We began this book by commenting on the fact that the word
12. AGENTS OF CHANGE
We began this book by commenting on the fact that the word disciple means "learner," and that word certainly fits the twelve disciples throughout Jesus' earthly ministry. By definition, "learner" usually implies someone whose abilities are only developing – and certainly the opposite of someone who is a leader. But as we know from the New Testament, the disciples were suddenly and dramatically changed into courageous and dynamic leaders after Christ's ascension, and it is important that we realize the reasons for that change.
The book of Acts shows us an interesting aspect of the change that came over the disciples. Although they had received some three years of training from Jesus himself, they were not theologically educated according to normal expectations. Acts tells us that the Jewish religious leaders were perplexed by the ability of these men to boldly teach, despite their seeming ignorance: "When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13 CSB). It was clear to the Jewish leaders that although the disciples had no normal preparation for theological discourse, they were nevertheless now equipped to teach – because "they had been with Jesus." The influence of Jesus had affected them in three ways:
The Resurrection of Jesus
After Jesus' arrest, the confused and fearful disciples scattered, seeking to hide and probably to hide their shame. The apostle John tells us that this was primarily a result of one fact: "They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead" (John 20:9). Experiencing and coming to understand the resurrection was the first great agent of change in the lives of the apostles.
Whatever the degree of their understanding of Jesus' identity had been during his ministry, the effect of seeing him alive after his death must have been a totally shocking, but also mind-opening experience for the disciples. Although they were able to psychologically adjust to the situation, they were doubtless deeply affected – and changed – by it. Understanding and seeing firsthand the reality of the resurrection gave the disciples a new and clearer perception of Jesus as not only a great teacher, prophet, and healer, as well as the promised Messiah, but also as the Son of God. The fact of the resurrection also immensely strengthened the apostles' faith and confidence to do what Jesus commanded. The Great Commission
After his resurrection, Jesus' guidance of his disciples changed from "Come and see" (John 1:39) to the message of Mark 16:15 "Go and show"– from training his disciples to sending them out to fulfill the commission he had given them. That commission is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them … and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19–20). Jesus had earlier taught his disciples to baptize and teach (John 4:2; Luke 9:1–2), but not specifically to make disciples.
The importance of this new command (placed first of the three) is heightened by the fact that in the Greek in which it is written, "make disciples" is the only direct command – "baptize" and "teach" are indirect commands which do not have the same emphasis. The primary thrust of the Great Commission as recorded in Matthew is the making of disciples which was to be done by baptizing and teaching them, and that is what Acts repeatedly shows us: the apostles making increasing numbers of disciples (Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; etc.). The Great Commission changed the focus of the apostles in helping them to look outward and forward. And they were themselves changed in many ways by the commission they were given – not least in that even men who had no formal education or
literary background were inspired to write to the disciples they had made, and many of the books of the New Testament were written as a direct result.
The Holy Spirit The most important agent of change that affected the apostles, however, was clearly the Holy Spirit. While Matthew's record of the Great Commission tells us only that Jesus promised his disciples "I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20), Luke's Gospel makes it clear that Jesus' presence would be through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:48–49). While Matthew's Great Commission includes the command to "go make disciples," the only command stressed in Luke is "stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49).
In Acts, Luke repeatedly emphasizes the newfound boldness of the apostles as witnesses of Jesus' resurrection and messianic identity – even in the face of the harshest opposition. Not only were the Jewish leaders who arrested Peter and John astonished by their boldness (Acts 4:13), but also Acts stresses that the disciples prayed to speak the word of God "with boldness" despite all opposition (Acts 4:31). Later, Acts tells us that Paul, too, taught "with all boldness" while he was under arrest (Acts 28:31). Luke had made clear in his Gospel that the apostles were not naturally bold or courageous, but in Acts he shows that the Spirit of God had made them so (Acts 4:8) – to a degree that now was evident to even their enemies.
These, then, were the agents of change in the lives of Jesus' disciples. And it was through them that the disciples themselves became agents of change in the lives of countless other people. Our experience today need not be any different. Through those same agents of change – believing the resurrection, accepting the Great Commission, and receiving the Holy Spirit – we too can be greatly changed and help others to change in turn.
PART FOUR:
FROM LEARNERS TO LEADERS