The Disciples of Jesus were an amazing group of committed men. What a group! They were all different and certainly not perfect. Yet these men are responsible for the founding of the Church, along with others! They were given authority by Jesus to perform miracles, and taught how to interact with the people they came in contact with. On-the-job training provided them with an understanding of their abilities by revealing their strengths and weaknesses. These truths made them humble. The disciples weren’t necessarily dependable. In fact, Peter, James, and John all fell asleep when asked to watch and pray while Jesus prayed. They doubted His reasoning, and sometimes openly questioned His words. Coming from different backgrounds, most were uneducated. They were tough, hardy men who were impetuous and bold.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A TEAM PLAYER ON JESUS’ TEAM?
Availability: All of the disciples were willing to follow when called. It is important to note that none approached Jesus to become disciples. They were chosen individually by Jesus.
Willingness to learn: These were men of varied backgrounds with no understanding or experience in ministry. They needed training to do the work that Jesus had for them. They sat under His tutelage for about three years.
Faith: Believing in the cause of Christ was crucial. Jesus gave each time to develop a personal faith.
Loyalty: While they disputed and argued among themselves, and even questioned Jesus, they were loyal to Jesus as far as their courage would allow.
Cooperative: They were willing to work together to accomplish the goal as set forth by Jesus, submitting themselves to one another. Eventually leaders were established within the group, namely, Peter, James, and John.
Obedient: Even when they disagreed, ultimately, they were willing to submit and obey the Master, Jesus.
Accountability: The disciples held each other accountable to uphold the principles and commands of Jesus and the Jewish Law.
A good team player needs a good manager. Jesus was a good manager. He knew how to take twelve men and mold them into a mighty force! He trained them with patience and grace, demonstrating the lessons He taught them. He served them, and met their needs. He loved them.
Training is critical to a good performance. Once assigned a position, it is important to be faithful. Everyone is responsible for their own position, and no one usurps another’s role. Part of the problem I had as a child playing team sports was a lack of knowledge. I didn’t really understand the game. I needed clear, concise goals to work toward. Each player on the team needed to know what position to play and how to play it. I can remember getting slight injuries because I got trampled by other players trying to play my position. It was impossible to do my job because someone else was in the way!
As a Christian I am on Jesus’ Team! I have a place to participate in His Church. He has equipped me to do those jobs He has assigned to me. Our goal is to share the Gospel message with those who need to hear it. We want to invite others to become a part of His Team. Then we want to teach them what to do and how to do it. When they fail, we forgive and restore them. We help them to be successful. In the process, we bring honor and glory to our Lord Jesus.
