The perfect disciple

Thursday 5 August 2021

"The Lord God has given me the language of the disciples, so that I may know how to speak up to him who is downcast. He awakens, yes, morning after morning he awakens my ear, so that I may listen as I do. of the disciples. The Lord GOD opened my ear, and I did not rebel, I did not turn back." Isaiah 50: 4,5, Segond 21 version

The perfect disciple

Isaiah had asked the question from the Lord : "Why have I come, and there has been no one ?" (Isaiah 50:2). He had made known his power which dominates the whole creation (v. 2,3). Then the Spirit of God reveals an unexpected character of the Messiah : his humility. He takes the attitude of one who listens as the disciples do, that is, of a pupil.

What is this attitude of the Messiah that the prophet highlights ? An open ear, a docile mind (v.5), in order to be able to comfort and encourage the weary of life (v.4). This was the purpose of Jesus Christ in taking the position of a pupil. He shows it well during his ministry. How many times do we see him being moved with compassion towards the crowds or towards the one who is in pain !

As we come into our human condition, with all the realities and limitations of physical life, but without sin, Jesus Christ sets us the perfect example of the disciple, of the one being taught. Early in the morning he got up to pray to his Father (Mark 1:35). He only did and said what the Father had taught him (John 8:28).

Of the first thirty years of his life, the Gospels reveal almost nothing to us, except an episode at the age of twelve : seated among the doctors in the temple, he listens to them, questions them and astonishes them with his answers (Luke 2:46,47). He then works as a carpenter, for the people of Nazareth say of him : "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary ?" (Mark 6:3). This tough job allowed him to develop perseverance and application.

The example of the Lord Jesus is valid for all of us. He shows us the perfectly human face of our Savior. It is his model that we must follow in our lifelong spiritual learning.

Source (Pleasing the Lord)