E-pistle for January 31, 2008
Posted by: info <info@...>
E-pistle
Dr. Dan Hite, President FreeWay Foundation Janaury 31, 2008
How Jesus Mentored His Disciples
by: Dr. Curt Scarborough
What was the best, most memorable gift your father ever gave you? One
Christmas, my Dad gave me a Johnny Mize mitt; another time he (and Santa) gave
me an electric train. But the best gift he gave me was not the ball glove, but the
time he spent playing catch with me in the backyard. His most memorable present
wasn't a model train, but the tales he told me about the years he spent working for
the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Rail Road. His best give to me? HIMSELF!
In John 21, we see Jesus "fathering" His disciples. Here He sets the example
for ministers who are mentoring those less mature Christians who are following in
our paths. Notice the techniques Jesus used in dealing with the seven disciples
who had back-slidden to their old ways of life . . . to their old jobs: fishing.
In this passage, let's only "read the red" . . . focusing on the WORDS of
Jesus:
1. Jesus expressed concern about the disciples' needs, desires, and
problems. "Children, have you any food?" (verse 5) A good mentor notices and
expresses concern about the needs and problems of people. This concern includes
basic food, clothing, and shelter needs, of course, but also involves physical
environment (God's wall of protection and His canopy of blessing).
Just as earthly parents know how to give good gifts to their children . . .
bread, not a stone; fish, not a snake; egg, not a scorpion . . . even so, mentors
must exhibit concern about meeting the needs, desires, and problems of their
protégés. (See Matthew 7:7-11 and Luke 11:9-13.)
2. Jesus gave wise counsel and direction (discipline) which, when
followed, produced positive results . . . based on spiritual insight. "Cast the
net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." (verse 6). Jesus was
able to give practical help because He knew where the fish were swimming.
He saw and knew something which the disciples didn't see or know.
Good mentors both model and give wise counsel and direction. Jesus
showed them godly attitudes, speech, actions, relationships, and priorities to
follow. Yet more than that, He gave them needed practical help and instruction
for their immediate situation.
3. Jesus taught the principle of the blessedness of giving over receiving;
the priority of the spiritual above the material. "Bring some of the fish you have
just caught," (verse 10.) God does not need our fish . . . He has plenty! But He
does want us to receive gifts from Him with an "open hand" . . . to pass along to
others the abundance He supplies us. We are to serve others with His compassion,
kindness, generosity, and humility. Freely we have received; freely we give!
4. Jesus invited the disciples to have intimate fellowship with Him.
"Come and eat breakfast," (verse 12.) As believers, we need to partake of
Jesus' provisions . . . through Bible study, prayer, and meditation . . . to experience
His presence. He knocks on our heart's door, waiting for us to invite Him in for
intimate fellowship with Him. (Revelation 3:20)
As mentors, we also must graciously offer to share our spiritual provisions
and ourselves with others . . . in intimate friendship. How true is the saying that
we all need to have (and to be) a Paul, a Barnabus, and a Timothy!
5. Jesus helped the disciples to "see beyond sight" . . . to have spiritual
vision of God's destiny for them.
Notice the process of gradual revelation: "Disciples did not know it
was Jesus," (verse4); to John recognizing Him (verse7); to "None of the disciples
dared ask Him; 'Who are you?' knowing it was the Lord.: (verse 12); to Jesus
"showed" Himself (verse 14).
Good mentors must gently guide persons to "see" and to "know" Jesus,
in whose name they serve. God's mentors help protégés come to spiritual
perception, to a vision of God's destiny for their lives.
6. Jesus encouraged a cursing, denying, back-slidden disciple to a
renewed commitment based on mutual love. "Do you love Me? . . . Feed My
sheep," (verses 15-17). Jesus dealt with Simon Peter in gentleness and
compassion, yet with "tough love," confronting Peter about his problem and
its spiritual consequences.
Peter denied Jesus three times; Jesus compelled Peter to assert his
love three times. We, as mentors, in spite of our failures, need to publicly
exclaim, "JESUS, I LOVE YOU!" Such an open confession will help us . . . and
those following us.
7. Jesus challenged the disciples to hear again His original call to
total surrender. "Follow Me," (verse 19). These were the same words spoken
by Jesus to Peter three years earlier . . . and at the same locations: Peter's
wharf (Matthew 4:19). It is significant that here Jesus addressed the wayward
disciple as "Simon". Earlier, the Lord has prophesied, "You WILL BE called
Peter," John 1:42. Later Jesus said, "You ARE Peter," Matthew 16:18. But
here Jesus forced Peter to go back to where it all began, to get a fresh, new
start . . . calling him, "SIMON, son of John," (verse 15).
We, as God's mentors, must continually be reminded to revisit our
original call to follow Him. Our responsibility to those who follow us includes
modeling joyful obedience to Jesus' call to total surrender . . . to cross-bearing
discipleship.
"I have decided to follow Jesus . . . no turning back."
What is a Mentor?
M Model: "example to the believers"
(I Timothy 4:12)
E Encourager: "command . . . encourage . . . strengthen"
(Deuteronomy 3:28)
N Nurturer: "brings them up in the nurture of the Lord"
(Ephesians 6:4)
T Tutor: "commit these to faithful men . . . to teach others"
(II Timothy 2:2)
O Observer: "they watch out for your souls"
(Hebrews 13:17)
R Resource: "supply what is lacking in your faith"
(I Thessalonians 3:10)
Copied from the St. Louis Fax Times: After watching football all day Harry fell asleep in
front of the TV and spent the whole night in his chair.
In the morning, his wife said, "Get up dear, its 20 to
7." He woke with a start and said, "Who's winning?"
Since this Sunday is the Super Bowl I thought this joke was good!
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