Was Jesus Process-Driven?

I sat in on a meeting today with a Godly organization.  They were trying to figure out how to manage their weekly leadership prayer meeting.  After the call, the question of whether Jesus was a process-oriented person became quite intriguing and opened the door to some rich theological and philosophical discussions.

Jesus's earthly ministry, as revealed in the Bible, was a masterful blend of process- and goal-oriented approaches. Let's dive into this by drawing on biblical accounts, theological beliefs, and quotes from prominent Christian thinkers.

• Discipleship: Jesus's method of teaching was very process-oriented. He spent years with His disciples, teaching them, breaking bread with them, and living life alongside them. This was not a quick lecture but a lifelong lesson. As He said in Matthew 4:19, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." He was interested in the journey, not just the destination.
• Healing and Miracles: Jesus often took time to engage with the individuals He was healing or performing miracles for. He wasn't in a hurry but seemed to enjoy the process and the relationship.
• Parables: His use of parables indicates a teaching style that was less about quick answers and more about engaging people in a thoughtful process.

As C.S. Lewis stated, "Christ never meant that we were to remain children in intelligence: on the contrary. He told us to be not only 'as harmless as doves,' but also 'as wise as serpents.' He wants a child's heart, but a grown-up's head."

• The Cross: While there's evidence of a process-oriented approach in Jesus's life, His ultimate mission was incredibly goal-oriented. His death on the cross and resurrection were the focal points of His earthly ministry.
• Kingdom Proclamation: Jesus was also focused on proclaiming the Kingdom of God, a clear goal that directed much of His teaching and activity.

John MacArthur once said, "Christ is the sum of the whole Bible, prophesied, typified, prefigured, exhibited, demonstrated, to be found in every leaf, almost in every line, the Scriptures being but as it were the swaddling bands of the child Jesus."

Like a skilled chef (or perhaps a divine carpenter) who appreciates both the process of creating and the final product, Jesus balanced a process-oriented approach with a goal-oriented mission. Charles Spurgeon might chuckle and say, "I'm told He made quite a remarkable yoke in His carpentry days; it's no wonder He applied the same craftsmanship to life's greatest questions!"

Jesus's dual approach reminds us of the importance of both the journey and the destination in our Christian walk. David Jeremiah aptly put it, "Both the process and the goal are parts of the eternal purpose of God."

Jesus, being fully human and fully divine, modeled an approach that valued both the process and the end goals. He invested in people, savored the journey, yet never lost sight of His ultimate mission.

In the words of Ravi Zacharias, "Jesus didn't come to make bad people good, but to make dead people alive." He engaged in the process, and yet His eyes were firmly set on the eternal goal.

So, was Jesus a process-oriented person? Yes, but not exclusively. He was also goal-oriented, illustrating that life, both divine and human, can be a delicate dance between the two.
Now, that's something to ponder while fishing for men or, for the less ambitious among us, while fishing for fish!