The Importance of Mentorship
We are called to live as Christ did, and He did not experience life alone. He had family, friends (12 disciples), and even mentors!
Jesus's Mentors
As Jesus prepared his exodus from the world, Luke 9:30-31 NLT highlights how Moses and Elijah helped advise him. It states, Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem.
Moses and Elijah were both prophets. Moses leads Israelites out of Egypt via miracles, prayed on behalf of the Israelites to spare their life when they sinned against God, and led Israelites to the promised land. Likewise, Jesus paid the ultimate price for our freedom. He even prayed, "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing to intercede" (Luke 23:34) on behalf of the sinners crucifying him. Ultimately, Jesus allowed us to have access to the kingdom on Earth and eternal life.
Elijah also performed miracles. He lived in the wilderness because Jezebel wanted to kill all of God's prophets. He waited for God's instruction when the time was right to demonstrate the power of God over Baal. Elijah was also the first person in the Bible with the faith to pray to God and ask Him to raise the widow's son from the dead (1 Kings 17:17–24).
Jesus Mentored the Twelve Disciples
Jesus's mentorship style was similar to apprenticeships in the medical profession: see one, do one, and teach one.
See One: Observe and Learn
Once Jesus selecting the twelve disciples, he provided practical guidance in living a purposeful life. He taught about coping with anger, avoiding adultery, marriage, divorce, revenge, tips for effective prayer, fasting, loving your enemies, giving to the needy, and managing finances. Jesus also performed miracles like healing people of sickness or disease. Not to mention, he also rebuked demons out of people.
Do One: Perform
After Jesus imparted knowledge, He instructed the disciples to spread the gospel. In Matthew 10:1 NLT, Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. Later in Matthew 10, He emphasized the fact that students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master.
Teach One: Teach Someone Else
Following the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, Jesus commanded the disciples to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18). Through the Holy Spirit, we have access to the same authority as the disciples. Each and everyone one of us has spiritual gifts that give us the ability to perform miracles, heal people, and cast out demons.
Mentors play an essential role in helping you navigate through your career or life. They provide guidance, direction, and encourage you to get out of your comfort zone. I want to encourage you to network and develop professional relationships, whether it's through campus organizations or social media platforms like Linkedin. This helps in establishing your endeavors.
Are you in need of clarity and further understanding of this insight? There is a message that complements this blog. If you are interested in gaining access to the live recording, please feel free to reach out, and I will be more than happy to share it with you.
