1. Why will imitating Jesus draw us closer to Jehovah?

WE USUALLY try to imitate the people we admire. Of all the humans who have ever lived, Jesus Christ is the best person to imitate. Why? Jesus once said: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father also.” (John 14:9) This is because Jesus imitates his Father’s personality perfectly. So when we learn about Jesus, we learn about Jehovah. And when we imitate Jesus, we draw closer to Jehovah, the greatest Person in the universe. What a great honor!

2, 3. (a) Why did Jehovah give us a detailed description of Jesus’ life, and what does our God expect us to do? (b) What will we discuss in this article and in the next?

² In the Bible, Jehovah has given us a detailed description of Jesus’ life. Why? Because our God wants us to know his Son so that we can imitate him closely. (Read 1 Peter 2:21.) In the Bible, the example Jesus left for us is compared to footsteps. What does that mean? Jehovah wants us to follow in his Son’s footsteps, that is, to imitate Jesus in everything he did. Of course, Jesus was perfect, so Jehovah does not expect us to imitate his Son perfectly. Instead, God wants us to do our very best to imitate Jesus.

³ Let us examine some of Jesus’ beautiful qualities. In this article, we will discuss his humility and tenderness. In the next, we will discuss his courage and discernment. We will answer three questions about each quality: What does it mean? How did Jesus show this quality? How can we imitate him?

JESUS IS HUMBLE

4. What does it mean to be humble?

⁴ What is humility? Many people who are proud think that humility is a sign of weakness or a lack of confidence. But is that true? Actually, to be humble, we need to be strong and courageous. Humility is the opposite of pride and arrogance. In the Bible, the word “humility” can be translated as “lowliness of mind.” (Philippians 2:3, footnote) To be humble, we first need to have the right attitude about ourselves. For example, one Bible dictionary says: “Humility is to know how lowly we really are before God.” Also, if we are humble, we will not feel that we are better than other people. (Romans 12:3) It is not easy for imperfect humans to show this quality. But we can learn to be humble if we meditate on Jehovah’s greatness and imitate Jesus’ example.

5, 6. (a) Who is Michael the archangel? (b) How did Michael show a humble attitude?

⁵ How did Jesus show humility? God’s Son has always been humble, both as a powerful angel in heaven and as a perfect man on earth. Let us see a few examples.

⁶ His attitude. In the Bible book of Jude, we read about Jesus’ life before he came to the earth. (Read Jude 9.) As Michael the archangel, that is, the chief angel, Jesus “had a difference with the Devil” and “was disputing” with that wicked one “about Moses’ body.” After Moses died, Jehovah buried his body in a place where no human would find it. (Deuteronomy 34:5, 6) Perhaps the Devil wanted to tempt the Israelites to use Moses’ body for false worship. Whatever evil the Devil wanted to do, Michael courageously stopped him. One reference book says that the words “had a difference” and “disputing” are also used to describe “a legal dispute” and may suggest that “Michael ‘challenged the Devil’s right’ to take Moses’ body.” Yet, the archangel knew that his authority was limited. So he referred the case to Jehovah, the Supreme Judge, the only one who had the right to judge Satan. What a humble attitude Jesus showed!

7. How did Jesus show humility in his speech and in his actions?

⁷ When Jesus was on earth, he also showed humility by the way he spoke and by the things he did. His speech. Jesus never wanted unnecessary attention from others. Instead, he wanted his Father to have all the glory. (Mark 10:17, 18; John 7:16) Jesus never spoke to his disciples in a way that made them feel foolish or inferior. Rather, he respected them and showed that he trusted them by commending them for their good qualities. (Luke 22:31, 32; John 1:47) His actions. Jesus chose to live a simple life without many material things. (Matthew 8:20) He was willing to do humble work that others were not willing to do. (John 13:3-15) He also set a perfect example of humility by his obedience. (Read Philippians 2:5-8.) Unlike proud people who hate to obey others, Jesus humbly did everything that Jehovah told him to do, even “to the point of death.” It is clear that Jesus, the Son of man, was “lowly in heart.”​—Matthew 11:29.

IMITATE JESUS’ HUMILITY

8, 9. How can we show humility?

⁸ How can we imitate Jesus’ humility? Our attitude. When we are humble, we know that our authority is limited. Therefore, we know that we do not have the right to judge other people. We will not criticize them or doubt their motives. (Luke 6:37; James 4:12) Humility helps us to avoid being “overly righteous.” This means that we will not feel that we are better than those who do not have the same abilities or privileges that we have. (Ecclesiastes 7:16) Humble elders do not think that they are better than their brothers and sisters. Rather, these loving shepherds “consider others superior,” that is, they think of others as more important than themselves.​—Philippians 2:3; Luke 9:48.

⁹ Consider W. J. Thorn, who served as a traveling overseer starting in 1894. After many years, he was assigned to take care of chickens at Kingdom Farm in upstate New York. Whenever he felt that he should be doing more important work, Brother Thorn would tell himself: “You little speck of dust. What have you got to be proud of?” (Read Isaiah 40:12-15.) What a humble attitude!

10. How can we show humility in our speech and in our actions?

¹⁰ Our speech. If we are truly humble, it will affect the way that we speak to others. (Luke 6:45) When we talk with them, we will not focus on our own privileges and the things we have done. (Proverbs 27:2) Instead, we will commend our brothers and sisters for the good that they do and focus on their good qualities and abilities. (Proverbs 15:23) Our actions. Humble Christians do not try to become famous or important in this world. Instead, they choose to live a simple life, even doing humble work, so that they can serve Jehovah as much as they can. (1 Timothy 6:6, 8) Most important, we can show humility by being obedient. We must be humble in order to “be obedient to those who are taking the lead” in the congregation and to accept and follow the direction of Jehovah’s organization.​—Hebrews 13:17.

