Jesus as a Teacher, the thought has always interested me. Another Book on pedagogy, the science of teaching, is "Jesus, the Master Teacher" by Herman Horne. This little volume too has been around a long time, containing 27 chapters, 244 pages.

Wow!

But a few weeks ago I learned of an approach to Jesus' teaching methods that may be best of all! How the Gospel of Matthew illustrates Jesus the Teacher! Then the Gospel of Mark! Followed, of course, by Luke! And John too!

Well, I've studied these concepts ever since!

And the Lord willing, for a few lessons, we shall discuss Matthew's approach to Jesus' teaching skills!

I do not yet know if the other three Gospels will be as thrilling in this area as Matthew has been ... but if so ... several "sermons" will be birthed from this series of meditations, for sure!

I can hardly wait to see!

One of my favorite verses about our Lord, in the whole New Testament is Mark 1:14. "Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God." Get it? In short, "Jesus came preaching!" I love that thought, the greatest Preacher Who ever lived!

But for a few days now, verses like Matthew 5:2 will reign. "And Jesus opened his mouth, and taught them, saying ...." This little "teaching" verb is used of Jesus more than three times in Matthew alone. It's "didasko," from the Greek root "dao," simply meaning "to learn." Eight or nine more times in Mark, Jesus is specifically said to teach! Eight more in Luke, exactly! And at least six times in John's Gospel!

A lot of teaching indeed!

And where did Jesus learn these things, eternal and glorious and beautiful and truthful things, that he taught so eloquently? From His Father in Heaven! "Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things." From the King James Version, John 8:28. Then Isaiah 50:4 further adds to this picture as well. "The Lord GOD (the Father) hath given me (Jesus) the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned." The Father woke Jesus early every morning and taught Him the words to share!

Amazing!

Once the Disciples came to Jesus and asked Him, "Lord, teach us to pray." That's Luke 11:1, the reference.

During these days ahead let us ask Him, similarly, "Lord, teach us to teach!" After all, Jesus is not merely the greatest Prayer Warrior Who ever graced planet earth, He is also the greatest Instructor!

              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 2, JESUS' VERY PRESENCE, A TEACHING TOOL:

Matthew of course presents a unique view of Jesus training His followers, His Disciples. That's no doubt partly because Matthew is one, one of Jesus' original Twelve!

And one of the first things once notices is the vast amount of time Jesus invests in these men. Mark 3:14 most succinctly expresses this thought: "And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach." Wow, days and weeks and months with Jesus, years literally, in His very Presence!

Mathew too indirectly shares this principle of mentoring, of disciple-making. By means of a literary convention called "inclusio." He begins and ends his Gospel, His Book, with a reference to Jesus "being with" us, sharing time with His potential followers!

Read with me Matthew 1:23. "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." In Matthew's very first chapter!

Emmanuel, literally meaning "God with us!" Where "im" means "with" and "El" is one of God's great Names, in Hebrew.

Wow!

Now let's go to the end of Matthew, his very last chapter, his very last verse really! "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Matthew 28:20, its last clause.

Jesus' Presence!

Matthew clearly opens and closes His Gospel with two direct references to the Lord's being "with" people!

Yes, the best way to learn from Him is to be with Him! To watch Him, to hear Him, to follow Him! To obey Him!

That's how discipleship begins!

Are you spending time with Jesus, am I?

In His Word, through the Scriptures.

Basking in fellowship with Him, via His Spirit.

Meditating on Him through the day and night.

I sure do want to be one of His closest followers, don't you?

Then it will take some time.

                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 3, JESUS TEACHING IN MATTHEW'S GOSPEL, HIS "ABSENCES:"

Yes, Jesus chose to spend lots of time with His Disciples, a vital part of their training program apparently. Years in the Presence of the Son of God, what an honor!

But, according to Matthew's Gospel anyway, there were four times Jesus deliberately allowed His Disciples to be "apart" from Him, away from His Presence! And these events, each in order, were vital to the spiritual development of those early followers of our Lord.

Here they are, these episodes ...

The quieting of a storm, Matthew 8:23-27.

Jesus walking on the water, Matthew 14:22-23.

A failed attempt to cast a demon from a young man, Matthew 17:14-20.

And Jesus' trial and crucifixion, Matthew 26:56 through 27:66.

And I'm going to tell you in advance the qualities Jesus is trying to "build into" these men, women too according to Luke.

First of all, faith!

"Without faith it is impossible to please God!"

The secondly, faithfulness!

"Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful."

Now, Lord willing, for the next couple of mornings we are going to notice these lessons, even the teaching techniques, Jesus employed! He is, after all, the Master Teacher of all time!

And once we have finished Matthew's description of Jesus' training methods, we still have Mark to consider, not counting Luke and John!

Faith, that's objective! What one believes about Jesus! Focused on a Person outside oneself.

Faithfulness, that's more subjective. How I myself respond personally to what I believe! How dependable I become in serving the one in Whom I believe. How consistent, how reliable!

And dear readers, the first quality (faith) always leads, if properly developed, to the second grace (faithfulness), invariably so!

Those who genuinely trust Jesus ... should live for Him and obey Him and love Him ... daily!

Amen.

           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 4, IN THE BOAT, LEARNING ABOUT FAITH:

Jesus wants to "build" faith into the lives of His little band of believers. That seems to have been His top priority! After all, it's "by faith" that we are saved! And "without faith" it is impossible to please our great God! And according to First Peter chapter one "faith" is the fundamental building block for our spiritual character. There "faith" precedes even virtue and knowledge and temperance and all the rest! In that great paradigm of spiritual growth!

So ... just how does Jesus begin to encourage real "faith" in the lives of those early Disciples?

Watch.

By being "absent" from them one day! Well, not exactly absent ... just "sound asleep" in their boat! Absent in that sense.

"And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!" Matthew 8:23-27

The heart of "faith" is simply "belief!" The Greek noun for "faith" is spelled "pistis." And the verb "to believe" is "pisteuo." See the closeness, the obvious relationship?

In verse 22 Jesus entered the ship first. And, naturally, the Disciples "followed" Him, akoloutheo," a verb that blends the noun for "road" with a "unifying" prefix. They walked the same road Jesus did, right into this little ship! That's what students do. They follow the teacher, their teacher!

