Jesus’ earthly ministry maintained a single purpose and a dominant strategy. His purpose was to glorify the Father by establishing and expanding His kingdom. His method was to make disciples by investing in men who would join this kingdom and live radically committed to continuing its expansion. Following this example, Christian ministry operates along complementary, intertwined themes: worship and discipleship.

Worship is a popular word in modern Christendom. During what might be called a worship revolution it seems an artist’s odds of selling a million copies of a Christian album increase greatly with the inclusion of this word in the title. At the risk of seeming trendy, worship accurately summarizes Jesus’ purpose. His ministry was devoted to directing men and women to value God above all things making Him the sole Object of their affections. Jesus’ earthly ministry, first and foremost, revealed God so that He might be exalted among men.

The heart of the Prologue in John’s Gospel presents a deeply theological statement about Christ and his ministry. First, Jesus is God. Second, Jesus became a man. Third, Jesus revealed God’s glory. Or more directly, Jesus “has explained” God to us (John 1:18 NASB). His life, and by extension His ministry, was a revelation of God to man so that we might exalt or worship or value God supremely for who He is and what He has done.

Furthermore, Jesus’ prayer on the eve of his crucifixion makes this truth abundantly clear.

¹When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, ²since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. ³ And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ⁴I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. ⁵And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

John 17:1-5 (ESV)

The path through Jesus’ opening of this prayer informs our understanding well. First, Jesus’ desire for God’s glory is evident (see verses 1 and 4 respectively, “glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you” and “I glorified you on earth”). Second, Jesus made God known in the world by giving eternal life. He gave “eternal life” to people and this life was a relationship with the Father through the Son (see verse 3). Third, this two-part task of revealing God and reconciling people to Him was the “work” of Jesus. Verse 4 is the summation of his thought as therein Jesus combines his purpose (to glorify God) with his work (to give eternal life to men).

Jesus’ ministry, therefore, revealed God and called people to know and value Him (and his ways, his love, his kingdom) above everything else in life. All genuine Christian ministry will follow this pattern by leading people to know and value God above everything. Ministry that elevates people is not Christian ministry. Ministry that caters to earthly desires is not Christian ministry. Ministry that is distracted by temporal concerns is not Christian ministry. Christian ministry, first and foremost, exalts God.

Moreover, Christian ministry must be judged by the degree to which it exalts God. Does it make known the truth about Him? Does it encourage people to amazement at His greatness? Does it explain His character? Does it foster worship of God? Does it call people to value God above their lives, their families, their jobs, their possessions, and their hobbies?