JESUS IS TENDER

11. What is tenderness?

¹¹ What is tenderness? The word “tender” describes gentle and caring emotions. Tenderness is an expression of love and is similar to emotions such as compassion and mercy. The Bible refers to “tender compassion,” “tender mercies,” and “tender affection.” (Luke 1:78; 2 Corinthians 1:3; Philippians 1:8) One Bible reference says that showing tenderness is more than just feeling sorry for those in need. It says that having tender feelings means that we “care enough to become involved and to help” by doing something that will change other people’s lives for the better. Tenderness is a quality that motivates a person to make a difference in the lives of others.

12. What shows that Jesus felt tender compassion for others, and what did his tenderness motivate him to do?

¹² How did Jesus show tenderness? His tender feelings and actions. Jesus felt tender compassion for others. When he saw his friend Mary and others crying because Lazarus had died, Jesus cried with them. (Read John 11:32-35.) Then, the same compassion that made him want to resurrect a widow’s son motivated him to resurrect Lazarus. (Luke 7:11-15; John 11:38-44) This tender act may have given Lazarus the opportunity to receive life in heaven. Earlier, Jesus “felt tender affection” for a crowd that came to him. His tender compassion motivated him “to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34; Kingdom Interlinear) This experience changed the lives of those who followed his teachings! Jesus’ tenderness was more than just a feeling. His tenderness also motivated him to help people in need.​—Matthew 15:32-38; 20:29-34; Mark 1:40-42.

13. How did Jesus speak tenderly to others? (See opening picture.)

¹³ His tender words. Jesus’ compassion motivated him to speak tenderly to others, especially to the oppressed. The apostle Matthew quoted Isaiah’s words about Jesus. Isaiah said: “No crushed reed will he break, and no smoldering wick will he extinguish.” (Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 12:20) What does that mean? Jesus did not abuse or mistreat people. Instead, he spoke in a way that refreshed them. He preached a message of hope to “the brokenhearted.” (Isaiah 61:1) He invited people who were “toiling and loaded down” to come to him so that they could “find refreshment.” (Matthew 11:28-30) He promised his disciples that God had tender concern for each of His worshippers, including the “little ones,” or those whom the world saw as unimportant.​—Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 12:6, 7.

IMITATE JESUS’ TENDERNESS

14. How can we show tender feelings for others?

¹⁴ How can we imitate Jesus’ tenderness? Our tender feelings. The Bible tells us to work at showing “the tender affections of compassion,” even if it does not come naturally to us. These feelings are part of “the new personality” that Jehovah expects all Christians to put on. (Read Colossians 3:9, 10, 12.) How can you show tender feelings? The Bible says: “Open your hearts wide.” (2 Corinthians 6:11-13) Listen carefully when someone tells you how he feels and what he is worried about. (James 1:19) Use your imagination and ask yourself: ‘If I were in his situation, how would I feel? What would I need?’​—1 Peter 3:8.

15. What can we do to help those who may be grieving or suffering?

¹⁵ Our tender actions. Tenderness will motivate us to help others, especially those who are grieving or suffering. How can we help them? Romans 12:15 says: “Weep with those who weep.” Many times, people need comfort more than solutions. They need a friend who is interested in them and who listens to them. One sister who felt comforted by the brothers and sisters after her daughter died says, “I appreciated it when friends came over and just cried with me.” We can also show tenderness by doing practical things to help others. Perhaps there is a widow who needs help with repairs on her home. Or maybe there is an older Christian who needs help getting to the meetings, out in the ministry, or to the doctor. Even a small act of kindness can make a big difference in a person’s life. (1 John 3:17, 18) Most important, we can show tenderness to others by doing as much as we can to preach the good news. This is the best way to make a difference in the lives of sincere people!

16. What can we say to encourage those who are depressed?

¹⁶ Our tender words. Our tender feelings will motivate us to “speak consolingly to those who are depressed.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14) What can we say to encourage them? We can tell them how much we care about them. We can commend them and help them to see their positive qualities and abilities. We can remind them that Jehovah helped them find the truth, so they must be precious to him. (John 6:44) We can reassure them that Jehovah deeply cares for his servants who are “brokenhearted” or “crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18) Our tender words can really refresh those who need comfort.​—Proverbs 16:24.

17, 18. (a) How does Jehovah expect the elders to treat his sheep? (b) What will we discuss in the next article?

¹⁷ Elders, Jehovah expects you to treat his sheep with tenderness. (Acts 20:28, 29) Remember, it is your responsibility to teach, encourage, and refresh his sheep. (Isaiah 32:1, 2; 1 Peter 5:2-4) So an elder who is tenderly compassionate will not try to control his brothers, that is, to make rules or to use guilt to pressure them to do more when they are not able to. Instead, an elder wants his brothers and sisters to be truly happy, and he trusts that their love for Jehovah will motivate them to give God their very best.​—Matthew 22:37.

¹⁸ As we meditate on Jesus’ humility and tenderness, we will be motivated to imitate him. In the next article, we will discuss how we can imitate Jesus’ courage and discernment.

1, 2. (a) How can we gain everlasting life? (b) What can help us to stay focused on our journey?

WHEN we become Christians, it is as if we begin a journey. If we remain faithful to God, our journey will be a success and we can live forever. Jesus said: “The one who has endured to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13) Yes, to finish our journey, we must remain faithful to God until “the end,” whether it is the end of our life or the end of this wicked world. But we must be careful not to get distracted by this world. (1 John 2:15-17) How can we stay focused on our journey?

² Jesus set the perfect example for us. By studying what the Bible says about Jesus’ journey, or his way of life, we can learn what he is like. And we will love him and have faith in him. (Read 1 Peter 1:8, 9.) The apostle Peter said that Jesus left an example for us to follow closely. (1 Peter 2:21) And if we carefully imitate Jesus’ example, we will be able to endure to the end.a (See footnote.) In the previous article, we learned how we can imitate Jesus’ example of humility and tenderness. In this article, we will learn how to imitate his example of courage and discernment.

JESUS IS COURAGEOUS

3. What is courage, and how do we get it?

³ Courage is a feeling that can strengthen us and help us to endure difficulties. Courage also helps us to defend what is right. It can help us to remain calm and faithful to God when we suffer trials. Courage is related to fear, hope, and love. How? When we have a fear of displeasing God, we will not let fear of man affect us. (1 Samuel 11:7; Proverbs 29:25) Hope in Jehovah helps us to focus on our future and not on our trials. (Psalm 27:14) Unselfish love motivates us to show courage even when we are persecuted. (John 15:13) We get courage by trusting in God and imitating his Son.​—Psalm 28:7.

