The goal of this article is to help us as Christians to get deeper into the teachings of the bible. The bible was originally written in languages that are different from ours. It was written in Hebrew and Greek. It was also written at a time and place that was different from ours. It is therefore important for us to understand what the words in the bible meant to those who heard them for the first time. As we understand the meaning of words in their original context, it will become clearer for us to apply the truths and principles of the bible in our lives today. I would like us to study some of the words that Jesus used to describe Christians. The four descriptions that we will look at are; salt of the earth; disciples; peacemakers and lovers.
Salt of the earth
Jesus said “You are the salt of the earth” Matthew 5:14. During the time of Jesus, salt was considered precious and pure. Salt was used to flavour and preserve food – they had no fridges, so salt was used to keep meat from rotting and to preserve food. Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth” Matthew 5:14. During the time of Jesus, salt was considered precious and pure. Salt was used to flavour and preserve food – they had no fridges, so salt was used to keep meat from rotting and to preserve food. Salt also had medicinal value and was used for healing wounds. For salt to be of use, it had to be applied directly to the food or wound. If salt was mixed with other substances such as sand or soil, it would lose its saltiness and was of no use to anyone. So when Jesus spoke these words, his disciples and many who listened to him understood clearly what he was saying to them. They knew that Jesus was asking them to:
Live pure lives and not compromise their faith and principles. Their strength and ability to transform the world around them depended on their purity.
Be involved in their communities and stop the moral decay by living moral lives, standing up for values and teaching others to do the same.
Be healers in their communities providing emotional, physical and mental healing.
As the “salt of the earth,” Christians are called to live out the above three principles. The state of the world and our communities depends on the “salt-iness” of Christians. Jesus holds us accountable for the moral decay in our communities, and if we are not salt, we are of no use to our communities and to Jesus. I remember the words from a famous quote which says that “for evil to continue it is enough for good people to do nothing”.
Disciples
Jesus used the word “disciples” to describe his followers. During the time of Jesus, the word “disciple” was a common word that was easily understood by everyone. It meant someone who followed a particular leader and lived according to their teachings. So when Jesus used the word “disciple” to describe his followers, they knew what he was asking from them. was asking them to follow Him and live according to His teachings. Jesus explained to his disciples what it meant to follow Him and live according to His teachings, e.g., Matthew Chapters 5-7.
He also warned them that His way was not easy – it was a narrow and difficult path (Matthew 7:13-14) and that they had to count the cost before deciding to follow Him (Mark 8:34-35). Those who chose to follow Jesus understood what He was requiring from them.
The disciples paid with their lives for following Jesus and in the book of Acts we read about the persecution of believers (Acts 8:1-3).
What does it mean for Christians to be disciples of Jesus today?
It basically means these three things:
- Be familiar with the teachings of Jesus. This may sound like an easy point, but it is not. Christians need to read through the gospels so that they know what Jesus taught. The gospels are the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Make the reading of the gospels part of your bible reading plan. Start by reading through one gospel every year. (Matthew 7:24-27)
- Apply the teachings of Jesus in your lives. The book of James tells us to be “doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21)
- Make disciples. This means making Jesus known to others through your lifestyle and sharing what Jesus means to you and has done for you with others. Challenge yourself to reach out to at least one person every year that you will disciple. To disciple means to walk alongside someone-teaching and nurturing them to grow in their faith. It is not just telling someone about Jesus and leaving them (Matthew 28:19-20)
Peacemakers
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9). When Jesus used the word “peace,” he was using the word “shalom”. Shalom is the word for “peace” found in the Old Testament. Shalom means the presence of wholeness, health, and prosperity for both the individual and their community. Shalom thrives where there is peace and justice. There was very little “shalom” during the time of Jesus. Jesus was asking his disciples to create shalom in their communities.
Jesus created shalom through healing, deliverance and dying on the cross to provide true shalom for all people. So after His resurrection, His disciples created shalom through preaching, supporting the needy, healing and challenging injustice (Acts 2:46-
47; 4:18-26; 6:1-6). A “shalom-maker” is a son or daughter of God because they reflect the character of Jesus.
So how do we live up to the challenge to become “peacemakers” or creators of shalom? Think of your life, family, workplace, church, community, country, world and identify areas of conflict and strife. Pray and seek creative ways where you can create shalom. Start with your immediate family, friends, church and community. As we make shalom, we make Jesus visible to the world.
Lovers
Jesus said that the two greatest commandments were to “love God with all our heart, soul and mind and to love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:29-31). To Jesus, the word “love” was a verb, i.e., a doing word, not just an emotion. God loved the world and gave Jesus to the world (John 3:16). Jesus loved God and gave his life freely for humans (John 10:11-16). To love Jesus is to do what He has commanded (John 14:21). Love was central to Jesus.
He told his disciples to love their enemies (Matthew 5:44); strangers (Matthew 5:46) and each other (John 15:17). Love for Jesus is to be expressed in concrete actions to relieve the suffering of vulnerable groups in society. It is this love in action that will ultimately determine whether or not we enter into the kingdom of God. Jesus said “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to me”(Matthew 25:34-39) and he also said that to serve others is to serve Him “inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Mat-thew 25:40)
Jesus calls Christians to be lovers. We are to be lovers of God, other Christians, strangers, enemies and vulnerable groups in society e.g. refugees, the poor and sick. Our love must be visible through our actions. Our entry into the kingdom of God will depend on whether we live up to our calling to be “lovers”.
Jesus has laid out the challenges of being a Christian and leaves us with no choice. To be a Christian is to be a disciple of Jesus.
Originally published in the print edition of DIVINE Magazine, Issue 01.
