Four Major Characteristics of a Biblical Disciple: Part 1 (Servitude)
August 11, 2025 | Uncategorized | No Comments
“Follow me” (Matthew 4:19, English Standard Version). Perhaps one of the boldest statements ever uttered. The self-assurance required for such a demand could only abound from one of two heart conditions—arrogant hubris or accurate humility. These two simple words of Jesus would set the course for worldwide change while impacting individual lives in intricate and intimate ways. For two millennia, Jesus’s command to “follow” has been carried throughout the corridors of history on the backs of animals, in the bags of messenger boys, rolled up in newspapers, from the pens of scholars, from the lips of peasants, and through the lifestyles of countless believers. This continuous following of Jesus century after century is a marvelous and miraculous reality. Why has this happened? Because those who have been commanded and called to “follow” have done so. They have become followers.
In Matthew 28:18b-20, Jesus expanded this call and command to a missional statement for His followers. He presented them with the Great Commission: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (ESV). This Great Commission would act as the catalyst for turning followers into follower-makers—disciples into disciple-makers. From this point forward, a called-out group of people in the world would be known as Christians, and those Christians would be marked by lifestyle traits that proved they were disciples. Four of those characteristics would be servitude, sacrifice, steadfastness, and studiousness. These four major Christian characteristics identify a true, believing disciple of Jesus Christ to the Church, their families, and the world.
Servitude – Disciples are Humble
One of the premier attributes of a disciple of Jesus Christ is that they embody the humble spirit and demeanor that Christ displayed. This trait comes across a lot in Scripture through the act of servanthood. This can be seen in mentor-mentee relationships like Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, and Jesus and Peter. Each of these relationships is two-fold: they have a mentor and a mentee. It is the place of the mentee who is learning to be a disciple to embody a heart of humility and servitude. Joshua 1:1 refers to Joshua as Moses’s assistant, or servant (ESV, KJV). 1 Kings 19:21 states that Elisha “arose and went after Elijah and assisted him” (ESV). The Old Testament presents gem-like examples of people who lived thousands of years ago and were able to be disciples of the truth, but perhaps no example is more of a case study than that of Jesus and Peter. Peter had a unique relationship with Jesus. He always had a way of being around for the biggest occurrences and being the one Jesus dealt with more than any of the other twelve. Renowned pastor and author, John MacArthur noted the following:
Peter’s name is mentioned in the Gospels more than any other name except Jesus. No one speaks as often as Peter, and no one is spoken to by the Lord as often as Peter. No disciple is so frequently rebuked by the Lord as peter; and no disciple ever rebukes the Lord except Peter (Matthew 16:22). No one else confessed Christ more boldly and acknowledged His lordship more explicitly; yet no other disciple ever verbally denied Christ as forcefully or as publicly as Peter did. No one is praised and blessed by Christ the way Peter was; yet Peter was also the only one Christ ever addressed as Satan. The Lord had harsher things to say to Peter than He ever said to any of the others.[1]
Peter would go on to follow the Lord in both miraculous and treacherous ways. His humility was undeniable. Peter would eventually write to a group of Christians facing heavy persecution that they should clothe themselves with humility. Then, in the same verse, he penned that Christians are to treat each other with humility because God desires humble people (1 Peter 5:5, ESV). It is important to note that humility was perfectly embodied by Jesus and is evident by His death on the cross. Philippians 2:8 states that “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Andrew Murray, writing on this verse, stated, “Jesus humbled Himself unto death, and opened the path in which we too must walk.”[2] This is the true definition of being a disciple—doing that which Jesus did. Being that which Jesus was. Walking in the way Jesus walked and embodying the same lifestyle of humility that Jesus had. Peter used an amazing analogy in the verse mentioned earlier. He said to be clothed with humility. Jesus wore a humble spirit every day of his earthly ministry and it took Him to a cross. Disciples of Christ will strive every day to exemplify that same mark of humility in their lives as well.
Until we write again,
Hunter V.S. See
[1] John MacArthur, Twelve Ordinary Men (Nashville, TN: Thoms Nelson, 2002), 39.
[2] Andrew Murray, Humility: The Beauty of Holiness (New York: Fleming H. Revell Company), 73.
