Description
Did Jesus function in his ministry with all five of the equipping gifts? If he did, what does that mean for his Body, this new community of believers? In order to be his hands and feet on this earth should the Church also function with all of these today? Is it even realistic to think that a church can function with all five of the equipping gifts in balance? In our remaining episodes together we want to consider what healthy models of ministry would actually look like.
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Video Script
Episode 11: Reflecting Jesus’ Ministry
Did Jesus function in his ministry with all five of the equipping gifts? If he did, what does that mean for his Body, this new community of believers? In order to be his hands and feet on this earth should the Church also function with all of these today? Is it even realistic to think that a church can function with all five of the equipping gifts in balance? In our remaining episodes together we want to consider what healthy models of ministry would actually look like.
Fivefold Functions and Jesus
Well if you are following along in the workbook, we are now on pages 39-42. To get the most out of our remaining episodes it will be helpful if you were to do the Organization Flow Chart and Life Cycle Assessments. So far we have laid a biblical foundation for the fivefold gifts from Ephesians 4, as well as discussed some of the realities that have occurred throughout church history. We have considered how these equipping gifts relate with Jesus’ Kingdom teaching on servant leadership, as well as our personality, our calling and our role. Moving beyond the Reductionist or Hierarchical extremes, what would a church with a balance of these foundational equipping gifts look like? This is what we will be discussing in our final episodes together.
Since the Beginning and Source of the Church is Jesus, I think it would make sense to begin our discussion by looking at his ministry and how it can be a model for the application of the fivefold ministry functions. A three part model of Jesus’ ministry was originally developed in the first few centuries after Christ by Eusebius and much later adopted into Calvin’s theology. This model portrays Christ as fulfilling the Old Testament offices of the Prophet, Priest, and King. More recently, some have applied this for each believer as they fulfill one or more of these in their ministry. While this may be an improved expansion over the twofold approach of just the pastor and teacher, it is a bit problematic in a New Covenant context. For example, what would it mean for a believer to fulfill the office of “king” in their ministry?
So while there has been a historical motif in describing Jesus’ ministry as Prophet, Priest, and King, I would like to suggest that it may also be a slightly reduced depiction of Jesus’ true ministry as related to the fivefold functions of Ephesians 4. Though the three fold model may be an improvement, it would seem that the fivefold approach would be a superior way to look at the ministry of the believer based upon the ministry of Jesus. As we discussed earlier, the passage in Ephesians 4 has a remarkable Christological feel. As Hirsch points out, it would seem that the fivefold functions are somehow intertwined with who he is and what he does. As his Body we are to now carry on his work on this earth.
Jesus’ Fivefold Ministry
What did each of these fivefold functions look like in the life and ministry of Jesus? We usually avoid referring to Jesus as Apostle, but did he have an apostolic ministry? Well the answer to that seems rather obvious doesn’t it?
Jesus identified himself as having this ministry on many occasions throughout the Gospels (Lk. 4:18-19, 4:43; Mk. 9:37; Jn. 3:34, 4:34, 5:23-24, 5:36-38, 6:29, 7:29, 11:42, 12:45, 17:3, 20:21, and so on). In the Old Testament we see a God who commissions and “sends.” This is mentioned over 200 times. Then in the New Testament, particularly in the Gospel of John, “to be sent” – which is the Greek word being apostello—is attributed to Jesus over 60 times. At the core of the apostolic gifts or ministry is the idea of “sent-ness,” as in an ambassador sent to do the work of another. Referring to Jesus, it is obvious in Scripture that He was sent by his Father. He was on a mission sent by his Father. In John 20:21 he clearly states “as the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” The writer to the Hebrews (3:1) concludes, “Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.” So I think that pretty much settles any questions as to his apostolic function. Jesus has an apostolic role.
Now the prophetic function and ministry of Jesus is also beyond dispute. Throughout his ministry he reflected the work of a true prophet. While it is clear that Jesus was more than a prophet, he did indeed function in a prophetic role. This began with his declaration that he had arrived in the fullness of time to usher in the Kingdom of God. We see that in Mark. 1:15. He was sent to break the power of sin and evil and impart justice and righteousness (Lk. 4:14-20). We read in John and Acts that he was bringing God’s salvation (Jn. 2:15; Acts 10:42, 17:31). He was sent to fulfill God’s will (Jn. 5:19, 5:30, 12:49), and this new covenantal relationship was actually being redefined by him, as we see in Matt. 5-7. This new relationship was brought about through his death and resurrection, based upon repentance and faith (Mk. 1:15). Unique to Jesus, he was the message; the Word that became flesh. He then calls all people to turn to God and live righteously (Heb. 2-5). So it is clear that Jesus functioned within the classical prophetic role.
How does recognizing Jesus’ fivefold ministry impact our own ministry and that of your church?
Jesus’ Fivefold Ministry
Before the break we were looking at the degree to which Jesus’ life reflected the fivefold ministry. So far we saw that he clearly functioned in both an apostolic and prophetic role. But how about the other three? Well when it comes to the evangelistic gifting, it is again pretty obvious that this was central to his earthly ministry. He came to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom, He was the world’s Savior and Lord (Lk. 4:18, 4:43, 7:22, 16:16). The very resurrection serves to proclaim this new era of salvation; this good news for the whole world. In Luke 15 Jesus identifies this evangelistic ministry using the analogies of searching for the lost coin, leaving the 99 sheep to find the one lost one, as well as the parable of the prodigal son and loving father. This culminates in Jesus’ own declaration in Luke 19:9-10 that he had come to seek and to save the lost. What is unique about Jesus, is not that he functions in an evangelistic role, but rather that he is both the messenger as well as the message. Jesus IS the Good News.
