Jesus as Model Pastor
291
their teaching. The truth will blossom and bear the noblest kind of fruit.
And the worker’s own heart will be warmed; yea, it will burn with
[282]
the vivifying spiritual life which they infuse into the minds of others.
Then all this tame sermonizing will come to an end; for frequently
this is an exhibition of self, rather than the fruit that the teacher bears
who has been at the feet of Jesus and learned of Him.—
Manuscript
Releases 6:72
.
Every feature in the life of the great Example should be stud-
ied with care—The more that the minister of Christ associates with
his Master, through contemplation of His life and character, the more
closely will he resemble Him, and the better qualified will he be to
teach His truths. Every feature in the life of the great Example should
be studied with care, and close converse should be held with Him
through the prayer of living faith. Thus will the defective human char-
acter be transformed into the image of His glorious character. Thus
will the teacher of the truth be prepared to lead souls to Christ.—
The
Spirit of Prophecy 3:244
.
Devotional Life
Prayer was central to Christ’s ministry—Christ is our example.
His life was a life of prayer. Yes, Christ, the Son of God, equal with the
Father, Himself all-sufficient, the storehouse of all blessings, He whose
voice could rebuke disease, still the tempest, and call the dead to life,
prayed with strong crying and many tears. He often spent whole nights
in prayer. While the cities were hushed in slumber, angels listened to
the pleadings of the Redeemer. See the Saviour bowed in prayer, His
soul wrung with anguish. He is not praying for Himself, but for those
whom He came to save. In the mountains of Galilee and in the groves
of Olivet the Beloved of God prayed for sinners. Then He came forth
to minister to them, His tongue touched anew with living fire.—
The
Signs of the Times, September 5, 1900
.
Jesus replenished His soul through prayer before setting out
to minister—To the believing Jews in Jerusalem in the time of Christ,
Olivet was a frequent resort for devotion. The hills and valleys about
Jerusalem, now so bleak and bare, were then studded with olive-groves
and orchards, and here the faithful in Israel would often go to search
the Scriptures and to pray. The Garden of Gethsemane was among the