We can then appreciate that the becoming of humanity has its counterpart into another becoming, that of the Son of God. It is about his kenosis (Phil 2:7), a descent, a passage from what he was (God) to what he was not (man). Likewise, this dynamic involves an exercise of freedom in the context of authority. In the process of incarnation (John 5:19), the Son of God obeys to the Father. Assuming this mode of existence he makes possible the healing of the human being, transition from alienation to its proper position in relation to God. In this way, Christ becomes the first human being who lives the authentic relationship with God (Eph 4:24) and accepts fully the divine authority in his human life, one that produces becoming towards union with God. But his becoming as the Son of man involves a becoming of the entire humanity, a profound change at the ontological level. It is about the transformation of its mode of existence, a transition from a failed and selfish existence to a fulfilled one of communion and love (2 Cor 5:17, 21).
Because the incarnate Son of God lived as full human being in a relationship of authority with God, he becomes a founding authority of a new life for every human being who accepts him as master and brother. The recipients of this process of change are the disciples, those who enter into a relationship of authority with Christ. Accepting the process of discipleship in all aspects of life involves a decision to move from a fallen way of existence to a new one (Rom 6:6–11), as a journey of growth toward maturity (Col 1:28), as a transformational effort that reaches its endpoint in the union with God.
2.2. Coordinates of Authority and Discipleship from Jesus life
Some implications for Christian spirituality regarding discipleship can be draw from the life of Jesus as presented in the Gospels and in the well-known Christological hymn from Philippians 2:5–11. From these biblical sources we identify 3 defining elements of authority and 3 principles of discipleship.
1. Authority is received
God has the supreme, and founding authority par excellence, the only absolute intrinsic authority, and is therefore the only source of authority. Every other authority in the world is a delegated one, because it is received from him. In the economy of creation and salvation, Jesus Christ places himself under this authority of God (Heb 5:5–9). First, he accepted to obey his Father unconditionally, to the end, in all details of his life (Phil 2:8). Second, the entire existence and mission of Christ is realized under the authority of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1, 14), the divine person who was always manifested in what the incarnate Son of Gad has said or done in history. From this position of obedience, Jesus received a mandate and an empowerment with authority from God to do what was written in Scripture for him. Jesus’s life highlights a first principle for the experience of discipleship: to be an authority is to be under authority (John 5:25–30). Christ places himself under authority of God to be able to realize his mission and so to become himself an authority over people.
2. Authority is achieved
Jesus comes into the world as sent by the Father, as one invested by God with authority to do his will (John 12:49–50). But even for the Son of God, was not enough to receive authority, to be invested and sent into the world. His position as servant of the Lord demands a personal confirmation of this authority through his way of life, through all his decisions and actions. Christ’s authority is gained by a consistent obedience to the founding authority of the Father (Heb 4:14–16), by a constant reference to the presence of Holly Spirit in his life. Jesus earned his authority over people because he fulfilled the Scriptures and God accepted his genuine service (John 17:1–8). We can now underline another essential principle for discipleship: because the master has acquired authority, has something to offer; because he became a model, can gather disciples and be a source of change for them.
3. Authority produces results
Jesus was then and is now an authority for his disciples because his life model and his presence in the world have brought and continues to bring concrete results, generating becoming. He remains an authority because he constantly offers himself to those who need him, assisting them as a transforming presence, as an engine of human dynamics toward its destiny (Eph 4:15– 16). The change of human persons and the salvation of the whole world are possible because Christ has a position of authority over all things, on earth and in heaven. Any human being can participate in his realization by entering into a relationship of discipleship with him, accepting his authority (Luke 9:23). Christ’s message and mission are carried forward into the world through his disciples, through their life and ministry. We therefore stress a third principle of Christian discipleship here: the authority of the master produces becoming, brings consistency and change in disciples. It also gives authority to his disciples to become authorities for other disciples and so on (John 15:16).
Conclusion
To conclude, discipleship is possible because the Son of God himself went through this process. He restored humanity and brought it to the normality of its relationship with God by placing human beings again under God’s authority. Jesus Christ lived in the world as a person who freely decided to be totally dependent on the creator. Through obedience to God and a life of service and dedication to others, he fulfilled our destiny and brought human beings into the presence of God, to be with him for eternity. What he has achieved is also available to us through our decision to follow him, to be his disciples, to engage in a special relationship with all divine persons.
The conceptual framework for discipleship was defined with the concept of authority. It applies first to relationships between each human person and Jesus Christ and only then to other human relationships, in which some become disciples and others guide them. Christian discipleship or Christian life as discipleship is possible because Jesus has become an authority over all creation (Col 1:18). Those who believe in Jesus Christ are disciples, no matter how far they have travelled and how much they can help others. This is encouraging because we always have his assistance and authority with us, along with his love and friendship (John 17:25–26). Likewise, the disciples of Jesus in the world follow his example and are ready to disciple others, to be an occasion of transformation and maturity for others. Discipleship among Christians is important because it gives us the opportunity to share what we gain from our relationship with Christ. Our quality as disciples of Jesus is always confirmed by the fact that we are servants of those whom the Son of God came to serve (Mark 10:43–45). We are called to disciple others to the extent that we assume and maintain our identity as disciples of the Lord. To be authorities for our fellow human beings and to serve them in their becoming is to put people in relationship with Christ and to let his founding authority shine through us. We can only offer to others what we have received from him, what we have become after accepting him as Lord and teacher.
Danut Jemna
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