Then the storm came, "tempest" in Greek is "seismos," our word for earthquake! And earth shaking event, this violent storm! The "storm" arose, using a verb that means "to come to pass," or even "to be born!" This may be a specially created event to be an "object lesson" in Jesus' Discipleship Class that day long ago! Think of Jonah's storm ... and great fish and gourd bush, all specially prepared!

Maybe certain little "tools" aid learning. I used a "trophy" one night earlier this week, preaching about God's plans for His Church, the Bride of Jesus Christ! As an illustration.

This is a bad storm, severe! The ship was "covered" with waves! "Kalupto" means "veiled," nearly "hidden" under the agitated waters!

And Jesus is asleep?

Still asleep?

Physically tired no doubt, exhausted from preaching and loving and helping ... everywhere He went. The Greek has Jesus "sound asleep!" It's "kata" plus "heudo." Compound sleep, in "deep" sleep we might say.

The Disciples "panic!"

Verse 25 again: "And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish." The verb "perish" is unadvised here. With the Lord of Life onboard ... nobody is going to die! Not on that ship!

Now we are about to learn why the storm! Maybe even why the nap, the sleep! "Jesus saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?"

Wow!

He's going straight to the issue!

He allowed the storm ... to help increase their faith! To help dissolve their fear! (Are we being taught here that the opposite of faith is fear? Not necessarily doubt?) "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?"

Folks, the first quality any disciple must have is "faith!"

Faith in the Master!

"Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm." Jesus did, verse 26.

The miracle alone, it seems, is calculated to help build "faith" in these men. A great storm ... a Word from God ... then immediately, great peace!

The result?

"The men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"

Yes indeed!

One of the first rebukes, though mild, was for faithlessness!

Today's lesson?

Belief and trust in Jesus!

Discipleship, lesson one.

Now to each of you today, read the paragraph again. Imagine yourself in the boat. Feel the wind and wetness! Hear the roar! What would you have done? How did Jesus long for them to respond?

"And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"

Faith!

Like the man in Mark's Gospel, we ought to pray, "Lord we believe! Help Thou our unbelief."

In other words, "We trust Thee, Lord Jesus. Help us to trust Thee more! In an every growing way!"

Amen!

              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 5, FAITH ... BASED ON THE "WORD" OF GOD:

Jesus indeed left His Disciples alone in Matthew chapter fourteen! He sent them to sea, unaccompanied by our wonderful Lord, in a physical sense anyway. Here's the New Testament account, the words of an eye-witness nonetheless! "And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God." Matthew 14:22-33

The miracle of feeding the multitudes has just occurred, earlier that day. And Jesus, insistently, puts His men in a ship, sending them to the "other side" of the Sea of Galilee.

Did the Lord know a storm was coming?

Of course He did!

It's just that the Disciples needed a storm in their lives ... to help teach the next "lesson" in our Lord's School of Spiritual Growth!

And when the weather was at its worst, even to these trained fishermen, Jesus began His now well-known "walk on the water!" Going to His distraught followers! He always comes when things are bad! In fact, He's had His Eye on them all the time! From the mountain, praying!

But the student passengers thought they were seeing a "spirit," a ghost! Had they known assuredly, all the time, that the Appearance was Jesus, I think things would have been much more calm.  "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." So spoke Jesus, even when the winds are howling and the waves dashing all around! His peaceful Voice!

Has He ever spoken "peace" to anyone reading here today?

Then Peter, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus."

If it's my Saviour, everything's all right!

These men are growing!

Watch Peter. He "thought" he saw a spirit, an apparition.

He "heard" the Voice of Jesus!

Which will he believe, his eyes or his ears?

The circumstances or the WORD of God?

Again I say, yes! Peter and this band of men are learning well! Jesus must have been pleased. Their faith is on the increase!

Then it happened. "But when Peter saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." Suddenly Peter was influenced by what he "saw" again, the effects of the storm! Not on what He had heard! That sweet, single word of Jesus "Come!"

And at this stage of their training the men desperately needed to learn "faith." That's where everything starts for the Christian, faith! And that initial mustard-seed faith must grow, too!

Peter had faith to get in the boat without the Lord.

He had faith to identify the Lord.

He had faith to ask for permission to come to Jesus.

He had faith to get out of the boat.

He had  faith to take the first watery step.

He had faith to keep walking, until our Lord was within reach!

But then, confronted by too much wind or too high a wave, he quit concentrating on Jesus and noted the surroundings! The environment, the world, the weather.

Did Jesus understand?

You decide.  "And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

We're back to the main lesson again!

Same truth as back when Jesus was asleep in the boat, Matthew 8:23-27, yesterday's website lesson.

Faith!

Faith!

Faith!

"Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God," Paul later wrote. With Christ in the school of faith!

Then ... leaving Simon Peter and all the others, who likely could hear the whole conversation anyway ... to ponder the lesson: "And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God."

Evidence perhaps that a little "instant" growth had already occurred, they "worshipped" God the Son, now with them in the little boat! Bowing before the One in Whom they so needed to believe!

Faith, Jesus still longs for His own to grow in this marvelous Grace!

Believe what He's said!

And act on it!

              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

When Jesus comes back, returns to earth, guess what He's going to be looking for, what quality? "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Luke 8:18

Wow!

LESSON 6, ANOTHER FAILURE, ANOTHER LESSON:

Jesus is still teaching!

Discipling His men in the great school of faith!

Twice already in Matthew the greatest lessons have been learned while Jesus was either "asleep" or "absent."

Now today He is "away" again, on the Mount of Transfiguration, while nine of His followers remained below, in the valley.

"And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." Matthew 17:14-21

This event, however, represents a bit of growth in the training of the Twelve. They have now learned somewhat of the Power of the sheer Word of God! How what's "heard" with God can literally have more weight than what one thinks he "sees!"

Today we see our Lord trying to instill not just faith, but faithfulness. At least I think so. The ones coming "to the multitude" here are Jesus and Peter and James and John. Those last three were human eyewitnesses to His Majesty, as Jesus glowed white as the noonday sun on the mountain!

The remaining "disciples" in our text, nine in number we presume, were unable to cast the demon out of the young boy. Though they tried.

Still, there was still lots to learn!

Notice that Jesus corrected His men even before He dealt with the devil, the demon! They are His first priority. They are here called both "faithless" and "perverse!" In Greek "apistos" and "diastrepho." Literally, "not believing!" And "being turned aside" from the main issue at hand! 

