Discipleship means following and learning from a particular teacher or teaching. When Jesus began His ministry, He did not choose His twelve disciples from the educated or elite class but from all walks of life. His purpose was to reveal His love and compassion to every segment of society—using people from among them as living examples of how His teachings could transform lives. This offers hope to all, assuring them that they can come to Jesus regardless of the sins or barriers that once separated them from God.
Many aspire to become disciples of Jesus to reflect His majesty and glory. But on a deeper level, God calls His disciples to reflect the condition of the people themselves—so they might recognize the true state and destiny of their lives. Through His disciples, God mirrors the brokenness and struggles of the people, allowing them to see their own reflection in the disciples’ trials. Sadly, many who wish to serve God seek to exalt themselves instead, rejecting God’s unique plan of using them to identify with the fallen and the lost.
Showcasing The Grace
Each of us is saved by God’s grace—not by our deeds. In the same way, we serve God only through His grace, not because of our own righteousness or knowledge of the Bible. Yet, many who serve God present themselves as if they’ve come directly from heaven, sent to minister sinful people. They set themselves apart from the common crowd and display their material wealth as proof of divine blessing. Through this, they subtly communicate to seekers that if they follow them, they too will be blessed as they are.
Naturally, when people see a servant of God suffering, they tend to reject him, choosing instead to follow those who appear to be outwardly blessed. In doing so, believers overlook the genuine spiritual riches hidden in the life of a suffering servant of God, and are instead drawn to the visible success of others—whose hearts are often filled with pride and indifference, seeking only to build a name for themselves and their ministries. Sadly, their followers also grow in the same hidden pride and spiritual deception, mistaking it for God’s blessing.
This is one reason why formula of mega churches thrives today—because few want to reflect on the simplicity and depth of the early church, where believers gathered in small groups within homes, truly united in the name of God. The devil asked even Jesus to showcase the grace of God but He denied (Matthew 4:6-7). Sadly many servants of God are succumbed to the trick of devil and they are proudly showcasing themselves and their ministries.
Representing The Sinners
When God uses His servants to reflect the sorrowful state of the people, they are often not accepted. People look at the servant’s condition and think, “If he himself is suffering like this, how can he bring any blessing into my life?” They fail to recognize their own spiritual state in the servant’s suffering, and instead view his hardship as a curse or a punishment from God.
When Elijah declared a drought during the reign of King Ahab, he too was affected by it. Some may have expected that Elijah, being God’s prophet, would be specially provided for with abundant food and water. Yet, God chose to sustain him through ravens and later through a poor widow in Zarephath. God did not grant Elijah a comfortable life, but allowed him to endure the drought along with the people. Still, God’s grace was enough to meet his needs, just as it was available to the rest of the people—evidenced when they later had enough water to drench the altar and trench during Elijah’s challenge at Mount Carmel.
Similarly, Naaman, though afflicted with leprosy, continued to serve his king—a rare occurrence in those times, and a sign of God’s grace upon him. Upon hearing of the prophet in Samaria, Naaman went in search of Elisha, bringing many gifts. As a commander serving the king, he may have expected Elisha to reside in the royal court. When Naaman arrived at the palace, he was disappointed to find that Elisha did not live there. Even more, when he came to Elisha’s house, the prophet did not even come out to greet him, but instead sent a message through a servant, instructing Naaman to go wash in the Jordan River. This offended Naaman, who had imagined a more grand and public display from a man of God.
John the Baptist lived a rugged and wild life in the wilderness to help people confront the beastly nature within themselves. The deeper message was this: although people may appear outwardly civilized, their hearts are often filled with wickedness. In contrast, John—though outwardly appearing like a wild man—was inwardly holy and could not tolerate the sinful deeds of the people. Yet, they failed to grasp the significance of his life and message. That is why Jesus once rebuked them, asking what they had gone out to see when they looked for a prophet—challenging their shallow expectations.
What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
Matthew 11:7b-9 (NIV)
Jesus, The Perfect Representative of The Sinners
The prophecies of Isaiah are frequently referenced in the New Testament, with many of them finding fulfillment during the time of Jesus. Although Isaiah was a well-known and respected prophet—and even related by blood to the royal family—he did not live a life of royal privilege. God did not use his royal connection to establish his prophetic authority. Instead, God commanded Isaiah to go about barefoot and naked among the people, as a symbolic act to foretell the shame and humiliation that Egypt would soon face.
At that time the LORD spoke through Isaiah son of Amoz. He said to him, “Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet.” And he did so, going around stripped and barefoot.
Then the LORD said, “Just as my servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot for three years, as a sign and portent against Egypt and Cush…
Isaiah 20:2-3 (NIV)
It is likely that the people did not accept Isaiah as a prophet during the period when he lived in such a humbling and disgraceful state. Earlier in his ministry, as a relative of King Uzziah, he might have been welcomed more readily. But for three years, God led Isaiah in a lowly, humiliating manner to help the offenders see the consequences of their sin. Yet few truly understood the message, and even those who did rarely repented and turned back to God. Despite His warnings through Isaiah, the people persisted in their rebellion, ultimately becoming the agents through whom the prophecy was fulfilled. God’s intention was not the fulfillment of prophecy for its own sake, but rather the transformation of hearts through repentance.
As one who was humbled and shamed by God and rejected by his own people, Isaiah was chosen to prophesy the suffering of God’s Son—the Messiah on the cross. He described these future events with such vividness and detail, as though he were witnessing them firsthand. God allowed His servants to walk through deep and painful experiences, so they could clearly grasp His plans and faithfully convey His message to the people. The question is—do we have such depth of experience, obedience, and clarity to receive, comprehend, and share God’s message with those who remain in ignorance?
Even Jesus’ own disciples initially expected Him to overthrow the Roman Empire and ascend an earthly throne. Looking back, we can see how narrow and worldly that expectation was. They failed to recognize Jesus as the One who would sit at the right hand of the Father, and who invites His victorious children to share His heavenly throne—not through political triumph, but through His righteousness.
On the day of the crucifixion, the people failed to grasp the devastating reality of their own sin. The sin of mankind had so marred the Saviour that He was unrecognizable—not just as Jesus, but even as a man. In His disfigured form, the image of wild, sinful people was revealed—carried by the One who bore our iniquities to set us free. Yet, the people believed He was being punished by God for His own sins. The following two verses from Isaiah accurately portray both the scene of the crucifixion and the blindness of the people. This prophetic precision was granted to Isaiah through his obedience to God—an obedience that included walking for three years in shame and rejection, as a living message to a rebellious people.
Just as there were many who were appalled at him—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness.
Isaiah 52:14 (NIV)
He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
Isaiah 53:3-4 (NIV)
Our Heavenly Father still longs to reveal His unfathomable plan to reach the unreached and bring salvation to the lost. Let us not seek to gain full blessings merely to draw the admiration of others. Instead, may we humbly submit ourselves to God, allowing Him to shape us—even through humiliation—so that we may grasp the depth of His Word. Only then can we truly understand, receive, live out, and faithfully pass on His message to those in darkness: that their sins were forgiven two thousand years ago, and all they need to do is believe.
Today, many are drawn to God’s servants who stand on grand stages and display visible success. Yet, such displays often attract attention to the messenger rather than to the God who sends them. Let us not offer people only worldly blessings, which tie their hearts to earthly treasures. Instead, may we lead them to lift their eyes toward the eternal treasures of God’s Kingdom. May the Lord grant us the grace to walk in obedience—even in seasons of humility—so we may clearly see and proclaim the message of salvation with power and truth.
The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.
Psalm 119:130 (NIV)
The Jordan Valley 
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