DO YOU HAVE"THE MIND OF CHRIST?"

He Expressed Belief in His Disciples

Jesus demonstrated a positive view of his disciples in another important way. He let them know that he had confidence in them. This was clearly evident in the reassuring words he spoke to his apostles on the final night of his earthly life. Notice what happened.

It was a full evening for Jesus. He gave his apostles an object lesson in humility by washing their feet. Afterward, he instituted the evening meal that would be a memorial of his death. Then, the apostles became embroiled once again in a heated argument over which one of them seemed to be the greatest. Ever patient, Jesus did not berate them but reasoned with them. He told them what lay ahead: "All of you will be stumbled in connection with me on this night, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will will be scattered about.' " (Matthew 26:31; Zechariah 13:7 ) He knew that his closest companions would abandon him in his moment of need. still, he did not condemn them. Quite the contrary, he told them: "But after I have been raised up, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." (Matthew 26:32) Yes, he assured them that although they would abandon him, he would not abandon them. When this terrible ordeal had passed, he would meet them again.

Jesus kept his word. Later, in Galilee, the resurrected Jesus appeared to the 11 faithful apostles, who evidently had gathered with many others. (Matthew 28:16, 17; 1 Corinthians 15:6) There, Jesus gave them a weighty commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19, 20) The book of Acts give us clear evidence that the apostles followed through on that commission. They faithfully spearheaded the work of preaching the good news in the first century. -Acts 2:41, 42, 4:33; 5:27-32.

Next time: Conclusion of He Expressed Belief in His Disciples

Watchtower, 2000