The people who got transformed and healed are dead and gone. The popularity of Jesus didn’t get it going. “The news about Him spread all over Syria.” That didn’t last long. “Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed Him.” A lot of these excited, loving people probably were the same ones who were later shouting: “Crucify Him!” Why is He wasting His precious, short time on this planet doing temporary things? For the trainees!

They were going to last. Even those in the crowds who did remain faithful to Jesus were going to need Pastors, Evangelists, Teachers, Apostles, and Prophets. His major point was being made to the disciples as He moved through the crowd.

Most of us don’t want trainees tagging along behind. We have very little time for them. We stick them in the youth ministry and let them sink or swim. We are busy doing the ministry. Let someone else cloister them in a building and teach them hypothetical ministry. But, Jesus wanted His trainees to have real, hands-on training. While He was doing many wonderful things in the lives of the people around Him, He was busy making disciples.

I am not saying that Bible Schools and Seminaries are bad or unnecessary. What I am saying, though, is that we and our trainees must have real, hands-on training before we and they are let loose on unsuspecting victims. Jesus had classroom meetings, the Sermon On The Mount for example. But, most training has to be in real-life situations with mature ministers doing the ministry of Jesus. A lot of our schools and seminaries do need to be examined under the light of the Gospels, however. Jesus is still the expert. He sets the standards whereby all trainees must be trained.