4. How did Jesus show courage in the temple? (See opening picture.)

⁴ At 12 years of age, Jesus showed courage when he was “in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers.” (Read Luke 2:41-47.) Those religious teachers knew the Mosaic Law very well, but they also knew the Jewish traditions. These traditions made the Law difficult to obey. But Jesus did not allow their knowledge to stop him from speaking up. He was not afraid. He kept “asking them questions.” Of course, Jesus was not asking questions that a young boy would usually ask. Instead, we can imagine him asking deep questions that made those teachers pay attention and think. And if the teachers tried to trick Jesus with questions that would cause arguments, they failed. All those listening, including the teachers, were amazed “at his understanding and his answers.” Yes, Jesus courageously defended the truth that is found in God’s Word!

5. In what ways did Jesus show courage during his ministry?

⁵ During his ministry, Jesus showed courage in different ways. For example, he showed the people that the religious leaders were misleading them with their false teachings. (Matthew 23:13-36) Also, Jesus did not allow the world to corrupt him. (John 16:33) He kept preaching despite opposition. (John 5:15-18; 7:14) And twice, he cleansed the temple by courageously throwing out those who were corrupting true worship there.​—Matthew 21:12, 13; John 2:14-17.

6. How did Jesus show courage on the final day of his life on earth?

⁶ Let us examine Jesus’ courage on the final day of his life on earth. Jesus knew what would happen once Judas betrayed him. Yet, at the Passover meal, Jesus told Judas: “What you are doing, do it more quickly.” (John 13:21-27) Then, in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus courageously identified himself to the soldiers who came to arrest him. Even though his own life was in danger, he protected his disciples, telling the soldiers: “Let these men go.” (John 18:1-8) Later, when the Jewish high court questioned him, Jesus courageously told them that he was the Christ and the Son of God. He was not afraid, even though the high priest was looking for an excuse to kill him. (Mark 14:60-65) Jesus kept his integrity to God and died on the torture stake. With his very last breath, he cried out: “It has been accomplished!”​—John 19:28-30.

IMITATE JESUS’ COURAGE

7. Young ones, how do you feel about being one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and how can you show that you are courageous?

⁷ How can we imitate Jesus’ courage? At school. Young ones, you are courageous when you tell your classmates and others that you are one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In this way, you show that you are proud to be called by Jehovah’s name, even if it means that others may make fun of you. (Read Psalm 86:12.) Some may want you to believe in evolution. But you can trust that what the Bible says about creation is true. You can use the brochure The Origin of Life​—Five Questions Worth Asking to answer those who want to know “a reason for the hope you have.” (1 Peter 3:15) Then you will feel satisfied knowing that you courageously defended Bible truth!

8. What reasons do we have to preach with courage?

⁸ In our ministry. As true Christians, we need to keep “speaking with boldness by the authority of Jehovah.” (Acts 14:3) Why can we preach with courage? First, we know that what we preach comes from the Bible. It is the truth. (John 17:17) Second, “we are God’s fellow workers,” and he has given us his holy spirit to help us. (1 Corinthians 3:9; Acts 4:31) Third, we love Jehovah and people, so we are motivated to do as much as we can to tell others about the good news. (Matthew 22:37-39) Because we are courageous, we will not stop preaching. We are determined to teach the truth to those who have been “blinded” or deceived by religious leaders. (2 Corinthians 4:4) And we will continue to preach the good news even if others reject our message or persecute us.​—1 Thessalonians 2:1, 2.

9. How can we show courage when we suffer trials?

⁹ When we suffer trials. When we trust in God, he will give us the faith and courage we need to endure difficulties. If a loved one dies, we grieve, but we do not lose hope. We are confident that “the God of all comfort” will strengthen us. (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4; 1 Thessalonians 4:13) If we are sick or injured, we may be in pain, but we refuse any treatment that will displease God. (Acts 15:28, 29) If we are depressed, “our hearts may condemn us,” but we do not give up. We trust in Jehovah, who is “close to the brokenhearted.”b (See footnote.)​—1 John 3:19, 20; Psalm 34:18.

JESUS IS DISCERNING

10. What is discernment, and how does a discerning Christian speak and act?

¹⁰ Discernment is the ability to understand the difference between right and wrong and then to choose to do what is right. (Hebrews 5:14) A discerning Christian makes decisions that will strengthen his relationship with God. He is careful not to hurt others with his speech. Instead, he pleases Jehovah because he chooses words that help others. (Proverbs 11:12, 13) He is “slow to anger.” (Proverbs 14:29) He “walks straight ahead,” that is, he makes good decisions throughout his life. (Proverbs 15:21) How can we learn to be discerning? We must study God’s Word and apply what we learn. (Proverbs 2:1-5, 10, 11) We can also study and imitate Jesus’ perfect example of discernment.

11. How did Jesus show discernment in his speech?

¹¹ Jesus showed discernment in all that he said and did. In his speech. When he preached the good news, Jesus used kind words that amazed his listeners. (Matthew 7:28; Luke 4:22) He often read or referred to God’s Word. He knew exactly what scriptures to use in any situation. (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10; 12:1-5; Luke 4:16-21) Also, people who heard Jesus explain the Scriptures were deeply affected by his words. After his resurrection, Jesus spoke to two disciples on their way to Emmaus. He explained the meaning of the scriptures that applied to himself. The disciples later said: “Were not our hearts burning within us as he was speaking to us on the road, as he was fully opening up the Scriptures to us?”​—Luke 24:27, 32.

12, 13. What examples show that Jesus was slow to anger and was reasonable?

¹² In his emotions and attitude. Discernment helped Jesus to be “slow to anger.” (Proverbs 16:32) He was able to control his emotions, and he was “mild-tempered.” (Matthew 11:29) Jesus was always patient with his disciples despite their faults. (Mark 14:34-38; Luke 22:24-27) And he remained calm even when he was mistreated.​—1 Peter 2:23.