His shepherding function is perhaps the most obvious characteristic of Jesus’ ministry. This is associated with the pastoral function. He has been depicted throughout the history of the Church as the Good Shepherd. This aspect of his ministry has perhaps been one of the most emphasized over all the others (Lk. 10:7-18). In John 10:11 and 14 he clearly declares, “I am the good shepherd.” He is our healer (Lk. 7:22), our reconciler (Eph. 2:14; Heb. 1-4), providing compassion for the broken (Matt. 20:34; Lk. 7:34) and protecting and defending the weak. In establishing this new ecclesia, or called out community of believers, he takes on the role of caring, directing, and protecting. He is the Shepherd and Overseer of his people (1 Pet. 2:25). It is clear from Jesus’ own words that he is the ultimate Shepherd and this signifies his true pastoral calling.
The Scriptures and Church history also clearly portray Jesus as Rabbi, Guide, and Teacher. Of course, what is unique about Jesus was that he not only taught the way – He was the Way. His very life was based on Truth (Jn. 1:17, 14:6)—he not only taught truth, but his very life exemplified the Truth. As a rabbi or teacher, he then led his followers in the way of truth. While it is obvious from his own assertions and ministry that he was a teacher, again, he was so much more. As the Word was made flesh, he was not just the revealer, but also the very one being revealed. He was God’s Truth (Jn. 1:1-14, 14:6, 17:25-26). Paul in his writings affirms Jesus as the source of all truth knowledge and wisdom and makes the connection to the ecclesia (called out ones) that he is the only source of their complete understanding of this mystery (Col. 2:2-3).
So from just a quick look at the life of Jesus it seem pretty obvious that he is the perfect representation and expression of the fivefold ministry functions. As the source and sustainer of this new Body, the Church, if Jesus’ ministry cannot be viewed separately from the fivefold ministry functions, then it would make sense that the Church –which has been sent to do his work on this earth –would now also reflect these same fivefold functions as outlined in Ephesians 4. While I am not really breaking any new theological ground here, what may be unique is stating this mission of the Church as reflecting the mission of the very life and ministry of Jesus. This is expressed in his Body, through these fivefold functions, of which he is the sustainer, provider, and source. Simply stated: The Church is the means by which Jesus extends his ministry in the world today.
How has this overview of Jesus’ ministry through a fivefold lens broadened your perspective of his ministry as well as the implications for the Church?
Implications for the Body
Well what are some of the implications of this? The “Body of Christ” is the primary metaphor that Paul uses to explain this mysterious union with Christ and mission of Christ. Of course, as its head, Jesus is divine and separate from his Body, the Church. In defining “headship” earlier we saw that Jesus is the source, sustainer, and life-giver of his Body. As the source he is not just a figure head or authoritarian figure, but his actual image is to be imprinted on his Body. I would think that his imprint or stamp on the Church should reflect his fivefold ministry functions.
While Jesus was the incarnation of the Godhead, in some mysterious way, his Body is now the incarnation of Christ on this earth. This ecclesia is the conduit of the presence of Christ in the earth as they embody his Spirit. The head and the body, as in our physical body, cannot be separated. If the head is separated, the body dies. But we also cannot have a different identity, or a different purpose or mission. Let me go one step further and suggest that we, the Body, cannot have a different strategy as we fulfill the purposes of Christ, who is the head of his Body. The impartation of mission and strategy must come through the head.
Frank Viola has identified five aspects relating to Christ as our source. Christ expresses his very nature through his Body and he also continues his earthly ministry through his Body. He directs both the Church and the work, as well as nourishing his Body, and is the very source of the Church’s life. Without Christ there is no Body of Christ; no Church. Without connection to the head, there is no source of life for the Body. Within the Body itself there is diversity as Paul teaches, but there is a transcendent unity which comes from connection to the same head, the same source; the author and perfector of our faith, Jesus Christ. It is Christ’s Spirit in us that enables us.
Even though our physical body has many diverse members as Paul taught, it still exists to fulfill a unified function or purpose. The Body of Christ, as a whole, also has a common purpose or mission which originates from its source, Christ as its head. It was established and designed to fulfill Jesus’ purpose in the world. To accomplish this, the Body needs to reflect and implement the very fivefold functions that Jesus modeled in his life and ministry. These are the very functions that he redeemed and then provided for the Church as part of his victorious ascension back to the Father as we saw in the verses preceding the fivefold gifts in Ephesians 4.
What are the implications for the Body of Christ (Church) of Christ as its source of the fivefold functions?
A Reflection of Jesus
As you have probably noticed, our goal in this series is to show that the Church needs to have a balanced expression of these fivefold functions if it is to fulfill its purpose. We are to reflect the ministry of Jesus. As a community we are to be involved in the redemptive, transformative mission of God in this world—this is our apostolic function. We should also be committed to Christological worship, obedience to the Word, prayer, and calling others to this covenantal relationship—this is our prophetic function. It is also essential that we are a witness in word and deed to the central message of Jesus as the Good News—this being our evangelistic function. Then as an authentic New Testament Church we are a family of redeemed, called out ones who are engaged in healthy, discipling relationships as we meet each other’s needs – this is our pastoral function. Finally, we should be committed to the study of the Word through wisdom and knowledge, communicating truth to the world around us—this being our teaching function.
In what ways do you think our ministries and church needs to grow in order to more fully reflect the ministry of Jesus through his Body?
While these will be expressed in different forms—according to our particular context, season of life and ministry, as well as a host of other factors—in some form they should be present in a balanced, healthy church. They should be reflected in this new community of believers. In our next episode we are going to discuss what this would look like within the context a local expression of the Body of Christ. Looking forward to having you join me then.