Jesus immediately "rebuked" the devil, "epitimao." What a unique verb! Most literally meaning "to evaluate." Jesus "low-rated" this demon, censured him. Cut it down to size! Belittled him!

We are told the disciples could not "cure" the little boy, the Holy Spirit here using the word "therapeuo," to administer "therapy!"

Now this little band of learners simply ask Jesus "Why?" Why they could not enact the miracle, the exorcism.

The noun "unbelief" is "apistia" again. No belief, not enough belief, too small faith!

Jesus had just been up the nearby mountain, and with that still in view, He adds: "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."

Wow!

Then one more piece of advice. The suggestion not only of "faith" but "faithfulness" entering now: "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." Matthew 17:21

"You will learn, men!"

"Just stay with Me!"

More diligence!

More consistency!

More time with the Lord!

More learning in prayer and fasting!

And folks, isn't the same true with us yet today?

We fail.

We plead to Jesus for help.

We re-evaluate.

We pray more!

And we, as do these Disciples, gradually grow in faith.

And in faithfulness!

And indeed, most of these men, all but one, did grow! Did excel! Did prevail! Did increase in faith! And, if history is right, became so faithful that they died for the Lord!

Martyrs!

Jesus, what a great Teacher He was.

He still is!

                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 7, FAITHFULNESS, FINALLY LEARNED:

Today we study Jesus' fourth lesson, from the Gospel of Matthew only, concerning this grand theme of "discipleship." Simply "following" the Lord Jesus!

We have seen that the ever-present Jesus, Whose Very Name means "God with us," Emmanuel, has so far taught each lesson about "spiritual maturity" (just another term for "discipleship," really) when He was absent ... what an amazing Teacher He must have been! Mentoring ... in absentia! Well, once our Lord was not literally "absent," but sound asleep, deep in sleep, on the ship, the Galilean fishing boat!

The first two lessons Matthew presents us suggest that Jesus is initially teaching "faith" to His Disciples. That is, "Who Jesus is!"

The last two lessons, the final one being today's discussion, clearly teach "faithfulness." The first two, how to have faith! The last two, how to hold on to that faith! How to be persistent, determined, unwavering!

Really the two most basic words for the Christian, faith and faithfulness!

Today we go with Jesus to Gethsemane. And again He leaves His Disciples behind, separating Himself from them. Well, three of them get to go further into the Garden, but even then He sets them in a certain place. And Jesus steps a few yards deeper into the darkness. Yes, away from His men!

Here's our Text. "Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people." Matthew 26:36-47

When the storm came, back in Matthew 8:23-27, Jesus was asleep and the Disciples awake and troubled! Now they are asleep, but Jesus awake and very troubled! Back in Matthew chapter seventeen, the Transfiguration that preceded the Disciples' failure to cast the demon out of the little boy, the same three Disciples (Peter, James and John) were closer to Jesus! But then Jesus was visited by Moses and Elijah! Now they are nearby, but Jesus is completely alone!

Oh what a varied set of circumstances!

The Disciples, by now undoubtedly knowing Who Jesus is, still sadly fail in practicing faithfulness! They sleep when He is fighting the Devil, maybe as never before in all His Ministry!

By the way, the only disciple awake during this episode was Judas, awake to do our Lord harm. To sell Jesus to the enemy!

Listen, sadly: "And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Then later, "Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners."

They were not faithful!

Soon, Matthew 26:56 tells us: "But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled."

All of them!

Gone!

But get this. Though at first forsaking our Lord, they ultimately came back! His Teaching is not in vain! After Jesus' Resurrection they all meet, in an upper room, then in Galilee, perhaps at the Mount of Olives ... still learning but daily now becoming more and more faithful!

Then Pentecost!

Their lives, all the remaining Disciples, spent or invested ... in living for Jesus, faithfully so! For most of them, even to the point of martyrdom! Faithful unto death!

And you know what? in Matthew's Gospel there is no written record of the Ascension of Jesus! Mark and Luke tell us, but not Matthew!

Matthew leaves us with Jesus assuring His Disciples of one major fact, the now ever present Teacher, "And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matthew 28:20, Wow! Jesus' last words in that Gospel!

Were the Disciples slow learners?

Maybe!

Like us, perhaps!

But ultimately they became real men of "faith" ... and "faithfulness."

Jesus, The Master Teacher!

Reader today on this Website, do you have faith in Him, in Jesus? Are you saved?

And if so, are you living life "faithfully" to His Glory?

That's still His goal for His followers.

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 8, THE GOSPEL OF MARK AND DISCIPLESHIP:

Today we shift from Matthew's Gospel to Mark's precious little Book. Still considering the theme of how Jesus made Disciples, how He groomed and matured His followers.

Much as Matthew used the "in absentia" motif as a basis for Discipleship Training, Mark has a "standard" too. Mark, likely being the earliest Gospel chronologically and certainly the shortest in length, places a nearly out-of-proportion emphasis on one little parable Jesus told. Matthew and Luke have incorporated this same little story into their Accounts as well.

Here it is. "Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow. And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: but when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." Mark 4:3-9

That's a lot of space for a man who gives the entire forty-day temptation of Jesus this briefly: "And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him." Just two little verses, Mark 1:12-13

Wow!

All Jesus' mentoring in the Gospel of Mark centers on our Lord as Sower! And on the kinds of people, symbolized by the types of soil in the parable, who responded to the Saviour's preaching!

In fact, with Jesus taking all the necessary time and Mark meticulously recording all the words, the parable is then subsequently and carefully explained by its Giver, its Originator! Exegeted, by our dear Lord the great Expositor!

Here's what I mean. "And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred." Mark 4:10-20, a massive amount of data for little Mark!

How Jesus trains His workers, as presented by Mark the youngest evangelist. Tomorrow, Lord willing, we'll look at a young person who certainly had a heart ultimately receptive to the Gospel. One pictured as "good ground" in the parable!

Jesus the Soul-Winner.

And Jesus the spiritual growth Specialist as well!

              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 9, BY THE WAY SIDE, FRUIT EVEN THERE:

Since the Gospel of Mark seems to use Jesus' Parable of the Sower as its "motif" for Discipleship training, we will begin with its first lines, its first "type of soil." Jesus, the Farmer, the Sower sent from God, tells the story in such simple fashion. "And He (Jesus) taught them (Disciples) many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow. And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up." Mark 4:2-4

Why sow "by the way side?" Literally in New Testament Greek, "by the roadway," emphasizing the extreme hardness of the soil!

