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3. His Ministry was

Incarnational
(Personal)
A Definition
Incarnation is the word used
to describe the coming to
earth of Jesus and taking on
human form.
“The Word became flesh and
dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
A central Christian belief.
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His ministry was incarnational
—God in a human body.
For us “Incarnational
ministry” means that the
ministry and mission we (or
the church) do, is done in the
style, manner and attitude of
Jesus.
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 A Prayer for Believers to Pray that
they might be Incarnational
“By God's grace, I will joyfully
seek to show forth the presence
of God in all that I say, in all
that I do, in all that I am.”
We need to identify with
the people we minister to.
Incarnational ministry
means that we are not
higher than them but one
of them.

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This is the example of
Jesus.
Jesus fully identified with
humanity because he was
fully man - Col 2:9.
In ministry to truly serve
people we have to fully
become one of them.
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 The China Inland Mission:
Missionaries would have no
guaranteed salaries.
They could not appeal for funds.
They trust God to supply their needs.
Its missionaries would wear Chinese
dress.
A. Jesus the Man
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Let’s look at Jesus in Mark 1
John the Baptist
Prepares the way for the Messiah
Preaches a baptism of repentance etc.
EVERYONE goes to him, important
and unimportant - Matt 3:7 inc.
Pharisees and Sadducees
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In Mk 1:9 he introduces Jesus
Jesus is very different story
From Nazareth - unimportant,
town, Jn 1:46
Baptised by John
JTB tried to stop him - he
knew what things should be
like! Matt 3:14
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Why did he get baptised?
He wasn’t sinful, he didn’t need to.
Matt 3:15, to fulfil all righteousness—“to
complete everything that forms a
relationship of obedience to God”
For other people he was baptised—he
share their circumstances and meet
their need.
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Christs sacrifice on our behalf does
not belong only at the cross - it is
shown and lived in the whole of his
life.
He started life by emptying himself on
our behalf—we have to do the same for
those we lead.
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Looking physically at Jesus:
He was born in a stable (no
room elsewhere.)
He became a refugee in
Egypt (cf Assam.)

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His hometown was badly
thought of.
He obeyed his parents, yet
was Lord of all—Lk 2:51

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His hometown was badly
thought of.
He obeyed his parents, yet
was Lord of all—Lk 2:51

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His hometown was badly
thought of.
He obeyed his parents, yet
was Lord of all—Lk 2:51

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Some say that he probably had to take on
his dead fathers business in order to
provide for his family—Jn 7:15,
The people were surprised when they
heard him. “How does he know so much
when he hasn’t been trained?” they asked.
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The Emotional state of
Jesus:
How do you think he felt
when his parents didn’t
understand him—he stayed
at the temple? Lk 2:50

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He was considered mad
and deluded by his own
family Mk 3:21
He felt strong emotions—
tears he wept before
raising Lazarus, Jn 11:35
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One of his closest followers
stole from the common
purse Jn 12:6
On the night before he
died his closest followers
were still arguing about
which of them was the
greatest Lk 22:24
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They all fled and left him
alone when he was
arrested Matt 26:56
He was falsely accused by
his opponents Matt 12:24

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Consider that he was, and is, King of
kings and Lord of lords. Yet…
Fasting for 40 days he became weak
and hungry, he was then more
vulnerable to temptation

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He created the universe yet had no
place to lay his head — Matt 8:20

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He was so busy
ministering that he had no
time to eat — instead of
resting he taught people
yet after a long teaching
session he fed the crowds
Mk 6:31-42
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The creator of food had no
time to eat or rest, yet he
was able to multiply the
food of one person to feed
5000!

