Public Ministry by Jesus Example

Written: October 15th, 2013

I’ve been really interested lately on studying how Jesus did pubic ministry (I mean after all Jesus is God in the Flesh). So its kinda been a question on my mind, How would God himself do ministry if he was on the earth? We get to see that in the way Jesus did ministry. Before Jesus started his ministry he had the Holy Spirit come upon him. “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;” – Matthew 3:16 after that he was filled with the spirit. “And Jesus returned in the power of the spirit to Galilee and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.” – Luke 4:14 then Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit throughout his ministry. Jesus went to some pretty dark and evil place throughout his life and ministry, he went and ate with the sinners and the tax collectors. He went and lived life and just loved on them, he didn’t sit around and judge them because they were different and reject them because they didn’t live lives that were clean and holy. He loved on them. Jesus knew that they were the sick and broken, Jesus says in Matthew 9:12-13 “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Jesus knew that they were broken and sick inside for they did not know any better. Jesus was a shining light in the dark places. Jesus’ ministry went far beyond just preaching a sermon and calling people to repent, although he did do that, a huge part of his ministry was the way he just lived life and the way he loved. Jesus chose a few people whom would follow him everywhere and for him to disciple deeply. The disciple went with Jesus in the dark places and witnessed Jesus love on the broken and heal the sick. Jesus reached out in love with open arms he never rejected the hurting instead he sought out the broken and hurting to show the love. Jesus taught his disciple what it truly meant to do ministry. Jesus’ example of public ministry was he had large gatherings and preached to many but chose a few to disciple. Jesus also lived everything he preached, he didn’t let his words just become words. but instead he let his words become actions. After Jesus ascended his disciples (His “Small Group”) did everything that they learned, they applied what Jesus taught them. They did public ministry the same way Jesus did. The disciples after Jesus ascended did what? well they first had the Holy Spirit come upon them and were filled with the spirit, then were led by the spirit. Just like Jesus before he started his public ministry. They too were led by the spirit into some of the darkest places and they to reached out in love and pointed the broken, the sick and the hurting to Jesus. They also like Jesus would have large gatherings where some would preach but they also would split and met in a small group and disciple people. Just like what Jesus taught them, Their ministry went far beyond just preaching at a large gathering. They lived everything they preached and lived by loving on the hurting and broken and showing them Jesus. Because of following Jesus’ example they shook up the world!! They lived what they taught and discipled a few in “Small Groups” and the world is forever changed because of what they did. All because of Jesus and the example he set. So as the church of our Lord Jesus Christ let us return to doing ministry the way Jesus(God Himself) did. Could you imagine how we could change the world for Jesus?!?! Just these 12 people who lived by the example Jesus set, completely shook the world upside down!! Let us return to that!