Can any "wheat" be expected there?

Any chance of "fruit" being born in such an unlikely place?

Is this a waste of precious seed?

And what are these "fowls of the air?" What do they represent?

Jesus' first Markan miracle, after His sharing this wise little parable, was indeed the result of His sowing, our Lord's! "And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains." Mark 5, that close to our "Sower" story, immediately adjacent!

A man who is certainly by the way side, living in the tombs, among the dead! And the birds, representing the devil or his demons (Mark 4:15 explains) are "legion" in this poor demoniac!

Still, Jesus sows the seed! Interacts, proves Himself Real, honors the man's faith! Expels the demons! Restores the man's right mind! Way side farming at its best!

The man was saved! That's a miracle! A life changed forever!

And did Jesus' investment here bear further fruit? Read with me Mark 5:19-20. "Howbeit Jesus saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel." Wow, multi-fold for sure! "Decapolis" means "ten cities" in Greek! Lots of fruit on the way!

Wow!

Glory to God!

Then near the end of Mark, another "by the way side" event occurs! The "Bartimaeus" incident! "And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging." Mark 10:46, faith saved this man too, faith in Jesus! And what he did for the Lord after that kind of deliverance? Only Heaven will tell! Guaranteed, fruit was borne!

Matthew and Luke also use this great "by the way side" phrase a time or two! Jesus was a Farmer willing to sow in some hard-to-work places! Apparently, with great results!

Lesson for us today?

Keep telling folks about Jesus!

Even those "unlikely" to listen!

Even where the demons have worked hard and wrought destruction!

The "seed" can geminate there too!

And the Discipleship?

The Holy Spirit is geared to take newborn souls, neophyte plants, and through them bear fruit, more fruit, much fruit!

"By the way side!"

               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 10, STONY GROUND AND THE LITTLE CHILDREN:

Jesus' Parable of the Sower, as fully recorded in Mark's Gospel, reveals to us our Lord's "Program" for making Disciples! There the "seed," an emblem of the Word of God, was generously scattered on every type of soil imaginable. Including "stony ground."

"Behold, there went out a sower to sow. And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away." Mark 4:3-6

Did Jesus seek to sow seed even here, on stony ground?

Where there was "not much earth?"

In other words, when the soil was "shallow."

Where the seed had little opportunity to germinate, grow, much less bear fruit! Did our Lord work such inopportune places?

Yes, He did!

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

The illustration Mark wants to use for this type "soil" is identified by a little "marker" in the Greek language. Not quite as visible in English, but easily verifiable!

The association hinges on the two words I underline, in our Lord's exposition, explanation of the Story. But first the verse again: "And some seed fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away." Mark 4:3-6, the parable itself.

Now the commentary, Jesus' illuminating remarks, interpreting this marvelous account. "And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness. And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended." Mark 4:16-17

The verb translated "are offended" is "skandalizo" in Greek, meaning "made to fall, made to stumble," with the basic idea of being "tripped!" Purposely! They devil used "hard times," difficult "trials," to make them stumble!

Now exactly where, in Mark, did Jesus sow such seed, where there was a clear and present danger of the recipients being "offended?"

Consider the "children" for a minute please. Jesus' attention to them in Mark's Account. Once we are told ... "And Jesus took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me. And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea." Mark 10:36-42, using "skandalizo," the same verb in both places!

Then again in Mark 9:42. "And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea."

Surely there is proof enough to establish "linkage" here. The shallow soil hearers of Jesus' Sower Parable are likened to "little children" who hear the Message of the Gospel! Apparently easily "offended" little folks!

And Jesus invites them to come!

And allows them to believe!

And our Lord loves them and blesses them too!

And warns anyone, demonic or human, who seeks to hinder their faith, those little believers! This may also include "new converts," so young in "faith," no matter their physical age!

Yes, Jesus sowed the seed there too, on stony ground with its little earth, its thin layer of soil!

And with Jesus, with persistence, with love ... even there some of the seed will come to life! Will bear fruit! Some, multifold fruit!

Like Timothy, of whom Paul says: "From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." Second Timothy 3:15, Wow!

Jesus died for sinners.

All sinners!

Including those least likely to ever be saved!

Praise the Lord!

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 11, THORNY GROUND DISCIPLESHIP:

Mark's Parable of the Sower, the fullest and most detailed such parable in all his sixteen chapters, helps explain the "plot," the "plan," the "outline" of his whole Gospel.

Today we arrive at the third type of soil Jesus described. "And some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit." Mark 4:7

This is the only type soil, the thorny, of which it's said "no fruit" would be expected. Later, when Jesus "interpreted" the Parable, He explained this condition in the following manner. "And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful." Mark 4:18-19, later in the same chapter. Still, "unfruitfulness" is the result.

Now, question is, did Jesus Himself try to sow the Gospel in any such circumstance? On thorny ground? And if so, did He make a Disciple? Was anyone saved? And did they grow in their faith?

Best way to determine this fact is through "word study." Because, as we all know, every single noun and verb and adjective in Scripture is inspired, every single letter therein printed!

Go with me to the arrest and trial of Jesus, Mark's account of course. Let me show you a striking similarity! "And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, and began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!" Mark 15:15-18

The word for "sowing" in Greek, as when "a sower went forth to sow," is "speiro." And the word for this specific group of soldiers, their "band," is in Greek "speira." See the similarity? In fact, these two words appear in tandem in one of my Greek lexicons, Thayer's.

Folks, Jesus is literally "sowing" at His Crucifixion!

Trying to plant enough seed to bring more sinners to Himself!

He is, apparently, trying to win soldiers to God!

Sowing in the whole "band," peppering them with the Truth of the Gospel. With the Fact of Jesus' Own Identity, that He is God the Son!

Wow!

Is there any mention of "thorns" then, during this Death Event?

Yes, only three times in Mark's whole Gospel. But one of them is here, at the Crucifixion! The other two, as expected, are in the telling and explanation of our parable, of the Sower and his work!

"And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head." Mark 15:17, just like reported earlier!