¹³ Discernment helped Jesus to be reasonable. He understood the reasons for the Mosaic Law, which affected the way he treated people. For example, think about the woman who had “a flow of blood.” (Read Mark 5:25-34.) The woman walked through a crowd of people, touched Jesus’ garment, and was healed. According to the Law, she was unclean, so she should not have touched anyone. (Leviticus 15:25-27) But Jesus did not speak unkindly to her. Why? Because he understood that qualities such as “mercy and faithfulness” were more important than strict obedience to the Law. (Matthew 23:23) Jesus kindly said: “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed from your grievous sickness.” What a beautiful example of how discernment motivated Jesus to show kindness!

14. Jesus chose to do what, and how did he stay focused on his ministry?

¹⁴ In his way of life. Jesus showed discernment by the way he lived his life. He chose the ministry as his career. (Luke 4:43) Also, Jesus made decisions that helped him to focus on this work and finish his assignment. For example, he kept his life simple so that he could use his time and energy in the ministry. (Luke 9:58) He knew that it was necessary to train others in order to continue the preaching work after his death. (Luke 10:1-12; John 14:12) And he promised his disciples that he would help them in the ministry “until the conclusion of the system of things.”​—Matthew 28:19, 20.

IMITATE JESUS’ DISCERNMENT

15. How can we show discernment in our speech?

¹⁵ How can we imitate Jesus’ discernment? In our speech. When we talk to our brothers and sisters, we use words that encourage them rather than discourage them. (Ephesians 4:29) When we talk to others about God’s Kingdom, our words should be “seasoned with salt,” that is, we should speak in a tactful way. (Colossians 4:6) We try to understand what people need and what interests them, and then we choose our words carefully. If we use kind words, people may want to listen to us, and our message may touch their hearts. Also, when we explain our beliefs, we read from the Bible whenever possible because God’s Word is the authority. We know that the Bible’s message is much more powerful than anything we could ever say.​—Hebrews 4:12.

16, 17. (a) How can we show that we are slow to anger and reasonable? (b) How can we stay focused on our ministry?

¹⁶ In our emotions and attitude. Discernment helps us to control our emotions when we are under pressure, and it helps us to be “slow to anger.” (James 1:19) When people offend us, we try to understand why they speak or act the way they do. Then it is easier to forgive and not be angry with them. (Proverbs 19:11) Discernment also helps us to be reasonable. We do not expect our brothers and sisters to be perfect. Instead, we remember that they may have problems that we do not fully understand. We are willing to listen to their opinions. And when we can, we yield, which means that we do not insist on our own way.​—Philippians 4:5.

¹⁷ In our way of life. We know that preaching the good news is the greatest honor we could have. So we want to make decisions that will help us to stay focused on our ministry. We choose to put Jehovah first in our life. We live a simple life so that we can use our time and energy to preach the good news before the end comes.​—Matthew 6:33; 24:14.

18. How can we continue our journey to everlasting life, and what are you determined to do?

¹⁸ It has been a joy to learn about some of Jesus’ beautiful qualities! Imagine how we could benefit from studying his other qualities and from learning to be more like him. So let us be determined to imitate Jesus. By doing so, we will continue our journey to everlasting life and we will draw closer to Jehovah.

1-3. Why was it not easy for Jesus’ disciples to preach the good news in “all the nations”?

JESUS CHRIST gave his followers much work to do. He commanded them to “make disciples of people of all the nations.” They needed to preach the “good news of the Kingdom” to people “in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations.”​—Matthew 24:14; 28:19.

² The disciples loved Jesus and the good news. But they probably wondered, ‘How can we do what Jesus commanded us?’ First of all, there were only a few of them. Also, they were teaching people that Jesus is God’s Son, but people knew that Jesus had been killed. Further, many people thought that the disciples were “uneducated and ordinary.” (Acts 4:13) The Jewish religious leaders had studied in religious schools, but the disciples had not. And the message they preached did not agree with Jewish traditions that religious leaders had taught for hundreds of years. Since the disciples were not respected in Israel, they may have wondered if anyone in the mighty Roman Empire would listen to them.

³ Jesus had warned his disciples that they would be hated and persecuted and that some of them would be killed. (Luke 21:16, 17) Their friends and families would betray them. Also, some people who would call themselves Christ’s disciples would teach lies. And the disciples would preach in areas filled with crime and violence. (Matthew 24:10-12) So how would they be able to preach “to the most distant part of the earth”? (Acts 1:8) The disciples must have wondered how they could do this work despite all these difficulties.

4. What was the result of the preaching work?

⁴ Although the disciples knew that the work would not be easy, they obeyed Jesus’ command and preached in Jerusalem, in Samaria, and even in other countries. After about 30 years, they had traveled to so many places that the apostle Paul could say that they had “preached in all creation under heaven.” And people from many different nations became disciples. (Colossians 1:6, 23) For example, when Paul preached on the island of Cyprus, even the Roman ruler, or proconsul, became a disciple because “he was astounded at the teaching of Jehovah.”​—Read Acts 13:6-12.

5. (a) What did Jesus promise his disciples? (b) What does a history book say about the first century?

⁵ The disciples knew that on their own they could not preach in all the earth. But they also knew that Jesus had promised to be with them and that holy spirit would help them. (Matthew 28:20) Other circumstances at that time may also have helped the disciples. In fact, one history book explains that the first century was probably the best time for Christians to begin preaching and that Christians later felt that God had prepared the way for them.

6. (a) What will we discuss in this article? (b) What will we discuss in the next article?

⁶ Did Jehovah change world events in the first century so that Christians could do the preaching work? The Bible does not say. But we know that Jehovah wanted his people to preach the good news and that Satan was not able to stop them. In this article, we will discuss some things in the first century that may have made it easier for the disciples to preach. In the next article, we will discuss some things that have helped us in recent times to preach the good news worldwide.

