Jesus' Approach To Ministry

Now these are signs from the hand of God. We should also notice that even the Jewish records indirectly admit that Jesus performed miracles and returned to life. They just have a different explanation. Jesus was no ordinary person. He was God. In summary, the testimony from secular sources and the biblical prophecies are positive and only the records of the Jewish leaders are negative. If Jesus was guilty of sexual sins surely the Jewish records would have mentioned it.

Others claim that the women who accompanied Jesus were pastors or spiritual leaders like the twelve disciples. But that view must be rejected for several reasons. First, nowhere in the New Testament is such a statement ever made. Second, no woman was ever mentioned as being one of the twelve disciples and scripture never indicates that Jesus called any women to follow Him as He did the twelve. Third, none of these women are mentioned as being present when the twelve disciples asked Jesus to explain the kingdom parables in Matthew 13. Fourth, there were no women in the boat on the Sea of Galilee (Matt. 14:22-36) when Jesus calmed the waves or asked Peter to walk to Him. Fifth, there were no women at the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-13) or in the Upper Room (John 13:1-17:26). Finally, the gospel of Luke was very careful to separate the twelve disciples from the women supporters. That is, the author, Dr. Luke, under the influence of the Holy Spirit mentions the twelve disciples and then separately mentions the women later. Brent E. Kassin makes this comment in the Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood,

. . . New Testament women functioned in spheres of genuine spiritual service and responsibility in the early New Testament community, such as Joanna, wife of Chuza (Luke 8:1–3) or Lydia at Philippi (Acts 16:11–15), none of the women . . . were ever described in the New Testament as elders, bishops, or pastor-teachers, either ordained or non-ordained.[8]

Luke 20:46-47 seems to indicate that it was common practice for women to financially assist rabbis since Luke describes some religious leaders as taking advantage of some widows. There is solid evidence dating from around A.D. 100 that women did provide financial support to rabbis.[9] Therefore, we conclude that the conduct of these women was an accepted practice in those ancient days. They were supporting one whom they believed to be their Messiah.

I don’t know where these goofy traditions creep in at, but one of the goofiest ones is that Jesus and His disciples were poor. Now there’s no Bible to substantiate that.[10]

Jesus and the disciples were rich, only rich people could take off for 3.5 years.[11]

The Bible says that He [Jesus] had a treasurer-a treasury (they called it “the bag”); that they had one man who was the treasurer, named Judas Iscariot; and the rascal was stealing out of the bag for three-and-a-half years and nobody knew that he was stealing. You know why? Because there was so much in it, He couldn’t tell. Nobody could tell that anything was missing..., if Jesus didn’t have anything, what do you need a treasury for? A treasury is for surplus. It’s not for that which you’re spending. It’s only for surplus-to hold it until you need to spend it. Therefore, He must have had a whole lot that needed to be held in advance that He wasn’t spending. So He must have had more than He was living on.[12]

The whole point is I’m trying to get you to see--to get you out of this malaise of thinking that Jesus and the disciples were poor and then relating that to you - thinking that you, as a child of God, have to follow Jesus. The Bible says that He has left us an example that we should follow His steps. That’s the reason why I drive a Rolls Royce. I’m following Jesus’ steps.[13]

But the scriptures state otherwise. Luke 2:22-24 reveals that Jesus’ parents were poor, since they offered a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. According to the Mosaic Law, this offering was allowed for poor families.

In Mark 6:33-44 we discover that Jesus orders His disciples to find some food to feed approximately five thousand men plus women and children. But the disciples indicated that they did not have enough money. They had only 200 denarii. A denarii was the amount of money a person would receive for working in the fields for one day. This means that Jesus and the twelve disciples had only 13 days of money in Juda’s money bag. They were not very rich, and their situation would be worse if the money had to support others.

In Matthew 17:24-27 Peter was asked if Jesus would pay the two-drachma tax. Jesus used the opportunity to teach Peter that he should pay governmental taxes and told him that he could find a shekel in the mouth of a fish in the Sea of Galilee. If Jesus was rich, why go to the lake to find money?

The last quote we will explore is as follows:

Jesus was not poor . . . Jesus had a nice house! John 1:38 says that Jesus turned to those that were following him and said, “Come with me.” And they said, “Where dwellest thou?” He said, “Come and see.” And Jesus took that whole crowd home with Him to stay in His house. That meant it was a big house! Jesus wore fine clothes! John 19:23 says, “He had a seamless robe.” Roman soldiers gambled for it at the foot of the cross. It was a designer original! It was valuable enough for them to want it! . . . And then there are Christians that have a poverty complex that says, “Well, I feel guilty about having nice things.” Jesus didn’t! [14]

How shall we respond to this quote? First, a careful examination of John 1:38-40 reveals that Jesus invited only two men into His house and not a crowd. A house does not have to be very large for Jesus plus two men. Second, John 19:23 reveals that Jesus had two garments. One was Jesus’ outer garment which was made of four parts. The next garment was seamless. It was worn next to the skin. That is, it was Jesus’ underwear. It is important to note that the soldiers gambled on everything: Jesus’ four piece outer garment and His underwear. This was not designer underwear. Jesus was not rich. In fact, the ministry team appears to have had just enough and nothing more.

Conclusion. Jesus’ approach to ministry was simple. He proclaimed and preached the message of the Kingdom of God. Today, we tell others about Jesus Christ and teach the Bible. Jesus had a godly ministry team that supported Him. The team included twelve men who were being trained to take over the ministry when He left. That is a model every church should follow. Train the next set of leaders - elders and pastoral staff - from within and transition them into various ministries over time. Jesus also included godly women in the ministry, who provided financial support and most likely encouragement.

Why did God include others in the ministry? Why did He do things this way? He is the only one who knows. He has given us the opportunity to participate in the advancement of His divine kingdom. He wants us to minister according to His example. The teaching and preaching of His Word is the priority. The other events in our worship services are incidental and secondary. Discipleship is the next priority. Without it there is no future godly leadership. It is wonderful that Jesus included women in the ministry. He set the example and we should follow the pattern.

Men and women should be given every opportunity to minister within the church. Men and women should use their spiritual gifts together. These gifts include giving, serving, teaching, mercy and organization to name just a few. Women can teach other women and children. Men can teach anyone. Women can serve in any leadership capacity within the church, except as elders. This is God’s divine pattern for the church. Jesus set the example and we should follow! We will close with a very insightful comment from Leon Morris,

It is heart-warming to read of this group of women who supported Jesus and it is worth reflecting that the Gospels record no woman as ever taking action against Him: his enemies were all men. [15]

8. Brent E. Kassian. When Women Were Priests. Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. 38/4 (December 1995). p. 595.

9. Joachim Jeremias. Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus. Fortress Press. 1969. p. 113-114.

13. “Ever Increasing Faith” program on TBN, 9 December 1990. (www.falseteachersexposed.blogspot.com)