Jesus Christ, the Son of God, spent three years with His disciples teaching and training them. However, as His time on earth was coming to an end, He began to prepare them for His departure.
Many people wonder why Jesus would take the time to do this. In this article, we will explore why Jesus prepared His disciples for His departure.
Why Did Jesus Need to Prepare His Disciples?
Jesus knew that He had come to earth with a specific purpose- to die for the sins of humanity and be raised from the dead on the third day. However, He also knew that His disciples did not fully understand this plan. They were expecting Him to establish an earthly kingdom and overthrow the Roman government.
In John 16:12-13, Jesus said, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth.”
Jesus knew that after He left, the Holy Spirit would come and reveal more truth about His plan for salvation. Therefore, it was important for Him to prepare His disciples so that they could understand and share this message with others.
What Did Jesus Teach Them?
Jesus taught His disciples several things in preparation for His departure:
1. The Importance of Prayer
In John 14:13-14, Jesus said: “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
By teaching them about prayer and how to pray in faith and trust in God’s promises (Mark 11:24), Jesus gave them a powerful tool they could use after He left.
2. The Promise of the Holy Spirit
Jesus promised His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit to guide them after He left. In John 14:16-17, He said, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”
This promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), and the disciples were empowered to share the gospel boldly.
3. The Need for Unity
In John 17:20-21, Jesus prayed for His disciples saying: “I do not pray for these alone but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
Jesus knew that unity among His followers was essential to bring others to faith in Him. Therefore, He emphasized this need to His disciples.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Jesus prepared His disciples for His departure so that they could continue the mission after He left. By teaching them about prayer, promising them the Holy Spirit’s guidance and emphasizing the need for unity among believers; Jesus equipped them to carry out His plan of salvation.
As believers today, we can learn from these teachings as well. We must pray in faith and trust God’s promises.
We have access to the same Holy Spirit who guided Jesus’ disciples. We must work towards unity among believers so that we can fulfill Christ’s mission on earth – spreading the gospel message of salvation to all nations.