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Discipleship training
can be enhanced with a good book focused on elders, deacons and the church.[1] But
completion of such a book study does not mean that a man is spiritually
qualified to become an elder. About two years ago a church leader told
me that he had completed a book study with a man that he hoped would
be an elder some day. He said that the man had faithfully studied the
book and attended the meetings. This leader felt that the man was now
ready to become an elder. Unfortunately, this church leader did not understand
that something more was required than just reading a book about elders
and the church. Spiritual maturity and a solid working knowledge of doctrine
are also required (1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9). An elder must be able
to teach and must be able to defend the faith. In fact, a man who is
spiritually qualified, doctrinally sound, and satisfies the godly requirements
found in 1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 is qualified according to scripture.
Jesus selection of the twelve men (John 15:16) came after
He spoke with the Father (Luke 6:12; John 17:24). Jesus looked for godly
character first. After they were selected, their training began. It started
by watching Jesus heal, hearing Him teach, and on occasions being rebuked
for their ignorance and sin. Later Jesus gave them some practical experience.
The practical experience will be coming in our future studies.
True discipleship of leaders is designed to shape and mold
a person even after being selected. So the twelve disciples followed
Jesus as He went from city-to-city and town-to-town. They left their
families, friends and jobs. They were training to become the Master’s
under-shepherds.
The Women. The next two verses are significant.
They indicate that some women were also following Jesus during this trip.
. . . and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means. (NASB) Luke 8:2-3 The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Susanna, and
some others who are not named. Some believe that Mary Magdalene was the
woman in our last study and that she was a prostitute. But we discovered
in Luke 7:36-50 that the passage does not give us any information about
the identity of that woman at all. Contrary to popular opinion, Mary
Magdalene was not a prostitute. Luke 8:2 tells us that Mary Magdalene
had been possessed with seven demons. If both accounts are about the
same woman, why mention Mary Magdalene’s name in one passage and
not the other? Here we are told in clear terms that Mary had been demon
possessed. It is an injustice to assume that she was a prostitute. Mary
was from the city of Magdala which was located near the Sea of Galilee.
Therefore, she was named Mary Magdalene.
Joanna was the wife of Chuza. Historical tradition indicates
that her husband had a significant position within King Herod’s
kingdom as his steward. But tradition says that he lost his position
because his wife was telling others about Jesus. Joanna and Chuza suffered
because Jesus Christ was rejected by others.
Neither the scriptures nor historical tradition reveal
anything about Susanna. This is the only place she is found in the scriptures.
Who were the other women? We do not know. Some of them could have been
women who were also at the foot of the cross when Jesus died. Matthew
27:55-56 says that Mary, the mother of James and Joses, and the mother
of James and John were at the cross while Jesus was hanging on it. Mark
adds that Salome was at the foot of the cross and John 19:25-26 says
that Jesus’ mother was there along with Mary, the wife of Clopas.
Were some of these women part of the “many others”?
The Ministry Team. According to Luke 8:2-3,
these women provided financial support for Jesus and His disciples. Jesus,
the twelve disciples, and a small group of women traveled together. How
often did they travel together? We do not know. This is the first time
such a statement has been made in our study of the gospels. But it is
clear that on this trip the women were part of Jesus’ ministry
team. Jesus was the spiritual leader; the twelve disciples were in training,
and the women helped to provide some of the financial support. Some of
the women were probably family members and relatives.
Some claim that these women provided sexual favors for
Jesus and the apostles. Such statements are without any merit. There
are no secular or religious historical records or statements in the gospels
that support such a claim. Such statements are pure imagination. In fact,
the gospels reveal that Jesus preached against sexual immorality, and
He was considered to be holy. Any such sexual sins would have become
public knowledge and destroyed His ministry.
It is also important to note that Jewish writings accused
Jesus of performing miracles by sorcery or demonic powers,[2] stated
that He was hanged or crucified on a cross,[3] that
He died at the age of 33 or 34,[4] and claimed that
His body was stolen from the grave and dragged through the streets of
Jerusalem.[5] But they never accused Him of leading
a sexually immoral life. Surely, they would not have missed such an opportunity
had it been true. The Jewish leaders hated Jesus and wanted to kill Him
(John 7:1).
The gospels directly and honestly state that Jesus was
accused of performing His miracles by the power of Satan (Matt. 12:22-32).
The Jewish leaders had rejected the fact that Jesus claimed to be God
(John 10:33). Therefore, they had to invent some reason why He was able
to perform such wonders. The accusations of the religious leaders are
not hidden in the gospels. The gospels are honest and forthcoming. The
gospels also reveal that Jesus was about 33 or 34 years old when He died
(Luke 3:23 plus three or four years for His ministry) and that the Jewish
leaders had claimed His body was stolen (Matt. 28:11-15). The written
records of the Jewish leaders admit that Jesus performed miracles and
wonders and that His body was not in the grave. They could not explain
His miracles or wonders except to claim that His miracles were performed
through demonic power. They could not explain how He returned to life
except to claim that His body was stolen. Their historical records actually
admit that He did these things, but they did not want to conclude that
He was God.
Is it possible the Jewish religious leaders told the truth?
If so, why are the records of the secular historians all positive? For
example, Pontius Pilate wrote these words,
At His coming the lame shall leap as an hart, and the tongue of the stammerer shall be clear speaking: the blind shall see, and the lepers shall be cleansed; and the dead shall rise, and walk about.[6] Why are references to Jesus Christ in the Dead Sea scrolls positive?
One scroll refers to Jesus as “the son of God” and the one
who was “pierced” and “wounded.”[7] The
negative accusations about Jesus can only be found in the Jewish records.
We should also remember the many Old Testament prophecies about Jesus
that came true. One amazing prophecy dating from 530 B.C. found in Daniel
9:25 -26 specifies the exact week in which the Messiah would die. Jesus
died in that week. A prophecy found in Isaiah, dating from 700 B.C.,
predicted that Jesus would perform miracles,
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy (NIV).” Isa. 35:5-6
References:
 1. The following books are recommended to be used in the training of current and potential church leaders: 1) John MacArthur. The Master’s Plan for the Church. Moody Press. 1991; 2) John MacArthur. The Book on Leadership. Nelson Books., 2004; 3) John MacArthur. Twelve Ordinary Men. W. Publishing Group. 2002; 4) Gene Getz. Sharpening the Focus of the Church. Moody Press; 5) Gene Getz. Elders and Leaders Book (www.ccbt.org); 6) Alexander Strauch. Biblical Eldership. Lewis and Roth Publishers; and 7) Alexander Strauch. The New Testament Deacon. Lewis and Roth Publishers. 2. I. Epstein. The Babylonian Talmud. The Soncino Press. vol. 3, Sanhedrin 43a. 1935, p. 281. 4. I. Epstein. The Babylonian Talmud. The Soncino Press. vol. 3, Sanhedrin. 106a. 1935, p. 281. 5. Paul L Maier, First Easter. New Yor: Harper and Row, 1973. pp. 117-118. 6. Justin Martyr. First Apology 48 7. G. R. Jeffrey. The Signature of God. Frontier Research Publications. 1996. p. 99-100. |
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