Flowers Fade Friday: Fully Equipped

Have you ever wondered how the disciples transformed from a bunch of blubbering idiots arguing over who would be the greatest in heaven to the mighty men who preached the gospel in the face of enemies, started the early church, and were willing to be martyred for Jesus’ name.

It’s kind of weird, right?

On the night Jesus was betrayed, Peter denied knowing Christ three times. Over the next few years, he would basically start the church as we know it today and would boldly preach the risen Messiah to scores of Jews. Later, he would be martyred for his allegiance to the Lord.

James and John asked Jesus if they could sit in places of honor on his right and left when He came into his glorious kingdom {which they thought would be an earthly kingdom free of Roman power and influence}. They were full of pride and short-sighted when they imagined all that Jesus would do for the world. In the book of Acts, we learn that James was one of the first martyrs of the early church {Acts 12:2}. John would go on to be the last surviving apostle, writing five books of the New Testament, including the prophesy of Revelation, which he recorded when banished for his faith.

And these are the guys in Jesus’ innermost circle, who had the most intimate view of Christ’s deity {aka they watched the Transfiguration take place}. Imagine how confused the rest of the disciples must have been… like Thomas, who refused to believe Christ had risen unless he could actually touch his wounds. 

And I don’t think you can make the claim that once they saw the risen Christ walking around, the disciples suddenly became talented preachers and fearless evangelists. Because they had already seen many amazing acts of God and were still confused. Think about it… they had watched Jesus walk on water and calm a storm. They had seen people healed of blindness, paralysis and leprosy. They had watched Lazarus be raised from the dead. In fact, they had even ventured out and performed miracles on their own. They were no strangers to the power of God through Christ.

So what made ten men who fled from Jesus when he was arrested in the garden that night {and one who followed at a timid distance} suddenly “get it” after Jesus ascended to heaven? I used to wonder this same thing. Was it just the grace of God? The work of the Holy Spirit? It didn’t really make sense, but I guess it doesn’t have to make “sense” in my mind for it to be true.

But one day I was finishing the book of Luke and a few verses jumped out from the page at me. And suddenly everything about the disciples’ transition from confused, cowardly and self-consumed men to clear-minded, bold, servants of Christ made sense. The verses are easy to miss. I had apparently missed them for years.

In the middle of all the action at the end of Luke, after Christ has been brutally beaten and crucified, the temple curtain has been torn, he has been laid in the tomb, his tomb is found empty, he appears to the disciples and many others, and he finally ascends to the right hand of God in heaven, something else very important happens…

On the same day his tomb is found empty, Jesus greets two of his followers on the road. They don’t recognize him. Instead they fill him in on all the turbulent happenings around the city and their disappointment that Jesus didn’t turn out to be the ruler they thought he would be. Jesus responds with ““O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” {Luke 24:25}. And then, “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” {v.27}. Talk about the Bible study of all Bible studies. Jesus, still unrecognized by these men, says “let me explain everything that has happened and why…” and then he recounts God’s salvation story written throughout all of Scripture from the promise in Genesis that a son of Eve will crush Satan to the promise of the Psalms that an eternal king will come after David.

Later that night, Jesus appears to the eleven disciples at dinner. They are startled and think he is a ghost. But he says to them, “everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (v.44), and he goes on to open “their minds to understand the Scriptures” {v.45}. Only after the disciples truly understand the Word of God and how Jesus has fulfilled every promise and prophesy of Scripture are they able to preach “repentance and forgiveness of sins…to all nations” {v.47}.

The Word of God matters. We are never fully equipped to do ministry unless we know and understand and love and obey God’s Word. 

No amount of prayer will do it. Our fellowship with other believers is not enough. No amount of works and miracles and faith will make us ready to share God’s word and love His people. The disciples are the best evidence of this. They walked alongside Jesus for three years. They witnessed every miracle and even did some on their own. No one had a clearer example of Christ’s heart for the world. And yet they still didn’t get it… because they didn’t really understand God’s Word and how Christ was central to God’s plan for salvation.

When Jesus was raised from the dead, he didn’t rush out to do more miracles. He didn’t put himself on display in the city in front of thousands. He didn’t hold a huge prayer meeting or worship night. No. He preached God’s Word to a few handfuls of men and sent them out into the world. And look at the result… look at the centuries of faithful men and women who love Christ and make up His Church.

So the next time you want to delve into some ministry or do something great for the Lord… before you host prayer nights and worship festivals and perform healings and plan service projects {these can all be good things, don’t get me wrong}, stop and make sure you have your priorities straight. Are you filled up with the Word? Do you know God’s character? Are you assured by His promises? Is your identity hidden in the Christ revealed in Scripture? Does your heart love and obey what God commands? Because if the answer is no, I urge you to spend time in the Bible. Dwell there. Meditate. Listen. Obey. And when God’s Word saturates your heart and your life, then go…

…and do all those things God has prepared in advance for you to do.

You are never fully equipped to do God’s works until you are transformed by His Word.