Day 1: Did Jesus Learn How to Fish?

We all know the famous quote, “if you give a man a fish he will eat for a day, but if you teach a man to fish he will eat for a lifetime.” Well, the intention of this devotional series extends the parable… “if you teach a man to fish, he can teach others how to fish.” The Great commission isn’t calling us to give a fish, or simply to teach to fish, but to teach people how to teach others to fish. We’re going to train the trainer.

Jesus and John

We generally don’t consider Jesus to have a teacher in this world, but in some ways John made a disciple out of Jesus. Consider the relationship of Jesus and John.

• John prepared the way for Jesus
• John was Jesus’ older cousin.
• Jesus and John both emerged out of the wilderness.
• Jesus recruited disciples from John’s disciples.
• John said Jesus must increase and he (John) must decrease.
• Most rabbis didn’t baptize their disciples, Jesus and John did.
• John introduced Jesus to the world, following a rich tradition of rabbinical introduction of their prize students.

Greater Things

Why is this relevant? John presented and declared the ministry of Jesus. John paralleled his ministry of baptism of water with Jesus’ ministry to baptize with the Holy Ghost. This is a foreshadow of Jesus’ divinity because only God can give His Spirit, whereas man can baptize another. John declared his disciple Jesus would be far greater than he was. And even Jesus declared that his disciples would do greater things than He. Let that sink in, His disciples. Remember one of the first questions we asked, are you a disciple? A true teacher wants to see their student bear more fruit than they did.

• The Old Testament’ “teacher-disciple” relationship relied heavily on imitation. The student would do what their teacher did.
• Jesus imitated John in many ways, like baptism.
• Elisha imitated Elijah’s actions, and doubled his miracles.

The disciple isn’t imitating who the teacher is necessarily, but they are absolutely mirroring their teacher’s actions.

On a scale of 1-10, do you have faith that you could develop kingdom-impacting disciples like Jesus did? What would you need to do to increase your faith?

Some points to consider:

1. We’re not just teaching a disciple to become a mature, self-sustaining Christian.
2. We’re building relationships with people so we can teach them how to disciple others.  
3. Your disciples will teach others how you taught them.
4. A hallmark of your fruit is when your disciple “outperforms” you.

Final Thoughts

Jesus made disciples out of 12 men in his 3 year ministry; He touched thousands of people, but he taught 12 how to disciple others. This was distinct from His Passion in many ways, but merely 50 days after His resurrection his disciples added thousands of believers, and many more disciples. Jesus ministered to 5,000 on the hill with miracles and healings, but His disciples turned out 5,000 believers. Just meditate on that! Jesus healed and performed miracles but the people didn’t believe, however, His disciples preached and people believed! Jesus made disciples out of 12, and the 12 made disciples out of many. How much more can you do?

Biblical Devotion

John 1:19-37  And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”  (20) He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” (21) And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”  (22) So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” (23) He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”  (24) (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) (25) They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” (26) John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, (27)  even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” (28) These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. (29) The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  (30) This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ (31) I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” (32) And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.  (33) I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ (34) And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (35) The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, (36)  and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (37) The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

John 3:25-34  Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification.  (26) And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”  (27) John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. (28) You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’  (29) The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. (30) He must increase, but I must decrease.”  (31) He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. (32) He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony.  (33) Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. (34) For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.

Luke 1:8-17  Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,  (9) according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.  (10) And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. (11) And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.  (12) And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. (13) But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.  (14) And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, (15) for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. (16) And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God,  (17) and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

2 Kings 2:7-15  Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan.  (8) Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.  (9)  When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.”  (10) And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” (11) And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.  (12) And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. (13) And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. (14) Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.  (15)  Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

Matthew 14:16-21  But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” (17)  They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” (18) And he said, “Bring them here to me.” (19)  Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.  (20) And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. (21) And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Acts 4:1-4  And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,  (2) greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. (3)  And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. (4) But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.