master.

Naturally, since the name disciple can no longer be restricted to the immediate followers of Jesus, and since we find the appellation in common use among those familiar with his teachings, we are led to inquire the reason for this usage, and for the bestowal of the title upon others than those first so designated. The answer is found in the Master's own words, as recorded in the 13th chapter of John's Gospel: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." In these few simple words we are shown the sign of discipleship, a sign so broad that it may rest upon all the world, and yet so exclusive that only those who faithfully comply with the condition imposed may wear it. "If ye have love one to another." "By this shall all men know.... my disciples." It sounds sounds very simple, dose it not, and by no means difficult? It is a small matter to declare our love for all mankind, to repeat glibly, "I love everybody, and everybody loves me," to smile into the friendly faces we meet, and pass on with the comfortable assurance that we are at peace with all the world.

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