The greatest missionary of this world is Jesus Christ
“I am from Him, and He has sent Me.”— John 7:29 .
1, 2. Who is called a missionary, and who is the greatest missionary?
What does the word “missionary” bring to mind? Some people think of missionaries from Christendom, who often meddle in the political and economic affairs of the countries where they serve. But as a Witness of Jehovah, you may think of missionaries whom the Governing Body sends to preach the good news in various countries. ( Matthew 24:14 ) These missionaries help people draw closer to Jehovah God and develop a precious relationship with him, and they selflessly give of their time and energy to this noble work.— Jas. 4:8 .
2 The words “missionary” and “missionaries” are not found together in our Bibles. However, the Greek word translated “evangelizers” at Ephesians 4:11 could be rendered “missionaries.” Jehovah is the greatest preacher of the good news, but he cannot be called the greatest “missionary” because no one sent him. However, Jesus Christ said of his Father, Jehovah: “I am from him, and he has sent me.” ( John 7:29 ) Jehovah showed his love for mankind by sending his only-begotten Son to earth. ( John 3:16 ) Jesus can be called the greatest and most important missionary because one of the reasons he was sent to earth was to “bear witness to the truth.” ( John 18:37 ) He was very successful in preaching the good news of the Kingdom, and we can benefit from his ministry today. For example, we can adopt his teaching methods in our service, whether we are missionaries or not.
3. What questions are we going to discuss?
3 Jesus’ role as a Kingdom preacher raises several questions. What did Jesus experience during his ministry? Why was his teaching effective? And what contributed to his successful ministry?
Willingness to work happily in a new environment
4-6. What changes did Jesus experience after being sent to earth?
4 Today, missionaries may have to adapt to living in a country that does not offer many amenities. And the same may be true of Christians who serve in areas where the need for preachers is greater. But the conditions in heaven were a far cry from those on earth. In heaven, Jesus lived with his Father and with spirit creatures who serve Jehovah with sincere motives. ( Job 38:7 )But when he came into this corrupt world, he had to live among sinful humans. ( Mark 7:20-23 ) He even had to deal with situations where his closest disciples argued among themselves about who was greatest. ( Luke 20:46; 22:24 ) Certainly, Jesus handled everything he faced on earth quite well.
5 Jesus did not become fluent in human languages by some miracle. He began learning them while he was still a child. What a transition that was! From being in heaven, giving orders to angels, to being a child on earth, he had to learn human languages. On earth, he knew at least one of the “tongues of men,” which was quite different from “the tongues of angels.” ( 1 Corinthians 13:1 ) But no human could match Jesus in the use of beautiful words.— Luke 4:22 , Bulke Bible.
6 Consider other changes that the Son of God experienced after coming to earth. Although Jesus did not inherit sin from Adam, he was born a human and became like those who would become his “brothers,” or anointed disciples. ( Read Hebrews 2:17, 18. ) Jesus had authority over angels in heaven as the archangel Michael. However, on the last night of his earthly life, he asked his Father for “no more than twelve legions of angels.” ( Matthew 26:53; Jude 9 ) True, Jesus performed many miracles while on earth, but these were nothing compared to the great and wonderful works he could perform in heaven.
7. What did the Jews do with the Law?
7 Before coming to earth, Jesus was “the Word,” God’s voice, and may have led the Israelites in the wilderness. ( John 1:1; Ex. 23:20-23 ) However, the Israelites “received the law ordained by angels, but did not keep it.” ( Acts 7:53; Heb. 2:2, 3 ) Indeed, first-century Jewish religious leaders failed to understand what the Law really meant. Consider, for example, the Sabbath law. ( Read Mark 3:4-6 .) The scribes and Pharisees “left aside the weightier matters of the Law: justice, mercy and faith.” ( Matthew 23:23 ) Jesus did not give up but continued to proclaim the truth.
8. Why can Jesus help us?
8 Jesus was willing to serve people joyfully because he loved them so much that he genuinely wanted to help them. His zeal for preaching never wavered. By remaining faithful to Jehovah while on earth, he “became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.” Moreover, “he is able to help those who are being tempted [that is, us], since he himself has suffered.”— Heb. 2:18; 5:8, 9 .
He was trained well to become a teacher
9, 10. What kind of training did Jesus receive before he was sent to earth?
9 Today, the Governing Body provides training to Christians before they are sent out as missionaries. Was Jesus Christ trained? Yes, he was. However, he did not receive training in a rabbinic school or receive instruction from renowned religious teachers before he was anointed as Messiah. ( John 7:15 ; compare Acts 22:3 .) How, then, did Jesus become a capable teacher?
10 Whatever Jesus may have learned from his mother, Mary, and his foster father, Joseph, his most important training for the ministry came from Jehovah, the most capable Teacher in the universe. Jesus said: “I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me commanded me what I should say and what I should speak.” ( John 12:49 ) Note that this Son received specific instructions about what he was to teach. No doubt, before coming to earth, Jesus spent much of his time listening to his Father’s instructions. Where could he have received more valuable training than that?
11. To what extent did Jesus show that he feels very much like his Father toward human beings?
11 From the time Jesus was created, he had a very close relationship with his Father. While in heaven, Jesus observed how Jehovah treated humans and came to understand deeply how God feels for humans. Jesus showed love for humans that was identical to that of his Father, to the point of saying: “I have affection for mankind.” (Prov . 8:22, 31 ).
