Getting to know Jesus better

A big part of the ministry here in Costa Rica is Sonlife – discipleship in the life of Jesus. I am spending as much time as I can learning about the life of Jesus with the Sonlife team and learning about leadership Jesus-style. There is so much richness in the Bible, the word of God, when we read it, study it and interact with it at a deeper level of understanding. A lot of the time we think about Jesus as God and don't think about Jesus as being fully human, a man, as well. Others go the other way and focus so much on the humanity of Jesus that they lose the truth that he is also fully God. It's a profound mystery and an amazing truth. As I get to know Jesus better (know Him, not just know about Him), my life is transformed and I am called into a deeper level of trust, amazement and obedience to God. My desire is to be more and more like Jesus in my character, in my habits, in my leadership and in my relationships with others.

What is discipleship all about?

Firstly, discipleship is about BEING a true disciple of Jesus Christ – seeking to develop the character of Christ. As disciples of Jesus, we are committed to be true disciples of Christ, actively seeking an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father, and letting Him transform our lives to reflect Jesus Christ. We aim to live a style of life that shows that Jesus lives in us and works through us.

"…it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. This life that I live now, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me." – Galatians 2:20

Secondly, discipleship is about MAKING disciples – Jesus' priority. As disciples of Jesus, we are committed to make disciples, intentionally investing in the lives of others. We don't just want to share the good news of the gospel, we want to share our lives with others.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." – Matthew 28:19-20

On Saturday I went to a Sonlife seminar about Forming Leaders – Developing a Movement of Discipleship. In this seminar, we looked at how Jesus formed leaders for his movement of making disciples and announcing the Kingdom of God. Jesus had been calling followers, preaching to the masses and training disciples for 18 months to two years before he chose those who would be leaders. Jesus didn't stop working in the lives of the other disciples and followers, preaching the good news and investing in others, however, he did invest specific time and training in those who would be leaders. With his chosen leaders, Jesus first worked on their character, their very being, then he worked on the doing, how they were going to lead a multiplying movement of disciples. We looked at some specific events in the chronological life of Jesus immediately after Jesus chose and established the 12 apostles who would be closest to him.

Jesus chose leaders to be formed in his image for two reasons – to be with him and to send them out to preach and share (Mark 3:13-19). Jesus worked on forming four specific areas of his leaders – prayer, love, authority and obedience. He taught them to have a new understanding of these concepts that reflected Jesus' way and was very different to the world's view of these things.

As I follow Jesus, I am called into a new depth of prayer, intimate communication with God and listening to His voice; loving in the way that God loves, forgiving others even when they hurt me; having a new concept of obedience to God, doing His will always and obeying immediately, completely and joyfully; understanding authority from God's perspective, that I am under God's authority and He has given me all authority to serve, love and wash others' feet in humility, and to make disciples in Jesus' name.

Being a disciple of Jesus is a big call and it is only possible by the power of the Holy Spirit whom God has placed in me and by dying to myself and letting Christ live in me.