Following Jesus’ Example: Empowering Leaders in Global Missions, by Victor H. Cuartas
Love needs to be our main motivation in God’s kingdom. God loves all kinds of people. The motivation of God for building His kingdom is love. God’s love for His creation does not have limitations. The most significant manifestation of love in the universe is expressed when God sent His only Son to die for us on the cross (John 3:16). It is because of His love that all believers have the opportunity to enjoy eternal life.
Jesus denied Himself to pay the ultimate sacrifice. When He was on the cross, He received all the punishment for our sins (Isa 53:5). It is because of His obedience that we have access to the Father. Yet, more than half of the global population still needs to hear the powerful message of the Gospel. Fortunately, God is still concerned for His creation and believers have a wonderful opportunity to spread the Gospel as never before.
God is looking for people who are available to respond to His call. The power is in the obedience, and it is better than sacrifice.
Jesus is our example to follow. There are several accounts in the Bible that describe Jesus’ urgency to meet the needs of the people. He always was willing to go and bless the needy regardless the circumstances. Jesus went out and saw the needs of the people. Thus, every believer needs to follow Jesus’ example. “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt 9:36, NIV).
Jesus called the disciples to fulfill His Father’s will. The verb “called” in the Greek is proskaleomai, which means (1) to call to, (2) to call to one’s self, or (3) to bid to come to one’s self.6 The NKJV, KJV and NIV translate the word as “called.” The NASB uses the word “summoned” (Mark 3:13; 6:7a). Jesus invited “those whom He desired” (Mark 3:13, RSV). The initiative lay not with the disciples but with the Master. “A call to preach always implies a call to prepare.”7 Thus, the disciples were called by Jesus for a specific purpose: “to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Jesus trained the disciples to preach the Gospel. The verb to “preach” in the Greek is kerusso that means: (1) to be a herald, to officiate as a herald; or (2) to publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.8 “Through intimate fellowship with the Lord, the disciples would receive a commission ‘to preach’ and an authority (exousia, power in the sense of delegated authority) to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.”9 Jesus sent out His disciples to proclaim God’s kingdom (Mark 3:14b; 6:12b).
Category: Ministry, Pneuma Review, Winter 2013