12, 13. (a) What did Jesus learn from watching his Father treat the Israelites? (b) How did Jesus act upon his training?
12 While training, Jesus also observed how his father handled difficult situations. For example, consider how Jehovah dealt with the disobedient Israelites. Nehemiah 9:28 states: “Whenever they had rest, they again did evil before you [Jehovah], so that you delivered them over to their enemies, and they lorded it over them. Nevertheless, when they turned back and cried out to you, you heard them from heaven and, because of your mercy, you rescued them again and again.” By observing and working with Jehovah, Jesus learned to show compassion to the people of his land, the nation of Israel.— John 5:19 .
13 Jesus acted in accordance with his teaching. How? By treating his disciples with love and compassion. On the last night of his earthly life, all his apostles, whom he loved, “forsook him and fled.” ( Matthew 26:56; John 13:1 ) Even though the apostle Peter denied Christ three times, Jesus still kept the way open for his apostles to return. He told Peter: “I prayed for you that your faith do not fail. But when you return, strengthen your brothers.” ( Luke 22:32 ) Spiritual Israel began with the “apostles,” and the foundation stones of the wall of New Jerusalem bear the names of the 12 faithful apostles of the Lamb Jesus Christ. Today, anointed Christians, along with their dedicated companions, the “other sheep,” are preaching the Kingdom under the mighty hand of God and under the leadership of his beloved Son. And they are having wonderful success in this work.— Eph. 2:20; John 10:16 ; Revelation 21:14 .
How Jesus Taught
14, 15. In what ways was Jesus’ teaching different from that of the scribes and Pharisees?
14 How did Jesus live up to his teaching? When we compare the teaching methods of Jesus with those of the Jewish religious leaders, we can clearly see that Jesus’ teaching was far superior. The scribes and Pharisees “made void the word of God for the sake of their tradition.” In contrast, Jesus never taught anything of his own. Rather, he always spoke God’s word, that is, his message. ( Matthew 15:6 ; John 14:10 ) We should do the same.
15 In another way, Jesus was very different from the religious leaders. Regarding the scribes and Pharisees, he said: “Do whatever they tell you and obey them; but do not imitate their practices, for they say and do not do.” ( Matthew 23:3 ) However, Jesus also practiced what he taught. Let us consider an example that proves this point.
16. On what basis can you say that Jesus lived up to his words at Matthew 6:19-21 ?
16 Jesus urged his disciples: “Lay up treasures in heaven.” ( Read Matthew 6:19-21 .) Did Jesus himself live by this advice? Yes, and so he could say about himself with all honesty: “Foxes have dens and birds of the heavens have nests, but the Son of man has no place to lay his headThere is no room for more than that.” ( Luke 9:58 ) Jesus lived a simple life. Above all, he devoted himself to preaching the good news of the Kingdom. He showed what it means to be free from the worries that come with storing up treasures on earth. Jesus explained that it is far more beneficial to store up treasures in heaven, “where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in nor steal.” Are you following Jesus’ advice for storing up treasures in heaven?
Qualities of Jesus that endeared him to people
17. What qualities made Jesus an outstanding preacher?
17 What qualities made Jesus an outstanding preacher? Jesus followed Jehovah’s example by displaying fine qualities such as humility, love, and compassion. And these qualities were evident in the way he helped people. Notice how these qualities attracted people to Jesus.
18. Why can it be said that Jesus was humble?
18 Jesus accepted the responsibility of coming to earth by “emptying himself . . . by taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.” ( Phil. 2:7 ) This was a true example of humility. In addition, he never looked down on people. He never suggested, ‘Because I have come from heaven, you must obey me.’ Jesus was unlike the hypocrites who claimed to be the Messiah. He did not make a big deal about his Messiahship. On several occasions, he even refused to tell people who he was or what he had done. ( Matthew 12:15-21 ) Jesus wanted people to decide to become his disciples by seeing his achievements with their own eyes, not on the basis of sensational reports. How reassuring it must have been for Jesus’ disciples to know that their Lord did not expect from them the perfection that his heavenly companions, the angels, had!
19, 20. How did love and compassion move Jesus to help people?
19 Jesus Christ also demonstrated love, which is one of the most important qualities of his heavenly Father. ( 1 John 4:8 ) Jesus was moved by love to teach people. For example, consider the feelings he had for a young ruler.( Read Mark 10:17-22 . ) Jesus “felt affectionate” for him and wanted to help him. But the young ruler would not give up his great wealth to become Christ’s disciple.
20 One of Jesus’ most appealing qualities was his compassion. Those who were interested in his teachings, like all imperfect humans, were burdened with problems. Jesus was aware of this, so he treated them with compassion and mercy when he taught them. To illustrate, consider this example. On one occasion, Jesus and his apostles were so busy that they did not even have time to eat. But when Jesus saw a crowd gathering, what did he do? “And he . . . felt compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.” ( Mark 6:34 ) Jesus saw the helplessness of his local population and expended his energy in teaching them, and he performed many miracles to benefit them. Because of Jesus’ good qualities, some were drawn to him, and his words deeply affected them, and they became his disciples.
21. What will we discuss in the next article?
21 There are many other things we can learn from Jesus’ earthly ministry, and we will consider them in the next article. In what other ways can we imitate the example of the greatest missionary, Jesus Christ?
What would you answer?
• What training was Jesus given before he came to earth?
• In what ways was Jesus’ teaching superior to that of the scribes and Pharisees?
• What qualities of Jesus appealed to people?
