A Model for Growing Disciples

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:41-52).

The Holy Spirit inspired Luke to repeat an important lesson for us here. Once again we see that Jesus grew. As the twelve year old boy grew physically, He “increased in wisdom” and He increased “in favor with God and man”. When we remember that this twelve year old boy was God, we are confronted with a profound illustration of the humility of Christ. He became like us… “Emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7) so He could die for us… “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). But today we are reminded that He became like us also to live for us. That is, Jesus showed us how to live and grow as His disciples… “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). As He humbly matured from boyhood into manhood, Jesus provided… a model for growing disciples.

Jesus lingered in the temple. The annual journey to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover was much more than a ritual for this growing boy. He was attracted to the presence of God in His temple. What begins as church attendance for new believers becomes a longing for the presence of God among His people in growing disciples… “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25). Just as Jesus grew by lingering in the temple, new believers grow into maturing disciples through vigorous participation in the life of His Church.

Jesus learned by searching the scriptures. He questioned and answered the teachers of the law. This shows that Jesus wrestled and reasoned with the truth presented in the Word of God. What begins as Bible reading for new believers matures into Bible study and becomes an increasing hunger for truth in growing disciples… “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Just as Jesus grew by learning the scriptures, new believers grow into maturing disciples by earnestly studying God’s Word and diligently applying its truth to everyday life.

Jesus listened to His parents. He submitted to the authority God had placed over Him. What begins as a personal, private step of faith for new believers becomes a submission to seasoned saints who can teach God’s word and who are worthy of imitation as they reflect His truth in their words and deeds… “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7).

As we grow up into Christ we mature from new believer into growing disciple by imitating Him,

A Model for Growing Disciples.

The Growing Faith of Maturing Disciples

And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him” (Luke 2:39-40).

Jesus grew as any normal child grows. He grew physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But we must not forget that in this Child, God emptied Himself and while still fully God, was born to be fully human like us… “Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6-7). The undeniable evidence that Christ was God incarnate was gradually revealed as He subjected Himself to all the stages of human life. The wisdom and grace of God was revealed in Him as He grew physically. As we reflect on Christ as a child, our Teacher, the Spirit of Truth, shows us how we are to grow as maturing disciples. As we grow up into Christ we become stronger, wiser, more confident Christ followers as we experience the growing faith of maturing disciples.

Maturing disciples grow in obedience to “the Law of the Lord”. The Spirit teaches us through the pen of the Apostle Peter that real disciples are born of God’s Word… “You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God” (1 Peter 1:23). Just as an infant craves the nourishment of a mother’s milk, so true disciples hunger for the spirit-nourishing truth that comes only from the Word of God… “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—  if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:2-3). Evidence of our salvation and growing faith is an ever-increasing hunger for and obedience to the deeper spiritual laws from God’s Word… “Everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:13-14).

Maturing disciples grow in victory over the flesh as we “become strong”. In Christ, God became like us creatures of flesh… “We all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Ephesians 2:3). But as we grow up into Christ, like Him, we become stronger in the war between flesh and spirit… “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other” (Galatians 5:17). For growing disciples physical strength really means victory of the sinful desires of the flesh… “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Evidence that we are truly born again is Christ in us giving us the power to crucify the flesh and live in the Spirit… “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24).

Maturing disciples grow in truth as we are “filled with wisdom”. Genuine disciples have received Christ who embodies the wisdom of God… “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Evidence that we are growing in Christ is we are growing away from the foolishness of the world and we are reflecting the wisdom of God to the physical and spiritual worlds that surround us… “Through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 3:10).

Maturing disciples grow in grace as we experience “the favor of God”. As He grew, Jesus was filled increasingly with the grace of God… “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us… full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Evidence that we are growing disciples of Christ is less of us and an increasing measure of God’s grace in us… “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

As we grow up into Christ we become more confident, effective Christ followers as we experience…

The Growing Faith of Maturing Disciples.

The Persistence of the Prophetess

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2:36-38).

One of the greatest blessings in this gospel is the presentation of Anna the prophetess’ encounter with the Christ Child at His dedication. The temple was a crowded and noisy place, yet the Holy Spirit directed Luke’s attention to this divine meeting between the Son of God and the old widow, and He inspired the Evangelist to record some very precious detail for earnest truth seekers here. Anna is identified as a prophetess and our Teacher reveals three precious virtues in His description of her encounter with Jesus that are worthy of our imitation. Diligent disciples will find faith maturing truth in this reflection on the persistence of the prophetess.  

