For three years and a half the disciples were under the instruction of the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. By personal contact and association, Christ trained them for His service. Day by day they walked and talked with Him, hearing His words of cheer to the weary and heavy-laden, and seeing the manifestation of His power in behalf 18 of the sick and the afflicted. Sometimes He taught them, sitting among them on the mountainside; sometimes beside the sea or walking by the way, He revealed the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Wherever hearts were open to receive the divine message, He unfolded the truths of the way of salvation. He did not command the disciples to do this or that, but said, "Follow Me." On His journeys through country and cities, He took them with Him, that they might see how He taught the people. They traveled with Him from place to place. They shared His frugal fare, and like Him were sometimes hungry and often weary. On the crowded streets, by the lakeside, in the lonely desert, they were with Him. They saw Him in every phase of life.

I tre og et halvt år var disciplene blevet undervist af den største lærer, verden nogensinde har kendt. Ved personlig kontakt og forbindelse opdrog Kristus dem til sin tjeneste. Dag efter dag vandrede de sammen med ham og talte med ham, hørte hans opmuntrende ord til de trætte og tyngede og så ham åbenbare sin magt til at hjælpe de syge og lidende. Undertiden lærte han dem, mens han sad iblandt dem på bjergskråningen; undertiden åbenbarede han dem Guds riges hemmeligheder ved søens bred, eller mens de vandrede hen ad vejen. Hvor som helst hjerterne var åbne, så de kunne modtage det guddommelige budskab, udlagde han sandheden om vejen til frelse. Han gav ikke sine disciple befaling om at udrette dette eller hint, men sagde blot: "Følg mig!" Han tog dem med sig på sine rejser gennem lande og byer, for at de kunne være vidne til, hvordan han lærte folket. De drog med ham fra sted til sted. De delte hans simple kost med ham, og ligesom han var de undertiden sultne og tit trætte. I de myldrende gader, ved søens bred eller i ørkenens ensomhed var de sammen med ham. De så ham under alle livets forhold.