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Jesus’ light brings salvation not only to Israel, but to the world
Jesus’ light brings salvation not only to Israel, but to the world

Raising disciples as Jesus did

The Lord Jesus threw the invitation to as many as would put their trust in Him to follow Him fully. He selected the 12 to be on a spiritual formation journey with Him. 

Today He urges all believers in Him to join Him travel on a path of genuine Christian faith and practice – true discipleship. In fact, Jesus was a master spiritual formation and disciple maker.

For nearly three and a half years, every day with Jesus was to be a disciple-making class for the 12 He chose to be with and to mentor. 

He taught them as in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 -7) and in other programmed teaching sessions, reviewed previous lessons with them and challenged them to do practical field work.

He interacted regularly with them for feedback and review meetings.

Every fresh day or fresh activity or programme was a unique opportunity for teaching and experience in true spirituality. For example, after teaching and feeding 5,000 people, the crowd returned looking for Him for more teaching or for some more feeding opportunity. 

The Lord Jesus reflected on this situation with the disciples. He turned to the crowd and said, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you!” (John 6:26 & 27 NLT). 

Later in this narrative Jesus told them “I am the Bread of life” (John 6:35). This glorious declaration expresses Jesus’ true identity and ministry. The Lord Jesus came that with faith in Him, and on a spiritual journey with Him, we might live a fulfilling and satisfying life. (John 10:10b)

On another occasion, after the transfiguration the Lord Jesus got back to the 12. They reported to Him, “in your absence we worked on a spiritual warfare case a parent brought to us. Why couldn’t we cast out the demon oppressing the boy?” Jesus replied them, “this type of demon is not effectively dealt with without fervent concerted prayer and fasting!” (Mark 9:14-19). A lesson in spiritual warfare counselling.

We read in John 8:12 that on an occasion of the Hanukah or the Festival of Shelters, the Lord Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem, during the festival.

He stood under 16 golden bowls filled with oil that gave light to the worshippers in the inner court of the temple and declared, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” 

Jesus’ light brings salvation not only to Israel, but to the world, regardless of race, colour and geographical location. A discipleship training on world mission and evangelism. 

On one occasion Jesus travelled across a lake in a boat with the 12 and they were engulfed in a terrible storm. The 12 naturally expressed all kinds of emotion. They were very much afraid of perishing in that storm. 

The Lord Jesus got up and commanded the winds and the waves of the storm to cease. Instantly, there was calm. The 12 were overwhelmed and absolutely terrified and they asked one another, “who is this Jesus, ‘that even wind and waves obey Him?”. (Mark. 4:41). 

This encounter deepened their faith in Jesus and they trusted Him more. A lesson in Jesus’ absolute authority over the elements of nature and all that exists.

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