Marks of a True Disciple

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? In Luke 10:39 we learn that Mary was focused on the Lord, whereas Martha was distracted, anxious, and troubled about many things (10:40-41). The problem is not Martha’s hospitality or service, but what was revealed in Martha’s comment to Jesus about Mary. Through Mary we learn something about discipleship — we are called into a close personal relationship with Jesus. Following this scene, the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray (11:1). Jesus provides an example (11:2-4), then follows it with two exaggerated illustrations (11:5–8, 11–13) that argue from the lesser to the greater. Both illustrations begin with a question. The answer is that a friend will wake up at midnight to help, and a good father would never replace something good with something harmful. Therefore, “ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened… If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (11:9–10, 13).