Jesus, the Crowds, His Disciples: A Mission Strategy
Let us take an imaginary trip into the Gospel of Matthew. This time we will begin at the ending of his Gospel. Imagine that you are the eleven who have kept the appointment to meet Jesus on a mountain in Galilee. You see the crucified Jesus now risen from the dead. He confirms the news that he is alive. More than that, Jesus tells you the meaning of those events; God has given him all authority in heaven and earth. Then you are given a mission to go and make disciples of all the nations by baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything he has commanded. This presents a big problem. How are you to bring people to the faith you now have that he is the promised Messiah and call them to baptism? Jesus promises to be with you but you are not Jesus. He is no longer physically present. This is a time for memory and prayer. Recalling his charge to ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into the harvest, you pray (Mt. 9:37). Then as you remember those first years with Jesus, an answer to your prayer begins to unfold.
You remember a pattern in Jesus’ ministry. First. Jesus calls you to be his disciples. Jesus ministers to the needs of individuals in the crowds. Seeing the crowds, Jesus sits down to teach you his disciples about the kingdom rule of God. Then Jesus resumes his ministry to people in the crowds. Again, Jesus sees the harassed and helpless crowds who are sheep without a shepherd. Jesus summons you his disciples, empowers you, and sends you to live among the crowds and proclaim the kingly rule of God in word and actions. Jesus continues his ministry to the crowds (Mt. 11:4-5). He invites them unto himself with the promise to bear their burdens. Crowds come to him and Jesus serves them. Crowds gather and Jesus teaches them about the kingdom in parables, but explains the mission meaning to you. After John’s execution, Jesus withdraws from the crowds but they seek him out to hear his teachings, With the help of you his disciples, Jesus feeds them. The memory of these events in the first half of Matthew lead to this mission strategy. We may not be Jesus but we can do what he did: 1) Minister to the needs of the crowds, 2) Listen carefully to what he teaches us, and 3) Invite all to come to Jesus. It is remarkable that this pattern easily translates to a small congregation like ourselves.
—Tom Yoakum