Anna was persistent in waiting through the years. The Spirit moved Luke to record that Anna was “advanced in years”, had been married “seven years”, and had been “a widow until she was eighty-four”. Anna’s life is a clear foreshadow of the Church, the Bride of Christ… “For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2). Like Anna with her husband, true believers have experienced a brief time of fellowship with Christ here on earth… “Jesus then said, ‘I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me’” (John 7:33). Like Anna, we are presently living as a widow since Christ has returned to Heaven for a time… “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). Like Anna, true believers wait earnestly to be reunited with Christ… “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7). Are you imitating the persistence of Anna by seeing through the trials and circumstances of this temporal life and focusing on the soon return of Christ?

Anna was persistent in worshipping in the temple. The Teacher included a definition of worship here. He moved Luke to note that Anna worshipped “with fasting and prayer night and day”. Real worship is an around-the-clock lifestyle of fasting, or renouncing of the world’s distraction and temptation… “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). Diligent disciples increasingly replace love for the world with love for God… “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). Like Anna, maturing believers develop a lifestyle of prayer, learning to pray in the Spirit… “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” (Ephesians 6:18) and praying at all times… “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Are you imitating the persistence of Anna by developing an intimate and growing prayer life with Christ?

Anna was persistent in witnessing about Christ. The Paraklete wants us to note Anna’s powerful reaction to the Spirit’s clear revelation of the identity of the Christ Child. Upon finally encountering the One she so desperately longed for, she was so excited that she could not contain her joy and her heart erupted with “thanks to God” while her lips began “to speak of him” to others who were seeking the Christ. Evidence that we are truly born again children of God is a genuine excitement and joy that we cannot keep to ourselves. The Spirit leads true disciples to those He has been drawing to Christ so we might speak to them about Him… “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Are you imitating the persistence of Anna by seeking and obeying every opportunity to speak of Christ?

As we grow up into Christ we wait, worship, and witness more like Anna, as we imitate…

The Persistence of the Prophetess.

The Sign that is Opposed

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:33-35).

Under the leading of the Holy Spirit, Simeon pronounced a wonderful, prophetic blessing over the Christ Child. In the hearing of Mary and Joseph he declared this Child to be salvation for all people, the revelation of the gospel to Gentiles, and God’s glory to Israel. As he continued, Simeon got more specific about the life and ministry of Christ. He predicted the Child was destined to cause many in Israel to rise and to fall. He proposed that Christ’s life and message would present truth that would be violently opposed. He prophesied that Christ’s presence and work would expose the deepest thoughts and feelings of the heart. Simeon prophesied that as one of Christ’s first disciples, Mary would share in the soul-shaking confrontation of Christ with this world. His mixed blessing is a reminder that all true disciples will know both the blessings and the trials of living for Christ, the Sign that is opposed.

Christ is the Rock of true Israel. Jesus taught that true Israelites don’t have to be biological descendants of Abraham… “And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham” (Matthew 3:9). Through the pen of the Apostle Paul, the Holy Spirit identifies true Israelites as God’s children of promise… “This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring” (Romans 9:8).The Holy Spirit further teaches that faith in Christ identifies the true children of Abraham… “Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7). It is through the new birth that we are adopted into God’s family, true Israel, the children of promise… “Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise” (Galatians 4:28). Many who believed they were true Israelites stumbled when confronted by Christ the Rock of stumbling… “And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (Isaiah 8:14). Others rose up to new life through faith in Christ the Rock of salvation… “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame” (Romans 9:33). It is the same today. Many who think they are Christians stumble when confronted by the truth that they must experience the new birth. But true disciples rejoice in Christ because we have been born again and raised to new life by Christ, the Rock of our salvation… “You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation’” (Psalm 89:26). Christ is the Rock that separates professing from truly born again disciples.

Christ is the Revealer of hearts. Christ is the One who makes us think and feel differently than we used to. As our hearts are conquered by His truth we hunger for more of it. As our hearts are convicted by His righteousness we strive to walk in the center of it. As our hearts are consumed by His compassion we are more sensitive to His leading to love and to serve others. Faith in Christ transforms the hearts of true disciples and He is revealed through us to a needy world… “For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). Christ is the Revealer of the hearts of true disciples.

Christ is the Reality that is opposed. Christ is the One who makes my life go in a different direction from the rest of the world. As we grow in our walk with Christ we become more like Him… “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18). We become a more confronting and convicting presence among unbelievers… “Because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19). Christ is the Reality that exposes true disciples to the opposition of the unbelieving world.

