Why Jesus first?

We are not called to be disciples of each other, or of a ministry, or of a pastor. We are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ.

A disciple is similar to a student, and the one discipling is similar to a teacher. However, the image coming to mind of a classroom, school desks, and a whiteboard could not be further from how Jesus taught the disciples. He taught them with hands-on lessons and demonstrations. He healed the sick, cast out demons, rose from the dead, and did even more than we know: “If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (John 21:25)

Jesus rose from the grave, ascended into Heaven, and He will come again with glory. Yet He did not leave us alone. He has given us His Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5–6) and the Bible, which both testify to Him. Christ, in His physical form, is not with us yet, but we have access to know Him through His Holy Spirit and the Scriptures that speak of Him.

He also did not leave us without instruction. Making seeing Jesus and obeying His words the first and most important part of discipleship is not a preference — it is the commission itself.