THE ROMAN PEACE

7. What was the Roman Peace, and what made it different from other times?

⁷ In the first century, a time of peace in the Roman Empire made it easier for the disciples to preach. This period was called the Roman Peace, or Pax Romana in Latin. During that time, the Roman government stopped any small rebellion. It is true that there were some wars, just as Jesus had prophesied there would be. (Matthew 24:6) The Romans destroyed Jerusalem in the year 70, and they fought small battles near the borders of the empire. But there was peace in most of the empire, and the disciples could easily travel and preach. This period of peace lasted about 200 years. One book says that in all human history, there has never been such a long period of peace that affected so many people.

8. How did the Roman Peace help the disciples?

⁸ About 250 years after Christ, a scholar named Origen wrote about this time of peace. He said that because the Romans ruled over so many countries, it was easier for the disciples to preach in all of them. People were not fighting to defend their own country, but they were living peacefully in their villages. So Origen felt that because of this, many had the opportunity to listen to the disciples preach about love and peace. Although the disciples were persecuted, they used that time of peace in the best way they could and preached the good news everywhere.​—Read Romans 12:18-21.

TRAVELING BECAME EASIER

9, 10. What were some things that made traveling easier for the disciples?

⁹ The Romans built over 80,000 kilometers (50,000 miles) of roads that connected almost every part of the empire. The soldiers in the powerful Roman army could quickly travel anywhere on these roads to defend their territory and keep control over the people. Christians used these roads to travel through forests, across deserts, and over mountains in order to preach in many places.

¹⁰ In addition to roads, the Romans also traveled by boat. They sailed along rivers and canals or over the sea to hundreds of harbors all over the empire. In fact, the Romans used over 900 sea routes. So Christians too could travel by boat to many places. They did not need legal documents, like passports, to enter different countries. Also, there were few robbers on the roads because they knew that the Romans would punish criminals harshly. And because there were many Roman military ships sailing on the sea routes, travelers were not afraid of being attacked by pirates. Although the Bible says that Paul traveled on boats that were shipwrecked and that he was in danger at sea at other times, it does not say that he was attacked by pirates. So traveling by road and by boat was usually safe.​—2 Corinthians 11:25, 26.

THE GREEK LANGUAGE

11. Why did the disciples use the Greek language?

¹¹ Many places that were ruled by the Romans had been conquered years before by the Greek ruler Alexander the Great. So people in those places had learned to speak a form of Greek known as Koine Greek. As a result, the disciples could preach to them in that language. And they could even quote to them from the Hebrew Scriptures because these had been translated into Greek. Many people knew about this translation, called the Septuagint, which was translated by the Jews living in Egypt. Bible writers also used Greek to write the rest of the Bible. Greek had a large vocabulary, so it was a good language to explain deep Bible truths. And the Greek language helped the congregations to communicate with one another and be united.

12. (a) What is a codex, and why was it easier to use than a scroll? (b) When did most Christians start using books?

¹² What did Christians in the first century use to teach the Bible? First, they used scrolls. But scrolls were not easy to use or carry. Every time Christians wanted to find a scripture, they had to unroll a scroll and later roll it up again. Scrolls usually had writing only on one side. The Gospel of Matthew filled one whole scroll. Then people started using the codex, which was the first kind of book. A reader could open a book and easily turn the pages to find a scripture. Historians say that Christians quickly started using books and that after the year 100, most of them were using books.

ROMAN LAW

13, 14. (a) What protection did Paul have because he was a Roman citizen? (b) How did Christians benefit from Roman law?

¹³ Christians in the first century benefited from Roman law. For example, Paul was a Roman citizen, and the law often protected him when he traveled. When Roman soldiers arrested Paul in Jerusalem and were about to whip him, he told them that he was a Roman citizen. He reminded the commander that a Roman citizen should not be whipped without a proper trial. So “the men who were about to interrogate him under torture backed away from him; and the military commander became afraid when he realized that [Paul] was a Roman and that he had bound him in chains.”​—Acts 22:25-29.

¹⁴ The fact that Paul was a Roman citizen affected how he was treated in Philippi. (Acts 16:35-40) And when an angry mob wanted to harm some Christians in Ephesus, a government official calmed the mob down and warned the people that they were breaking Roman law. (Acts 19:35-41) Later, when he was in Caesarea, Paul demanded to use his right to appear before the emperor in Rome. There, he defended the good news. (Acts 25:8-12) So Christians used Roman law for “defending and legally establishing” their right to preach.​—Philippians 1:7.

JEWS LIVED IN MANY COUNTRIES

15. Where did many Jews live in the first century?

¹⁵ Something else may have helped Christians in the first century to preach in all the earth. At that time, there were Jews in many countries, not just in Israel. Why? Hundreds of years earlier, the Jews were taken captive to Assyria, and years later, others were taken to Babylon. Later, when the Persians were ruling Babylon, there were Jews living throughout the Persian Empire. (Esther 9:30) By the first century, when Jesus was on earth, there were Jews living throughout the Roman Empire, such as in Egypt and other parts of North Africa, as well as Greece, Asia Minor (Turkey), and Mesopotamia (Iraq). It is thought that of the 60 million people living in the empire, over 4 million of them were Jews. Even though they were scattered in many places, the Jews kept their religion.​—Matthew 23:15.

16, 17. (a) Because there were Jews in so many countries, how did people who were not Jews benefit? (b) In what ways did the Christians follow the example of the Jews?

¹⁶ Because there were Jews in so many countries, many people who were not Jews knew about the Hebrew Scriptures and learned what the Jews believed. For example, they learned that there is only one true God and that those who serve him must obey his laws. They learned that the Hebrew Scriptures were from God and contained many prophecies about the Messiah. (Luke 24:44) So when the Christians preached the good news, both Jews and those who were not Jews already knew about some of the things the Christians were preaching. Paul wanted to find people who would listen to the good news. He often went into synagogues, where Jews worshipped, and used the Scriptures to reason with them.​—Read Acts 17:1, 2.

¹⁷ The Jews regularly met together to worship, either in synagogues or outdoors. They sang songs, prayed, and discussed the Scriptures. The Christians followed their example, and today we do the same in our congregations.