As we grow up into Christ we are recognized as true disciples as we are increasingly marked by…

The Sign that is Opposed.

Glimpses of the Savior

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:25-32).

The Holy Spirit directed Luke to make a note of the dedication of Jesus in the temple according to Jewish law. But as we read this divinely inspired account, our Teacher directs our attention to another character. Along with the privilege of witnessing the fulfillment of a promise to a faithful old saint, we are granted a revelation of three truths that show us how to wait for and catch glimpses of the Savior.

Simeon was waiting in holiness. Despite the condition of the world around him, he continued to live a righteous, devout, life. He kept himself set apart from the sin and temptation of the world and he kept his eyes and heart firmly set on looking forward to Christ… “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation” (Isaiah 25:9). As he strove to live a holy life in an unholy world, Simeon’s anticipation of the Christ’s appearance increased and his sensitivity to God’s timing heightened, because he practiced the holiness that is a requirement for seeing the Lord and His work… “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). Jesus taught that pursuing holiness wholeheartedly will result in the revelation of God… “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). Simeon’s diligent pursuit of holiness is an example worthy of imitation by serious disciples waiting for the Lord in all times… “What sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:11-12). Like Simeon, our diligent pursuit of holiness will result in precious glimpses of the Savior.

Simeon was waiting in faith. He had received a promise from the Lord and He clung to it. Despite passing years and deteriorating health he held onto the promise that He would see the Christ. His faith was in the promise of God, not the appearance of his circumstances… “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). His faith is an excellent illustration of God’s definition of faith… “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Simeon’s unwavering faith is an example worthy of imitation by diligent disciples everywhere… “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith’” (Romans 1:17). Like Simeon, our unwavering faith will result in promised glimpses of the Savior.

Simeon was waiting in obedience. When the Spirit said come to the temple, He obeyed. His obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit is reminiscent of Israel’s obedience to the Lord’s leading in the desert… “Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up” (Exodus 40:36-37). His obedience is a reflection of the Lord’s submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit… “And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness” (Luke 4:1). Simeon’s consistent obedience to the Holy Spirit is an example worthy of imitation by earnest disciples in every age… “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me” (John 15:26). Like Simeon, our consistent obedience to the Holy Spirit will result in more pointed glimpses of the Savior.

As we grow up into Christ we get to know Him better as we eagerly seek bigger and better…

Glimpses of the Savior.

The Character of the Christ Child

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:21-24).

He is the Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit. His birth was announced by angels, attended by wise men and shepherds. This child needed no further identification. Jesus had no sin to be cleansed of. He needed no human confirmation of His divinely assigned name. There was no need for sacrifice on behalf of the One who was… “The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Yet He was dutifully circumcised, officially named, and ceremonially identified as holy to the Lord through a sacrifice at the temple. As He would one day submit to baptism by John, Jesus submitted as an infant to the rituals of His Jewish faith in order to give earnest disciples in every age an example to follow. In this divinely inspired account of His earliest days, the Spirit of Truth presents three distinguishing virtues of true disciples as He exhorts us to imitate the character of the Christ Child.

Like Jesus, true disciples are circumcised. God instructed Abraham to circumcise his offspring as a physical sign of their Jewish lineage, and to confirm His Jewish ancestry Jesus submitted to circumcision in the flesh… “He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations” (Genesis 17:12). The Holy Spirit teaches that Christ’s disciples do not need to be circumcised in the flesh because far more important than our physical lineage is our spiritual lineage in Christ… “For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3). We follow Christ’s example and identify with His circumcision of our hearts by faith… “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ” (Colossians 2:11).

Like Jesus, true disciples are called. God gave His Son the name Jesus that defined His call to be the Savior before His birth… “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Christ’s disciples know God had a plan for our lives before we were born too… “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). While it may not be reflected in our earthly name, Christ saved us so we can discover and accomplish the special work each of us was created to do… “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

Like Jesus, true disciples are consecrated. At the Christ Child’s dedication there was a ceremonial offering that represented the value of His life to His Father. This was not a sacrifice for sin, as Christ knew no sin… “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). It was a sacrifice that confirmed Christ to be the firstborn child of Mary… “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7) and the only begotten Son of God… “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” (Colossians 1:15). Jesus submitted to the sacrifice for the firstborn so He could be the firstborn among many children of God… “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:29). Through faith, Christ’s disciples are consecrated and set apart as sons of God, brothers and co-heirs with Christ… “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God” (Galatians 4:6-7).

As we grow up into Christ we become more like Him as in faith and by His grace, we imitate…

The Character of the Christ Child.