Jesus, sowing among the soldiers who platted a wreath of thorns to mock Him! Sounds impossible, no one will be saved here surely!

But one was!

"And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God." Mark 15:37-39, he was saved!

A centurion, a leader among men!

And He saw.

And He heard.

And He believed.

Seed, dropped among thorns, came alive!

Jesus, the Farmer!

Jesus, the Sower!

Against all logic, scattering seed among thorns, and what a plant came up! This is soul-winning at its best!

And did this man, this soldier, this newly planted little specimen, bear any fruit? That my friends, only Heaven will tell. But Brother Bagwell strongly believes the answer is "Yes!"

Today I'm so thankful for the Seed!

The Word of God!

And the Sower, the Lord Jesus Christ!

And the result of God's power, creation; new life!

In fact, Eternal Life!

Hallelujah!

                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 12, MARK'S "GOOD SOIL" AND DISCIPLESHIP:

Mark's great "Parable of the Sower," straight from the Lips of Jesus, lists four types of soil on which the seed night fall. The last, and most promising, is categorized as "good," in Greek "kalos," meaning "excellent." Word for word now, King James Version: "And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred." Mark 4:8

Where in the second Gospel do we see a good representation of this kind of discipleship? Seems Mark's whole plan focuses on this elongated Parable and its supporting illustrations!

I believe this "useful, eminent, beautiful" ground is most clearly depicted in Mark's final chapter. There, the Resurrected Jesus, commissions His Disciples. Men in Whom our Lord has invested nearly His whole Ministry!

Are they by now "good soil?"

Will they bear fruit "multi-fold?"

Two verses come to mind. Purely Markan in emphasis too.

Mark 16:15, the one of the most succinct missionary verses in all the Bible, nearly so anyway. "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:16, sounds "good!"

Evangelism, soul-winning! The initial stage of Discipleship training for sure. Preaching to every creature!

Did they obey?

Did success crown their efforts?

"And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." Mark 16:20, the last verse in the Gospel!

Yes!

Much fruit!

That's what happens when preaching occurs every where! When the Lord works with His Men, the Lord in Heaven now, ascended to His Father's Right Hand! The Word of God being constantly confirmed!

Yes, this is true Discipleship according to the Lord Jesus in Mark.

Praise His Name!

         --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 13, JESUS' DISCIPLESHIP TECHNIQUES IN LUKE'S GOSPEL:

We've recently seen how Matthew presents Jesus as Teacher, Mentor to his followers. How He "discipled" His Disciples! Building into them both faith ... and faithfulness.

Then we subsequently noticed how Mark's Gospel did the same thing. Just using a different template, focusing the Parable of the Sower.

Now today we begin to study the Gospel of Luke, with the same goal in mind. But it seems that Jesus' first recorded Sermon is the motif for discipleship there, in the third Gospel. Where He famously used Isaiah chapter 61 as His Text!

Here it is, its introduction anyway. "And Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." Luke 4:16-21

What a stir Jesus caused!

Not for reading the Isaiah Scripture, but for what He said when He finished. "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears."

Our Lord just claimed to be the "Fulfiller" of those prophecies! To be the long-awaited "Messiah" really!

Jesus also, we think, pre-outlined much of Luke's remaining Gospel. And therein He will often "preach the Gospel to the poor!"

Next, He will "heal the brokenhearted!"

And free "the captives!"

Restore sight "to the blind!"

"Set at liberty those that are bruised!"

And preach "the acceptable year of the Lord!"

And through doing all these anciently prophesied events, Jesus will make disciples of those who hear and obey Him!

Jesus' leadership plan, in Luke!

Jesus the greatest Mentor, as indirectly seen through the lens of Isaiah the Major Prophet.

Beginning tomorrow we shall see if this paradigm holds true. It does indeed! Jesus and the ... poor!

In fact, He loved the poor so much ... He was born that way!

See you in the morning, Lord willing, to study this further.

            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Paul wrote of our Lord, along the line of His Love for the poor ... "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." Second Corinthians 8:9

Wow!

LESSON 14, JESUS AND THE POOR:

Jesus is just returning from the wilderness, having perfectly defeated the Devil in a forty day ordeal of temptation. Luke's Gospel then adds: "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor ...." Luke 4:14-18

This Sermon of our Lord's, this Bible Text, this paragraph from the Scroll, from the Old Testament Prophecy of Isaiah ... forms the "outline" of Luke's presentation of Jesus the Saviour! Jesus the Maker of Men, born-again men! Jesus the Mentor, Jesus the Trainer of disciples!

And the first clause of that great Messianic Text says, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Jesus, because God hath anointed Him to preach the Gospel to the poor!"

And Luke sure does tell us a lot about the "poor!"

The poor and Jesus!

First let me say this. Jesus was born poor! No hospital, no doctor, no midwife, no clean surroundings! Born in a stable or cave in Bethlehem! When His parents later dedicated Him at the Temple in Jerusalem, they were only able to sacrifice "two young pigeons," not a "lamb" like ordinary folks! Why? They were too poor to afford a lamb, that impoverished! I doubt Mary and Joseph would have had the funds to escape to Egypt, sparing the Baby's life from wicked King Herod, had not the Magi brought to them "gold, frankincense and myrrh." Finances for the trip!

Paul was certainly right about our Lord. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." Second Corinthians 8:9

But the Isaiah Verse says Jesus would "preach" to the poor. I think He did that, indirectly, even as an Infant!

Who were the first people to learn about His miraculous Birth? In Luke's Gospel especially?

Shepherds!

Poor shepherds!

Not men usually, by the way, but the youth of any given family. Like David the Son of Jesse who watched sheep long ago, the youngest of the siblings got the dirtiest job of all!

Shepherds, stinking and uneducated and rejected by high society, poor boys learned about the Birth of God's Son!

And what did they learn?

Here's the beautiful Story. "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds." Luke 2:7-18, amazing!

Poor folks!

But Jesus is born "unto them!"

They were selected by Almighty God to be the "hearers" of the Event!

And they became the first evangelists, the first disciples, spreading the story everywhere!

The poor!

Jesus loves the poor!

Especially, in Luke anyway, the poor!

More tomorrow, Lord willing.

Jesus and His parables in Luke, advocating the needs of the poor, preaching to them the glorious Gospel which is equally available to all! Even the very poorest!

Hallelujah!