JEHOVAH HELPED THEM TO PREACH

18, 19. (a) What did the circumstances in the first century help Christians to do? (b) How does this article make you feel about Jehovah?

¹⁸ The first century was a unique time in history. In the Roman Empire, there was peace, many people could speak the same language, and the law protected the people. It was easier to travel, and people in many countries knew about the Jews and the Hebrew Scriptures. All these things helped Christians to continue doing the work that God gave them.

¹⁹ About 400 years before Jesus came to earth, the Greek philosopher Plato wrote that it is very difficult for people to get to know the Creator and that it is impossible for them to tell everyone in the world about him. But Jesus said: “The things impossible with men are possible with God.” (Luke 18:27) It is clear that the preaching work has been possible because of Jehovah’s help. He wants “people of all the nations” to hear the good news and get to know him. (Matthew 28:19) The next article will explain how the good news is being preached worldwide today.

1. What has made the preaching work difficult to do?

WHEN Jehovah’s people began preaching the good news over 130 years ago, they faced many difficulties.a (See footnote.) Like the Christians in the first century, they were a small group and they preached a message that many people did not like. Some people thought that they were not well-educated. Later, when Satan was thrown down to earth, they were persecuted. (Revelation 12:12) And since that time, they have been preaching during these “last days” that are “hard to deal with.”​—2 Timothy 3:1.

2. What has Jehovah been doing to help us to preach?

² But Jehovah has been helping his people. He wants them to preach the good news in all the earth, and he will not allow anything to stop that work. He has helped his people to worship him in a way that he approves by separating them from false religion. He did the same in the past when he freed the Israelites from Babylon. (Revelation 18:1-4) And what Jehovah teaches us benefits us personally. He helps us to live in peace with one another, and he trains us to teach others about him. (Read Isaiah 48:16-18.) Although Jehovah guides our work, it does not mean that he always changes world events to help us preach. It is true, some things that have happened in the world have made our preaching work easier. But we still are persecuted and face other problems that come from Satan’s world. It is only with Jehovah’s help that we are able to preach.​—Isaiah 41:13; 1 John 5:19.

3. How has Daniel’s prophecy come true?

³ Daniel prophesied that in the time of the end, many people would understand Bible truth. (Read Daniel 12:4.) Shortly before “the time of the end” began, Jehovah helped his people to understand important Bible teachings and to reject Christendom’s false teachings. Today, his people are teaching Bible truth all around the world. Clearly, the prophecy in Daniel has come true. Nearly eight million people have learned the truth and are teaching it to others. So, what are some things that have helped Jehovah’s people to preach worldwide?

BIBLE TRANSLATION

4. By the year 1900, how many languages was the Bible translated into?

⁴ Today, many people have a Bible, and this helps us to teach them the good news. But it was not always like that. For hundreds of years, the clergy of Christendom did not want people to read the Bible. They even persecuted those who read it and killed some who translated it. But then, during the 1800’s, some organizations translated or printed the Bible or parts of it in about 400 languages. By the year 1900, many people owned a Bible. Even so, they did not understand what it teaches.

5. What work have Jehovah’s Witnesses done to translate the Bible?

⁵ Jehovah’s people knew they had to tell others what the Bible teaches, and that is what they did. At first, they used versions of the Bible that were available, and they offered copies to people. Since 1950, they have published the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures or parts of it in over 120 languages. In 2013, they published a revised English edition of the New World Translation. This edition is easier to understand and also to translate. And when we use a Bible that people can understand, it is easier to teach them the truth.

TIMES OF PEACE

6, 7. (a) What wars have there been during the past 100 years? (b) How have peaceful times in some countries helped us to preach?

⁶ During the past 100 years, there have been many wars, including two world wars. Millions of people have died. So in what way has there been peace, and how has it helped Jehovah’s people to preach? During the second world war, Nathan Knorr was taking the lead among Jehovah’s Witnesses. At a convention in 1942, he gave an exciting talk entitled “Peace​—Can It Last?” Brother Knorr explained the prophecy of Revelation chapter 17 and proved from it that Armageddon was not coming just yet. After the war, there would be a time of peace.​—Revelation 17:3, 11.

⁷ Of course, this did not mean that after the war there was peace everywhere. Since the second world war, millions have died in other wars. But in many countries, there have been peaceful times that have made it easier for Jehovah’s people to preach. What has been the result? During the second world war, there were fewer than 110,000 Witnesses of Jehovah. But today there are nearly eight million! (Read Isaiah 60:22.) Yes, in times of peace, we can preach the good news to even more people.

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WAY WE TRAVEL

8, 9. How has it become easier to travel, and why does this help us in our work?

⁸ When Jehovah’s people began preaching in the United States, it was not easy for them to travel. In 1900, about 21 years after they began printing The Watch Tower, there were only about 8,000 cars and just a few good roads in that country. But today, there are over one and a half billion cars worldwide and many good roads in most places. So we can use cars and roads to go and preach to people in places that are far from cities and are difficult to get to. But even if we live in a place where travel is not easy and we have to walk long distances, we do all we can to go and preach to people wherever they are.​—Matthew 28:19, 20.

⁹ We also use other kinds of transportation. We send Bibles and other literature on trucks, ships, and trains. This means that in just a few weeks, we can send literature to brothers and sisters in isolated areas. Circuit overseers, Branch Committee members, missionaries, and others travel by airplane to give talks at conventions and to help the congregations. Members of the Governing Body and other brothers from world headquarters also fly to many countries to encourage and train their brothers and sisters. All of this helps Jehovah’s people to be united.​—Psalm 133:1-3.

LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION

10. How is English used worldwide?

¹⁰ In the first century, many people in the Roman Empire spoke Greek. Today, English is spoken by many people around the world. In fact, the book English as a Global Language says that about one quarter of the population of the world speaks or understands English. Many people learn English because it is used worldwide in business, politics, science, and technology.

11. How has English affected the work of Jehovah’s people?

¹¹ The wide use of English has helped to spread the truth. In the past, our publications were available first in English. Many people could read them because English was spoken worldwide. English is also used at our world headquarters. And brothers and sisters who come from various countries and understand English are trained at our schools in Patterson, New York.

