The ministry of Jesus Christ is
fundamental. Therefore, all
consideration of the meaning of ministry and character must start from the
ministry of Jesus himself (Eph.2:20; 1 Pet.2:25). He, the only Head of the Church, is supreme
over the church and present within the church.
There is one Lord and his is the one essential ministry. It is Christ who came to the world, not to be
ministered unto, but to minister; and who instituted a ministry on earth for
the perfecting of the saints and the upbuilding of his Body the Church.
In the Gospels, the ministry of Jesus is
always related to his saving work. Thus
Mark’s account of the ministry (Mk.1:21-8:26) precedes the teaching as in
Mk.8:27-9:30-32; 10:32-45, and this leads on to the Cross and the Resurrection.
John uses the figure of the Good
Shepherd e.g., 10:11-18, cf. Mt.26:31; Mk.14:27; Jn.21:15ff.; Heb.4:14ff.;
13:20; 1 Pet.5:4. Also John illustrates
this pastoral ministry in the account of Jesus’ contact with two typical
persons (Jn.3:1ff.; 4:7ff.). In all this
we find the basic pattern of the work of the Christian minister.
We can note certain elements in Jesus’
ministry which correspond to different aspects of his purpose. He fulfilled the past by showing himself to
the men of Israel, giving them the opportunity to recognize and accept him as
the expected Messiah. He served the
present by going about doing good, showing love to sinners. He prepared for the future by gathering a
group from among his disciples and training them to be the nucleus and leaders
of the new Israel.
After a night of prayer Jesus chose
twelve men (Mk.3:13ff.; Jn.15:16).
Hereafter, he kept them close to himself and trained them carefully for
their future work. He chaired his own
ministry with them, commissioning them to feed his flock and act in his name
(Mt.4:19; Jn.20:19ff.; 21:15ff.). The
primary function of the Twelve was to be with Jesus. Thus they were present at all the crises of
his ministry and so held all the traditions concerning him. Essential to the fulfillment of their
commission as Apostles was the mission to which he appointed them. He sent them out to preach and prepare for
the Kingdom (Mt.10:5ff.; Mk.6:7ff; Lk.9:1ff; 10:1ff). The Apostle is one who is sent, as the Father
sent the Son, and His mission is universal and urgent (Jn.17). Throughout the Gospel record the apostolic
ministry appointed by Jesus is linked with the mission which he came to
fulfill. This is confirmed by his last
words on earth after the Resurrection (Mt.28:16ff).
The earthly ministry did not end on the
Cross. It is continued in his Body the
Church to which he gives himself through the Holy Spirit. His real and abiding presence is the supreme
means of Grace, enabling the Church to share his life and work. In virtue of this the Church has a priestly
function derived from him.
The appointment, training and mission of
the Twelve is at the heart of the Gospel record. In this deliberate decision of Jesus we see
the origin of the Christian ministry. It
derives its essential nature directly from the person and work of Christ in the
days of his flesh. The Christian
ministry is also based on the ministry of Jesus. Apart from his ministerial and priestly function
to reconcile the world to God in and through himself by the one sacrifice, once
offered, to deliver men from sin, there is no other ministry.
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