                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 15, THE POOR AGAIN, JESUS STILL MAKING DISCIPLES:

Jesus loved the "poor!"

In Luke, the Gospel of Luke, that love is more apparent than anywhere else in the whole Bible. Or so it seems. Jesus came to save the lost, including the outcasts! He even made disciples of the poor, once they were saved.

Two examples will help illustrate this fact. Two sections of Jesus' Life Story that only Luke records!

First is a parable. And Luke 16:1-8 gives us Jesus' very words. "There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light."

It first looks like this "steward," a "business manager" we might say, was a scoundrel! He had "wasted" lots of his master's money! The verb means "scattered," implying impropriety for sure. The man is "caught!" He must answer to his lord. He likely will lose his job, if not worse! But then he acts on an idea. We would call this plan of his "shady," in all likelihood. But the lord in the story ultimately "commends" his steward! And the verb for "commended" the Bible uses here is literally the Greek verb "to praise!"

What did the steward do? He reduced the bills his master's debtors owed! He in essence "took" from the rich man and "gave" to the poor! He reduced the amounts of money they each had to pay!

What I think is happening here, at least on the surface, is a major focus of Jesus' Ministry. Helping poor people! Note that Jesus never did say one negative word about this steward's activity!

Wow!

Now listen to Luke's rendition of Jesus' first beatitude. Watch carefully. Where Matthew words it this way, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," Luke has it, "And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God." See the difference? Luke highlights the poor in a much broader way. No "poor in spirit" in Luke, just the "poor," period!

Also Luke tells of an event where a rich man is rolling in money and does not even feed a poor beggar who sits at his gate! "There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."

See this? The rich man dies and goes to Hell! The poor man is ushered into Paradise, Abraham's Bosom, a place of peace and provision ... apparently for all eternity!

A poor man, saved!

A poor man, by means of his story being recorded in Scripture, who has become a disciple, maybe just a literary one, but a true disciple nonetheless! Surely many souls have been "saved," countless numbers no doubt, as a result of this poor man's life story!

Yes, Isaiah long ago prophesied that the Messiah would preach to the poor, and indeed Jesus did!

Lots of poor folks have been born again! And used of God to be mighty Disciples in a hundred different ways!

Praise His Name! A God Who really loves the down-and-out folks! Who really cares for the poor, the marginalized, the handicapped, the "nobodies" of earthly existence!

Don't you just love Him today?

            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 16, SETTING THE CAPTIVES FREE:

Did Jesus' disciple making in the Gospel of Luke continue to follow the "Isaiah 61" Paradigm? Is He truly fulfilling the Role of Messiah as depicted that long ago, seven hundred years before the Virgin Birth ever occurred?

Let's see.

Here's the Text, as reported by Luke. As read by Jesus in the synagogue in Nazareth, His longest recorded Sermon there.

"And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me ... to preach deliverance to the captives." Luke 4:17-18

The noun "captives" here uses the Greek word for "sword," spelled "aichme,"  simply prisoners held in jail cells! Under armed guard!

And Jesus will do what for them?

Preach "deliverance!" A word normally meaning "to release, to remit, to forgive" even!

Captives set free!

I can think of three such "captives" at the moment.

All centered around the last days of Jesus earthly life prior to His Crucifixion! In fact, all three of these men were also condemned to die in this awful fashion!

There was Barabbas, whose name means "son of a Rabbi!" A Preacher's boy! He was completely released from a sure death, because of Jesus! Jesus, in the truest sense of the term, died in Barabbas' stead!

Then there were two "thieves," specifically called "malefactors" by Luke, meaning "workers of evil!"

Of these two "prisoners" one died rejecting Jesus! He was not set free. He died without Christ. Near Him by without Him!

But the other, he indeed is a fulfillment of the Isaiah prophecy! He, suffering dying on his cross, asked Jesus to ... here's the conversation: "And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." Luke 23:42-43

The man was saved!

Not physically, soon he is dead.

But spiritually, eternally his soul lives in Heaven!

And he indeed becomes a disciple, virtually a soul-winner, because his story is so clearly related in the Word of God, in the Gospels! In Matthew and Mark and Luke as well, all the Synoptics!

Therefore I conclude, Jesus is still a Mentor, a Teacher, a disciple-Maker par excellence!

And Luke's "idea" of presenting Him in such a skilled manner is beautiful too. Wonder what tomorrow's lesson will share?

             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 17, BLIND MADE TO SEE, STILL DISCIPLESHIP:

Jesus, again in Luke's Gospel, will enact the "recovering of sight to the blind." Luke 4:18, one of its clauses exactly. These words surely loosely allude to Isaiah 61:1-2, also applicable to the Messiah.

Is this one of Jesus' disciple-making techniques? Helping blind men see? I suspect, both physically and spiritually!

And so we begin to scour Luke's whole Gospel. Looking for blind men to whom Jesus brought healing. Sight, life, Eternal Life!

But back to Isaiah a second. A parallel Passage to Isaiah sixty-one's opening paragraph. "And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." Isaiah 29:18-19

Wow!

Truth be told, we do not know how many blind folks Jesus healed during His earthly Ministry. "And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight." Luke 7:21 says "many!" The Greek literally says He "graced" these bind people with "sight!" The ability to "blepo," clearly "to see!"

But Luke's pristine example of Jesus healing the blind is recorded later in his Book. "And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging. And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God." Luke 18:35-43

A disciple made!

Now he can see, trees and people and sunshine!

But more than that, now he can see Jesus!

He thus was, I believe, saved!

How do we know?

He subsequently followed the Lord.

He immediately glorified God.

He also witnessed, displayed himself for the world to see.

And he caused many others to praise the Lord too!

No telling what he did the rest of his life, to further point men and women to Jesus!

And though we are confining ourselves to Luke in these specific lessons, do keep in mind the blind man Jesus made to see in John chapter nine! That man, certainly, believed, becoming an ardent disciple!

Really, everybody who has ever been saved ... was "blind" spiritually! But made to see by the mighty Power of God! By Grace through faith are we saved, trusting the shed Blood of Jesus!

And yes, we accept each of the miracles of the New Testament, without question and exactly as recorded.

Our God is almighty!

         --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 18, MAKING DISCIPLES OF THE SAD, THE BROKENHEARTED:

In the opening paragraph of Isaiah chapter 61 the Holy Spirit long ago prophesied that when Messiah comes, the Servant of the Lord, He would, among other things, "bind up the brokenhearted, and comfort all that mourn."

