Ministry of Jesus Christ

 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.