All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

Corporate Training—by Jesus

Corporate Training—by Jesus.

Matthew 10.5-15

The other day I was talking to a friend who had been trained by Xerox years ago; for a long time, Xerox had a very highly rated training program, and is still ranked fairly high compared to other corporate training. But how would you know? I mean, how could you check the value of the training? Of course, there would have to be some measuring stick. For my friend, she became the top producer in the U.S. in government sales for the company; therefore, one would have to conclude her training had been good, right? (Doesn’t hurt that she’s cute, friendly and intelligent, I’m sure!)1

As we have seen, the twelve disciples were handpicked and trained by Jesus to do a job.

Can you imagine being personally trained by Jesus?

While we are not privy to Jesus ‘circling up’ the guys around a conference table with flipcharts and talking points, we know the twelve had on-the-job training. They watched, listened, learned and probably often assisted as Jesus went about his earthly ministry in Palestine. How I wish I could hear some of their casual conversation around the fire at night, or breaking bread together near the Sea of Galilee! We know there was some light-heartedness involved because Jesus had nicknames for Zebedee’s sons, James and John, calling them the ‘Sons of Thunder’. And it was Jesus who named ‘Peter’, meaning the rock, (though his given name was Simon). Jesus did not simply see the disciples as they were, but

he saw them for what they would become—

he knew that impetuous Peter would become a rock for the cause of Christ. Jesus knew that the twelve chosen ones had what it took to take the gospel to the world once he was absent. I find that amazing.

It was the ‘being with Jesus’ part that changed these men from just learners to those who could take the Word of God out to the people, who could do many of the miraculous things they had seen the Lord do. After Jesus’ ascension and the inception of the early church, Luke described, ‘Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.’2

So, looking at Peter and John, they realized they had been with Jesus. Hmmm...

He also gave a specific charge when he sent the men out, as Matthew remembered: “These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions:

First where not to go, but to whom they should go: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.

With specific things to say: As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’

Jesus bestowed divine power to them, so that they could: Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.

Jesus makes a statement that they would have known; it was something the rabbis of the day taught: Freely you have received; freely give.

And as for the specifics of travel, ‘Don’t take your money belt, knapsack or bedroll’: “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”3 Yikes.

Most of Jesus’ instruction I could read, understand, and accept, except for him telling the Twelve to go only to the Jewish people, the lost sheep of Israel. I’m a Gentile, should I take offense that Jesus did not care about folks like me?

No, I think that in this case, while the Jews were/are God’s chosen people, as Jesus’ birth came through their bloodline, this might have had more to do with seeing the success of these men, thereby keeping them in the region of Galilee, and also the plan for another man yet to come on the scene. The Twelve knew how to speak to Jews—they knew their customs and beliefs. Jesus himself ministered primarily to the Jews, except for when faith-filled Gentiles sought him out; still, he would leave the Gentiles to his man Paul. First, the Messiah came to the Jews, and he sent the message of the kingdom of God out to the Jews through the Twelve as well. God always has a plan.

Turns out Jesus’ method of training the motley crew was effective; once the instructor left the building, (he ascended into heaven – Acts 1), the students ‘hit it out of the park,’ and others said of them, ‘these are the men who are turning the world upside down’.4

As we read through Matthew’s gospel, witness to Jesus’ miraculous works and others-minded teaching, we too are being trained to share, taught a love so great we too must give it away.

Christine
www.pastorwoman.com ;

1 – pretty interesting to see how companies are ranked according to their employee training

2 – Acts 4.13, NKJV

3 – Matthew 10.5-15

4 – Acts 17.6b