Hundreds of years later Jesus Himself, using that very text, preached a Sermon in His hometown of Nazareth. There the New Testament has it that our Lord came "to heal the brokenhearted." Luke 4:18

I believe, perhaps even as a discipleship technique, our Lord used Isaiah's little outline to plan His Ministry.

But when did He so aid the brokenhearted, the mourning ones?

Four times in Luke, by actual count, Jesus heard "weeping." In each case a lady or group of ladies was involved!

Amazing!

The first is the widow of Nain. "And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother." Luke 7:11-15

Now I simply ask you, did Jesus "heal" this lady's "broken heart?" She certainly was weeping! Yes indeed He did!

The second occasion, healing the brokenhearted, is in Luke 7:37-38. "And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment." See her weeping?

Watch Jesus "touch" her greatest need! He forgives her sins! Luke 7:48, "And He said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven."

Wow!

The third time, a little girl has died! Jesus comes to the home. Sadness rules! Here's the account as recorded by Luke. "And when He came into the house, He suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. And all wept, and bewailed her: but He said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed Him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And He put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. And her parents were astonished." Luke 8:50-56, many weeping again, especially the Mother! But Jesus eliminated their sorrow!

Mourning folks comforted!

Last of all in Luke, Jesus is being taken to the Cross, to die for the sins of the world. Watch the women, again weeping. "And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us." Luke 23:26-30, weeping here that will be turned into joy Resurrection morning!

Look, in every single case, Jesus offers comfort to the sad!

In three of the four cases, death is the cause of the sorrow, the weeping! But Jesus is even the Lord of Life! He is victorious over death!

In the other situation, sin is the specific cause! And Jesus is the Forgiver of sin, His Blood atones! He is Saviour!

Yes, we must agree. Jesus heals the brokenhearted in Luke, saving lost souls and turning them into disciples!

Into witnesses!

Into devotees of Himself, students of the Son of God!

All women, nonetheless!

What a compassionate Saviour we have, we love, we enjoy, we serve!

           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 19, LUKE AND JESUS AND MEALS ... AND DISCIPLESHIP:

Today we notice in Luke's Gospel yet another pedagogical trait of our Lord, one that teaches us even more about Jesus' Discipleship methods. This whole series of Lucan studies has concentrated on Jesus' first recorded Sermon there, in the synagogue at Nazareth.

"And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down." Luke 4:16-20

And this preaching event is based, the text Jesus used, on Isaiah 61:1-3. "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified."

Wow!

Jesus believes Himself to be the Realization of all these prophecies! He said, in fact, in Luke 4:21, "This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears."

And Jesus lived His Life that way, as the Manifestation of Isaiah's great Prophecy. As the One Who preached to the poor, Who comforted the brokenhearted, Who set free the captives, Who proclaimed the "acceptable year of the Lord," really the Year of Jubilee!

Jesus "celebrated" His three plus years on earth ... as the Liberator of pitiful manhood and womanhood, of sinful  humanity!

And in Luke, most especially, He did so via a series of meals! Fellowship there at table with ... really ... with anyone! With "whosoever" will!

Let me list the meals in Luke where Jesus shared food and fellowship. Luke 5:29-32, for starters. "And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." In many cases though, as here, opposition was raised to Jesus eating with such "sinners!"

Still, Jesus made a Disciple out of this man, Matthew! And His mealtime "strategy" was a first step in that direction!

Next meal, Luke 7:36-50, read it. There a woman was saved, it appears. Another discipleship candidate! But more trouble as well!

Next meal, Luke 11:37-44.

Then comes Luke 14:1-24.

Next meal, after Jesus' Resurrection! That very Day! With two discouraged believers on their way out of town, away from Jerusalem! What a "discipleship" meal that was! Luke 24:13-35 inclusively!

Oh yes, Jesus talked about one more meal. As He shared the first "Lord's Supper" with his men. A future meal in Heaven, that great banqueting Hall in the sky! Luke 22:16, Jesus talking. "For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God."

Wow! A meal to honor the Lord of Discipleship!

Meals, all the way through Luke's Gospel!

Clearly, one of Jesus' training techniques! Teaching ... around the table ... in a spirit of love and harmony!

Proverbs 16:21 was correct, a verse Jesus no doubt had by heart. "The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning." The sweetness of the lips, maybe along with a little honey!

So, if you're teaching others, a spiritual mentor of some sort, maybe eat with them from time to time. Sharing Truth in the process!

Amen.

            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 20, JOHN'S GOSPEL, THE WOMAN AT THE WELL:

This Lesson begins the last "unit" of our current Discipleship studies. Where we now focus on the Gospel of John, how that Body of Scripture pictures Jesus as the world's greatest Teacher, Mentor, Disciple Maker! He of course is the Son of God as well!

John seems to use "nameless" people as pristine examples of loving Jesus, of those following the Saviour.

This is amazing!

Our first example will be the woman Jesus met at the well, Jacob's well. John chapter four gives us the details. She's a Samaritan, not even a Jew! She has lived a sordid life, having already had five different husbands by the time of this famous interview. Yet she was religious, quite talkative too!

Then she gradually began to learn Jesus, Who He was! Finally, Jesus clearly tells her that he is the Messiah! "The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he." John 4:25-26

The lady believes!

Is saved!

And becomes a disciple, a student (which is the definition of the word anyway), and a true soul-winner!

For example, "The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him." John 4:28-30

Wow!

But there's more, "And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; and said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world."  John 3:39-42

Yes, she's now a disciple, one of the ladies who loved Jesus and obeyed Him, likely for the rest of her life!

A revival!

And Jesus stayed with these people two whole days before traveling to His next destination!

Jesus took time at a well.

Loved a lady into the Family of God.

Made one more disciple.

What a lesson, what an example He leaves us!

          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 21, THE NOBLEMAN AND FAITH:

Another Johannine example of Jesus' great disciple-making skill is recorded as follows: "So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house." John 4:46-53

Remember, there can be no "faithfulness" until there has first been "faith," simple trust in Jesus as God's Son, as one's personal Saviour.

In today's Lesson we do not see the long-range results of this miracle. But we do see the Dad, the Father, believing Jesus' words!

