Difference between Disciple an Apostle

What’s the difference between an apostle and a disciple?

Have you ever wondered what the difference is and why or how Jesus chose those few? I know I have wondered what made these twelve stand out, what does it take for us to be disciples?

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[ the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

The term apostle means to “send forth”. The word apostle didn’t come into play until after Jesus had ascended to Heaven. Then Peter in the Christian assembly gave the qualifications for an apostle as a preliminary to the choice of the replacement for Judas. Peter, Himself didn’t qualify to be an apostle, but Jesus appointed him.

Luke 6:13 (KJV) 13And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; 6:12-16 In these days [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor

Acts 1:21-22 (KJV)
21Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

A disciple is a learner, or a pupil, one who wants to know everything so that they too can teach. Just as the 12 apostles were, they followed Jesus everywhere he went, learning from the Master, the same as if you were in school and the classroom teacher is teaching you a subject. A disciple does everything in their power to get that “A” to gain knowledge about Jesus so they can go out and become teachers to others. The twelve were chosen from amongst many others from their growth and ability to go out and teach when Jesus would be leaving to go back to Heaven.

An apostle means to send out…and this is what God did with the twelve chosen, he sent them out to spread His good news to all the churches. God chose those twelve because they were willing to give all to Him, to drop everything and follow Him as He taught, they allowed Him to teach them, they put God first.

Follow Jesus! Become His disciple! Know you are a sinner. Seek His cleansing touch. Ask for His miracle of grace. Value Him; seek Him above all. Ask for Wisdom. Take on His character.

Jesus is still choosing disciples to be those He sends out. He will send you. Are you ready?

A disciple in the church is someone who has chosen to follow the teachings and the practices of Jesus. And it is just as true today that an apostle is one sent out to begin churches cross the worlds and different cultures.

Father I ask for your mercy, your grace, and wisdom, I seek you and Praise you Father, I seek to be a disciple spreading your word, bringing in the lost. Father, guide me as I take this step and give me forgiveness as I have sinned yet again, release me from the impurities of the world, and give me strength to carry on and the desire to live for you. Father I thank you for your healing touch in this weak body and I ask for healing for all those that read this and for my family and friends, guide them each so that they too will pick up and walk in grace with you. I thank you for this all in Jesus Precious Name, Amen!