Hans Bayer on Discipleship in Mark

Hans F. Bayer (Covenant Theological Seminary) has a neat little book on discipleship in the Gospel of Mark. Mark is my favourite Gospel and I’ve written on the discipleship theme myself elsewhere (see here). It is called: A Theology of Mark: The Dynamic Between Christology and Authentic Discipleship (Philipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2012).  There is an interview with Bayer over at Credo Magazine which is quite good.

In his interview Bayer states:

At one point in my research I asked a very simple question: where, in Mark, do we find general discipleship statements, which apply not only to Christ’s original disciples but to “anyone” or “everyone”? Eight characteristics arose. They include: 1. Surrender, namely that disposition of heart and mind which yields unconditionally and radically all autonomy and self-centeredness to the triune God. 2. Obedienttrust, namely that disposition of heart and mind which puts “full weight” on God as known through his Word, in word and deed. 3. Prayer, namely that disposition of heart and mind which turns to God in spoken and unspoken worship, intercession, and the childlike cry for help.  4. Watching over our hearts, namely a focus on Christ with a peripheral watch over that which stirs in our hearts in terms of idolatry and impurity. A constant prayer-repentance-and-surrender cycle ensues. 5. Humility, namely that disposition of the heart and mind, whereby we seek to serve others “from below.” 6. Forgiveness, namely that undeserved gift of God which we pass on to others. 7. Perseverance in temptation and persecution, namely that God-given disposition, whereby we are so filled with the love of God in Christ that we can stand faithful in trial and temptation. 8. Courageousconfession of Christ, namely that holistic, life-and-word witness which allows us to live as “living letters” of Christ, individually and corporately.