12. Into how many languages have we translated our literature, and how have computer programs made this possible?

¹² But we have the responsibility to preach the good news to people all over the world. That is why we translate our literature into over 700 languages. How has this been possible? Computers and computer programs, such as MEPS, have helped us to do the translation work. As a result, Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world can understand the “pure language” of Bible truth and be united.​—Read Zephaniah 3:9.

LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS

13, 14. How have laws and court decisions helped us?

¹³ In many ways, Roman laws helped Christians in the first century to preach. Today, too, the laws in many countries help us as we do the preaching work. For example, the laws in the United States give people the right to choose their religion, to talk about what they believe, and to meet together. This means that we have the freedom to have our meetings and to preach in that country. We also have freedom to organize the worldwide preaching work from our world headquarters in the United States. Of course, there have been times when we needed to go to court to defend our right to preach the good news. (Philippians 1:7) And when judges and juries in those courts tried to take away our right to preach, we went to higher courts where we often won.

¹⁴ In other countries too, we have been to court to defend our freedom to worship Jehovah and to preach. When we have lost, we have gone to international courts. For example, we have often gone to the European Court of Human Rights. By June 2014, we had already won 57 cases in that Court, and the decisions of that Court must be obeyed in most countries in Europe. Even though we are “hated by all the nations,” the laws in many countries have allowed us to worship Jehovah in freedom.​—Matthew 24:9.

INVENTIONS THAT HAVE HELPED US

15. In what ways have printing methods improved, and how have these helped us?

¹⁵ New methods of printing have helped us preach the good news to more and more people. For hundreds of years, people used a printing method that was invented by Johannes Gutenberg in about 1450. But in the last 200 years, printing presses have improved in many ways. Offset printing was invented; thereafter, printing became faster and the quality improved. Also, it became cheaper to make paper and to bind books. How have these changes affected our publications? In 1879, the first Watch Tower was printed in English only. It had no pictures, and 6,000 copies were printed. Today, The Watchtower is printed in over 200 languages. It has beautiful and colorful pictures, and more than 50,000,000 copies of each issue are printed.

16. What inventions have helped us to preach worldwide? (See opening picture.)

¹⁶ Many inventions during the past 200 years have helped Jehovah’s people to preach the good news. We already mentioned trains, cars, and airplanes. But there have also been bicycles, typewriters, Braille devices, the telegraph, telephones, cameras, audio recorders, video recorders, radio, television, movies, computers, and the Internet. Although Jehovah’s people have not invented these things, they use them to produce the Bible and other literature in many languages and to preach worldwide. In this way, they “drink the milk of nations,” just as was prophesied in the Bible.​—Read Isaiah 60:16.

17. (a) What is clear about the preaching work? (b) Why does Jehovah want us to work with him?

¹⁷ It is clear that Jehovah is guiding our preaching work. Jehovah has given us this work, not because he cannot do it without our help, but because he loves us and wants us to work with him. By our preaching, we show him that we love him and that we love other people. (Mark 12:28-31; 1 Corinthians 3:9) We are very grateful to Jehovah for helping us to preach in all the earth. So may we use every opportunity we have to preach about Jehovah and his Kingdom!

AT A special meeting held in Nagoya, Japan, on April 28, 2013, Anthony Morris of the Governing Body made a thrilling announcement: the release of a new publication in Japanese entitled The Bible​—The Gospel According to Matthew. Over 210,000 attended the meeting in person or by video tie-line. After they heard the announcement, the audience expressed their joy by applauding for a long time.

This edition of Matthew’s Gospel was reprinted from the New World Translation. However, this 128-page book is unique. Brother Morris explained that it was designed to help people in the Japanese territory. What is different about this book? Why was it needed? And how have people responded?

WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS BOOK?

Many people were surprised by the format of Matthew. Japanese characters can be set vertically or horizontally, and the text in many printed items, including our publications, is set horizontally. However, the text in this new book was set vertically, similar to the style of many Japanese newspapers and other literature. For many Japanese people, this style is easier to read. Also, the headings that are usually at the top of the page were moved into the text as subheadings in order to help the readers see the main points more easily.

The brothers and sisters in Japan began to read Matthew right away. A sister in her 80’s said: “I have read the book of Matthew many times before, but the vertical style and the subheadings helped me to understand the Sermon on the Mount more fully.” One young sister wrote: “I read through Matthew in one sitting. I am used to the horizontal style, but many Japanese people prefer the vertical composition.”

DESIGNED FOR THE JAPANESE TERRITORY

Why is this single Bible book especially useful in the Japanese territory? Although many Japanese people do not know much about the Bible, they are willing to read it. Many who have never seen a Bible will now have a chance to hold a section of it in their hands and read it.

Why was the book of Matthew chosen? When most Japanese hear the word “Bible,” they think of Jesus Christ. So the book of Matthew was chosen because it includes an account of Jesus’ family line and birth, his famous Sermon on the Mount, and his dramatic prophecy about the last days. These are all subjects that interest many Japanese people.

Publishers in Japan zealously started to offer this new book from house to house and on return visits. One sister wrote: “I now have more opportunities to place God’s Word with the people in our territory. In fact, I was able to place a copy of Matthew on the very afternoon of the special meeting!”

HOW HAVE PEOPLE RESPONDED?

How do publishers present this new book? Many Japanese people know expressions such as “the narrow gate,” “pearls before swine,” and “never be anxious about the next day.” (Matthew 6:34; 7:6, 13) They are surprised to learn that these are words of Jesus Christ. When they see these words in Matthew, many say: “I have always wanted to read the Bible at least once.”

When publishers return to visit those who accepted a copy of Matthew, householders often say that they immediately read some or even all of it. A man in his 60’s told one publisher: “I read it many times over and was comforted. Please teach me more about the Bible.”

Matthew is also offered in public witnessing. While preaching, a Witness gave her e-mail address to a young woman who accepted the book. One hour later, the woman e-mailed the sister and said that she had read part of the book and wanted to know more. One week later, the woman had her first Bible study, and soon she started to attend meetings.