Look, the nobleman walked 20-25 miles to get to Jesus! From Capernaum where he lived, where his son was dying, to Cana, where Jesus was at the time. That alone takes determination, a degree of faith.

Then Jesus, in a sense, deterred the Daddy! He accused the man of just wanting to see "signs" and "miracles."

Then the Father speaks, revealing great potential faith! "The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way."

The man "believed!"

Not based on miracle or wonder!

He just took Jesus at His Word!

The Father "believed the word!"

Then he quit worrying and ... "went his way!"

When he arrived back home, the next day, he learned that Jesus' comforting, healing words were enacted the very moment our Lord spoke them! "And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth."

Wow!

Then, what occurred?

Souls were saved, more souls!

And I think, by then, disciples were already developing ... throughout that whole house!

Remember, the man himself had already believed ... the moment Jesus spoke, but now "his whole house" believed as well!

One of Jesus' greatest followers!

This nobleman.

Discipleship in embryonic form, perhaps so.

But discipleship, nonetheless.

Let it grow!

                   --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 22, THE MAN BORN BLIND, NOW A DISCIPLE:

The Gospel of John introduces us to some of Jesus' disciples, all right. But not those we might expect! In fact, the most outstanding followers of Jesus, the ones with the greatest potential, all here seem to be "nameless!" That is, in John's Gospel!

Back in John chapter 4 we met "the woman at the well." And after she was saved, she helped win her entire city to Jesus! That's discipleship, folks!

Again later in John 4, the same chapter, we also met a man, a nobleman, who did not need signs and wonders, like the vulgar public did! This man believed simply because of what Jesus said! The Power of the Word of God! That's a disciple in the making!

Now today we meet yet another unnamed individual. A man born blind, John chapter 9, the whole chapter, all 41 verses! And what a magnificent disciple he becomes, because of Jesus!

Yes, he's blind.

The chapter opens this way: "And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth." John 9:1

The story develops like this, Jesus speaking: "That the works of God should be made manifest in him (the blind man). I (Jesus) must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, which is by interpretation, Sent. He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?" John 9:3-8

Listen to the man testify. "The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not." John 9:8-12

Then "trouble" came! "They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them." John 9:13-16

Wow!

Note something please. Earlier in the chapter Jesus is merely a "man." But by now Jesus is a "prophet!" But soon Jesus will be to our little hero, "the Son of God!" He, the once blind man, will fully believe and be saved!

Watch carefully: "They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind. But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him." John 9:17-23

Yes, Jesus' can cause divisions!

Oh, to be loyal to the Saviour!

This man was!

Let's read more! There's a disciple in embryo here! "Then again called they (the Pharisees) the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out." John 9:24-35

Suffering for Jesus' sake!

Telling the truth, too!

Note how these lost religionists speak of Jesus, just as a "man" then a common "sinner" then lastly just a "fellow!"

Our newly healed blind man, now cast out of the synagogue!

But also now ... a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Watch the man as He is "saved," indeed! "And they (Pharisees again) cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him." John 9:34-38

"Lord, I believe."

Then came "worship!"

He's born-again, folks!

Here John has clearly painted a picture. "Seeing" men, these Jesus haters, are actually spiritually "blind." And a blind man, born that way, now is "seeing!" A reversal for sure!

Jesus explains. "And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth." John 9:39-41

Wow!

Disciple making, at its best!

Thank God for the many "unnamed" lovers of Jesus Christ, God's Son!

May their numbers increase!

               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 23, THE DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED:

The Gospel of John seems to be "built" with an infrastructure of "nameless" people, completely anonymous, who fell in love with Jesus, subsequently becoming devoted followers of our Lord. In other words, "disciples!"

The lady at the well, John 4.

The nobleman whose son was dying, also John 4.

The man born blind, John 9.

And one more, "the disciple whom Jesus loved!"

I realize that most of us believe this is none other than the writer of the Gospel of John. At least that's the opinion I hold. But still ... that fact is not specifically stated in the Text. He is, in reality, nameless!

But oh, what a disciple he became!

We meet him four times in the Gospel.

At the Lord's Supper, the Last Supper, we get a quick glimpse of him. Sitting nearest Jesus! "Leaning on his Bosom," John 13:23 says. This particular disciple wanted to know "who" was going to betray Jesus. He merely asked the Lord! "He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot." Wow, that close to Jesus! That intimate! Learning kingdom secrets, by merely asking a question!

Next he is seen at the Cross, where Jesus is dying! Our Lord predicted that all His friends would forsake Him. Most did, "Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me." John 16:32 (In fact, two other Gospels report all they did leave, "Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled." Quoting Matthew 26:56, for example.) But this "nameless" one did not! "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home." John 19:26-27, beautiful! True friendship!

Then finally our little "Jesus-lover" is with Peter at the empty tomb! Here's the account. They just heard the tomb is vacant, Jesus alive!  "Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed." John 20:3-8, a growing faith, the "other disciple," still nameless!

Well, there's one more! After the Resurrection some days now. The disciples have gone fishing! Seven of them anyway, two of whom are unidentified. "After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples." John 20, its two opening verses. But the men did not know it was the Lord Jesus! Here are the specifics. "When the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes." Then we are told this, "Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord." John 20:7, Wow! Yes, loving students of Jesus can identify Him for sure! If you adore Him ... you surely know when He is present!

In review ...

They, true disciples, learn their Master's secrets!

They remain loyal in difficulty!

They consistently grow in faith!

And they have discernment concerning their Saviour!

Amazing!

                   --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Oh, to be that kind of disciple of Jesus!

LESSON 24, CONCLUSION:

The Lessons on Discipleship have come to an end, two dozen of them now. And this much we've learned for sure: disciples are not big, boisterous, self-centered people!

They often are "nameless!"

They often fail, on their journey to maturity in Christ.

And they often come from the lower social levels of life!

It's almost like this "discipleship" thing is based on, not being the "boss," but being the "lowest," the most humble, the sweetest "servant" of all!

Maybe that's why Paul, in First Corinthians 15:9, considered himself "the least of the apostles," of the disciples.

Jesus came for this very reason, to save sinners and make of them disciples, for the glory of God. He taught us to do the same thing, preaching and in teaching His Name! "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." His very last words in Matthew's Gospel.

Oh, to be effective followers of our Lord!

                 --- Dr. Mike Bagwell