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As one reads about the life of Christ in the gospels, it is easy to conclude that Jesus taught with his life. That’s why we not only look at the teaching of Christ or the content of his teaching, but we look at the life of Christ. His mentoring of the disciples involved his lifestyle, teaching, and example going together, walking side by side. We would never find Jesus telling his followers to open their notebook for a fifty minute lecture on a subject. Jesus’ methods were quite different from that. Jesus took them and showed them what it meant and what it looked like to have faith in God. He actually showed them and lived it out for his disciples in real life circumstances and situations. When Jesus chose the twelve disciples, he didn’t just choose them at random. He was very specific and very particular in his choice. Of all the people he could have chosen, why did he choose the ones he did.
Robert Coleman, in his book, The Master Plan Of Evangelism, says this, “Jesus saw in these simple men the potential of leadership. They were indeed unlearned and ignorant from the world’s standard, but they were teachable. Though often mistaken in their judgements and slow to comprehend spiritual things, they were honest men willing to confess their need. Their mannerisms may have been awkward and their abilities limited, but with the exception of the traitor, Judas, their hearts were big. What is most significant about them is their sincere yearning for God and the realities of his life.” Coleman believes that Jesus saw in them the potential for leadership. He saw their big hearts, their teachable spirits, and their sincere desire to know and experience the realities of kingdom life. Jesus, the divine mentor, chose excellent mentorees who desire to learn and grow. We need to keep this fact in mind when we choose our mentorees.
Jesus also teaches values as well. The disciples also struggled with values. What often seemed so natural was in the spiritual realm totally unnatural. Jesus had to teach them that the values of the kingdom are very different than the values of the world. The values that Jesus taught seemed to be upside down and the reverse of what seemed natural. As the disciples struggled with implementing new kingdom values, Jesus was there to teach them Jesus demonstrates his servanthood by giving his life as a ransom on the cross of Calvary. He believes so strongly in the value he taught, that he was willing to adhere to it even though it meant his death. John chapter 13 contains one of the most picturesque events of Jesus modeling servant.
As a mentor, Jesus was also willing to place himself in vulnerable positions in front of his disciples. This was important because this is absolutely essential and necessary for learning to take place in the mentoring relationship. At times, he placed himself in situations of risk to integrate the values of the kingdom of God. Jesus’ strength lay in his identity in purpose, not in power or prestige or fame. Through his vulnerability, he constantly raised the sights of his disciples. John chapter 4 places Jesus in a vulnerable situation. On his way to Galilee from Judea, Jesus passed through Samaria. Jesus places himself in a vulnerable position ethically, religiously, and culturally with the gender issue. Jesus took a risk and put himself in a vulnerable position with his disciples. They themselves marveled at the situation. They just couldn’t understand it. It just wasn’t the accepted thing for a good Jew to do. This woman at well became the first person to whom Jesus publicly revealed his Messiahship. When the woman went back to Sycor telling the townspeople what she had seen and heard, Jesus used the opportunity to teach his disciples. As a result of Jesus’ willingness to place himself in a risky and vulnerable situation, the whole city believed on him. What a powerful lesson for the disciples. They actually got to see it all happen right before their very eyes.
Jesus is no longer sending out ten or the seventy. He is actually sending everyone of his followers out in ministry. He is trusting me and others with his teaching. The fact that he sends us out reveals that he is trusting us with his gospel and his teaching. An essential ingredient for learning is allowing the mentoree experiences and opportunities to live out and play out the teaching that he/she has heard and seen in the mentor. All of the mentoring functions were carried out as the disciples spent time with Jesus. They were with him on the mountain and they were with him in the valley. In the cities and in the countryside. They observed his life and he encouraged, built up and stretched the faith of his disciples. He modeled a way of life for them. Jesus must have done a pretty good job, because his disciples turned the world upside down and Christianity spread rapidly. Jesus does what mentors do, he shares knowledge, principles and wisdom.