More than 1,600,000 copies of Matthew have been shipped to congregations in Japan. Each month, the Witnesses are giving tens of thousands of copies to people. The foreword to this edition expresses the feelings of the book’s publishers by saying: “We sincerely hope that reading this volume will deepen your interest in the Bible.”

PREACHING the good news is the most important work being done on earth today. It is an honor to represent Jehovah in this teaching work. However, at times it can be challenging for pioneers and publishers to maintain their zeal for the ministry. Why?

Some publishers find that they have very few conversations when they preach from house to house because many people are not at home. And when people are at home, they may not be interested in the Kingdom message and may even get angry with us. Other publishers have a very large and productive territory but fear that they will never be able to preach to everyone in it. Still others have been preaching for many years and have become discouraged because the end has not yet come.

There will be challenges in our ministry that can affect our zeal. We live in a world that is controlled by “the wicked one,” Satan the Devil, so we expect that it will be difficult for us to preach the good news.​—1 John 5:19.

No matter what challenges you personally experience in your ministry, you can be sure that Jehovah will help you to overcome them. But what can you do to increase your zeal for the ministry? Let us discuss some suggestions.

HELP NEW PUBLISHERS

Every year, thousands are baptized as Jehovah’s Witnesses. If you are newly baptized, you can learn a lot from those who have been preaching for many years. And if you have been a publisher for many years, can you help train newer ones? Doing so can be very satisfying.

Jesus knew that his disciples needed direction to become effective teachers, and he showed them how to preach. (Luke 8:1) Today, new ones need similar training to become effective ministers.

We should not think that just because a new publisher goes out in the ministry, he is actually learning how to teach. He needs personal instruction from a kind and loving trainer. The experienced publisher needs to teach him how to (1) prepare and practice what to say to a householder, (2) have a conversation with people, (3) offer literature, (4) return to visit those who are interested, and (5) start a Bible study. A new publisher can become an effective minister if he observes and imitates how the experienced publisher teaches. (Luke 6:40) And the new publisher will feel more confident knowing that someone is ready to help when needed. Giving commendation and offering suggestions can also help the new publisher.​—Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10.

TALK WITH YOUR PARTNER IN THE MINISTRY

Despite all your efforts to talk with householders, on some days the best conversation you will have while preaching is with your partner. Remember that Jesus sent his disciples to preach “by twos.” (Luke 10:1) As they worked together, they could encourage and motivate each other. We have a good opportunity for “an interchange of encouragement” when we work with our brothers and sisters in the ministry.​—Romans 1:12.

What are some things you might talk about? Has either of you recently had an encouraging experience? Have you learned an interesting point in your personal or family study? Were you encouraged by something you heard at a meeting? Sometimes you may work with a publisher whom you do not know well. Maybe you can ask him how he came into the truth. What convinced him that this is Jehovah’s organization? What privileges or experiences has he had? Perhaps you can share some of your own experiences. Whatever the response from the territory is, when you work with someone in the ministry, you have a good opportunity to keep “building one another up.”​—1 Thessalonians 5:11.

IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF YOUR PERSONAL STUDY

To maintain our zeal for the ministry, we need to improve the quality of our personal study. “The faithful and discreet slave” publishes information on many different subjects that we can study. (Matthew 24:45) Let us discuss one example of a good subject for personal study: Why is the preaching work so important? The box “Why Maintain Your Zeal for the Ministry?” provides some of the reasons.

Examining the points listed in the box can motivate you to continue preaching with zeal. As a study project, try to list other Scriptural reasons to preach with zeal. Then meditate on these reasons. When you do this, your zeal for the ministry will be stronger.

BE WILLING TO TRY SOMETHING NEW

Jehovah’s organization regularly suggests ways to help us improve our ministry. For example, in addition to our house-to-house work, we could also try letter writing, telephone witnessing, preaching on the street or in other public places, and witnessing to people informally or when they are at their place of work. Perhaps we could also make plans to preach in areas where there are few or no Witnesses.

Are you willing to try something new? Many who have tried these suggestions have been successful. Consider three examples.

A sister named April decided to try a suggestion from one of the Kingdom Ministry articles on how to start Bible studies. She offered a study to three people she works with. April was surprised and excited when all three agreed to study and also began to attend congregation meetings.

We have also been encouraged to look for people who may be interested in specific articles in our magazines. A circuit overseer in the United States decided to offer an Awake! article on tires to the managers of all the tire stores in a certain area. He and his wife also offered a series on “Understanding Your Doctor” to over 100 doctor’s offices. He says that these visits have helped people become familiar with our preaching work and our literature. After getting to know people in the territory better, the circuit overseer and his wife have been able to make more return visits.

A sister named Judy wrote to world headquarters because she was grateful for the encouragement to do telephone witnessing. She said that her mother, who was 86 years old and had many health problems, regularly preached to people over the telephone. As a result, she began conducting a Bible study with a woman who was 92 years old!

The suggestions made in our publications really work. Try them! They can help you to maintain your joy and your zeal for the ministry.

SET REASONABLE GOALS

What makes us successful in our preaching work? It is not how many publications we place, how many Bible studies we conduct, or how many people we help to become Jehovah’s Witnesses. Think of Noah. How many people besides his family did Noah help to become Jehovah’s worshippers? Yet, he was certainly a successful preacher. What is important is that we serve Jehovah faithfully.​—1 Corinthians 4:2.

Many publishers realize that in order to feel excited about the preaching work, they need to set reasonable goals. What are some of these goals? A few ideas are listed in the box “Set Reasonable Goals.”

Ask Jehovah to help you make your ministry rewarding and meaningful. When you reach your goals, you will feel satisfied knowing that you are doing all you can to preach the good news.

It is true that preaching the good news can be a challenge. But there are things you can do to be zealous in your ministry. Have encouraging conversations with your preaching partner, make your personal study regular and meaningful, try the suggestions of the faithful and discreet slave, and set reasonable goals. Most important of all, remember that Jehovah God has given you the honor of preaching the good news as one of his Witnesses. (Isaiah 43:10) Yes, you will experience great joy as you continue to maintain your zeal for the ministry!