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When his friend Lazarus
was sick—he could have
chosen just to rebuke the
sickness.
He walked 20 or 90 miles
(scholars disagree over
which) to Bethany.
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Judea was hostile to him,
dangerous, at that time Jn
11:8
He came from an effective
ministry trip on the E side
of the Jordan Jn 10:39-42

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 Ajith Fernando in Jesus Driven Ministry:
"The whole life of Christ was a paradox
propelled by the need to redeem sinful
humanity. he took on burdens that he didn’t
have to take on, and he gave up things that
were his legitimate right. And shortly before
he left the world, he told his disciples, “As the
Father has sent me so I am sending
you” (John 20:21).
 So his mission becomes our mission.
At the Last Supper he told his disciples
that they must give their lives for
others as he did (Jn 15:12-13.) Then he
went on to say that their willingness
to give their lives for others showed
that they were his friends.”
In Jn 13 he identifies as a
servant.
Gk. doulos is used to
describe servanthood, it is
usually translated servant.
It really means bondservant.

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Note: Bondservant is the translation of
the Greek word doulos, which means
“one who is subservient to, and entirely
at the disposal of, his master; a slave.”

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In Roman times a bondservant usually was a
permanent position.
Under Roman law, a bondservant was
considered the owner’s personal property.
Slaves essentially had no rights and could
even be killed with impunity by their owners.
(or, less commonly, it could refer to
someone who voluntarily served others.)
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Throughout the New Testament, the
word bondservant, slave, or servant is
applied metaphorically to someone
absolutely devoted to Jesus. Paul, Timothy,
James, Peter, and Jude all describe
themselves as “bondservants of
Christ” (Romans 1:1; Philippians 1:1; James
1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Jude 1:1, NKJV).
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Being incarnational ministers
in the same way as Jesus
means identifying with
Christ.
Often this requires our
weakness not our strength.
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Paul in 1 Cor 9 - goes without
the rights he might expect,
becomes a servant of all
(literally enslaved myself to
all men) 9:19 - and finishes
with 9:22, 23

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To the weak I became weak,
that I might win the weak. I
have become all things to all
people, that by all means I
might save some. 23 I do it all
for the sake of the
gospel, that I may share with
them in its blessings.
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To the weak I became weak,
that I might win the weak. I
have become all things to all
people, that by all means I
might save some. 23 I do it all
for the sake of the
gospel, that I may share with
them in its blessings.
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B. Jesus did Home
Visits!
The Gospels show
many important
events in the life and
ministry of Jesus
happening in
peoples homes.

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The healing of Simon’s mother in
law took place in her home, Mk
1:31
Early in Mark it sets a pattern
for the ministry of Jesus.
It was personal and local (in
her home)
She then served them -
probably made the meal.
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 After this the whole town came…
Mk 1:32-34
That evening at sunset they brought
to him all who were sick
or oppressed by demons. 33 And the
whole city was gathered together at
the door. 34 And he healed many
who were sick with various diseases,
and cast out many demons.
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Jn 1:37-39 he takes Andrew
and another to the house
where he was staying—he
talked for a long time with
them from 4pm until evening.
The first miracle in Jn 2
would have taken place at
the home of the groom.
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The healing of the paralytic,
Mk 2:1. Probably at the
house of Simon and Andrew.
Crowded with people, so he
was let down through the
roof.

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At the house of Levi a tax
collector, tax collectors sat
with him, Mk 2:15-16. This
caused some questions to
be asked!

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And the scribes of[a] the Pharisees,
when they saw that he was eating
with sinners and tax collectors, said
to his disciples, “Why does he
eat[b]with tax collectors and
sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard
it, he said to them, “Those who are
well have no need of a physician, but
those who are sick. I came not to call
the righteous, but sinners.”
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This was Jesus going to a
home to spend time with the
lost
Mk 2:15, And as he reclined at
table in his house, many tax
collectors and sinners were
reclining with Jesus and his
disciples, for there were many
who followed him.
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To recline was not the usual
way of eating, it was only
done at special meals, feasts,
celebrations etc.
Religious people could not
understand how Jesus could
mix with people and be part
of such an environment.
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To recline was not the usual
way of eating, it was only
done at special meals, feasts,
celebrations etc.
Religious people could not
understand how Jesus could
mix with people and be part
of such an environment.
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`

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At the home of Mary and
Martha the complaint of
Martha has impacted
Christians ever since Lk
10:28-42
In Zacchaeus’ home he taught
that his mission was to seek
and save the lost, Lk 19:10
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In summary—Jesus ministered in the
homes of:
Strangers—Zacchaeus
Friends—Lazarus
Disciples—Andrew and Simon
Public figures—Jairus
New converts—Levi
Friends getting married—Cana
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Jesus acted as if homes were
important places of ministry.
This is continued in the early church in
Acts—2:46, 9:42, 10, 16:14-15, 20:20

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It is important to try to
retain contact and
involvement with our non-
believing friends, relatives
and neighbours—even if, like
Jesus, we get called names
for doing it; Lk 7:33-34
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 For John the Baptist didn’t
spend his time eating bread or
drinking wine, and you say, ‘He’s
possessed by a demon.’ 34 The
Son of Man,[f] on the other hand,
feasts and drinks, and you say,
‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard,
and a friend of tax collectors and
other sinners!’
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Such people wanted to be with him, Lk
15:1,
Now the tax collectors and sinners were
all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the
Pharisees and the scribes grumbled,
saying, “This man receives sinners and eats
with them.”
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The importance of Incarnational / Personal Ministry:
In 1854, Kimball was a Sunday School teacher in Detroit,
and one day he went to visit a 17 year-old boy who was in
his Sunday School class who had little interest in God or
religion. During his visit with this young man at his job in a
shoe shop, he led the boy into a relationship with Christ. That
young man was D.L. Moody, who went on to become one of
the greatest evangelists in the world, sharing the gospel with
100 million people, as well as founding Moody Bible Institute
and The Moody Church in Chicago.
 But the story doesn’t end there. Through his ministry,
Moody was responsible for a London pastor named
F.B. Meyer coming to faith. Meyer was responsible for
J. Wilbur Chapman coming to faith, and Chapman
influenced Billy Sunday, another prominent evangelist
of the 20th century. Billy Sunday was integral in a man
named Mordecai Ham coming to faith. And Mordecai
Ham was the preacher responsible for leading a
young man named Billy Graham to Christ.
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John Calvin was known as a theologian of
great importance. Yet it is told of him that,
“He robbed himself of sleep. He was
always open to anyone seeking advice. He
was constantly in touch with all the affairs
of the church and state. He visited the sick
and lazy and unenthusiastic and knew
almost every citizen.”
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 C. Pronouncing a
Blessing on People
Not seen much in the life of
Jesus but is biblical.
Mary Evans,
“To bless somebody is to
express a hope or prayer that
good, desirable things will
happen to that person.”
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Jesus blessed the children
Mk 10:16
Jesus blessed his disciples
just before the ascension
Lk 24:50-51
And, Mary and Joseph
were blessed by Simeon Lk
2:25ff
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Both examples of Jesus
involved him using his
hands.
This role is in fact priestly, a
blessing is passed on from
the priest to the people
involved.
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This happens in the OT and NT:
The Aaronic blessing, Num
6:24-26
Moses (Ex 39:43), Aaron (Lev
9:22-23), Joshua (Josh
22:62) and David (2 Sam
6:18) are all leaders seen
blessing God’s people.
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Individuals are blessed:
Jacob by Isaac, Pharaoh by
Jacob, Joseph and his sons
by Jacob
Eli’s blessing of Hannah had
a prophetic edge to it, 1
Sam 2:20. She had 3 more
sons and 2 daughters.
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George Herbert said this (my paraphrase):
“For the Christian minister nothing is little in
God’s service; if it has the honour of God’s
name then it immediately grows important.
No minister looks down on the poorest
house, no matter how smelly it might be.
For God is there as are those for whom God
died”
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What is incarnational ministry?
“Jesus went everywhere
proclaiming and demonstrating
the reality, love, and power of
the Kingdom (healing the
brokenhearted, setting captives
free, proclaiming God’s
acceptance, etc.)
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The church (the people of
God) goes and does the
same. This means that
church, first of all, needs to
move from being a “come
and see” place to a “go and
be with the lost” movement.”
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