One time I sat down and read the gospels to explicitly look at the disciple's relationship with Jesus. I found 14 traits as I looked at the mentoring interaction between Jesus and His disciples. I believe that Jesus was serving as a role model of a good mentor. We should look for these traits in modern mentoring relationships as well.

Here are the 14 traits from the disciple's perspective:

1. They sat under his teaching in public meetings.
2. Sometimes Jesus would initiate private teaching just for them.
3. They had private access to Jesus to ask questions.. they initiated a lot of questions.
4. They fellowshipped with Jesus.
5. They worshipped God with Jesus, such as observing the Passover and singing a hymn together.
6. They did not always understand what He was trying to teach them.
7. They were sometimes corrected or rebuked.
8. They sometimes let their mentor down, but their mentor did not disqualify them.
9. They were sometimes praised or encouraged.
10. They were given opportunities to be "raised up" .. being allowed to do real ministry receiving an impartation of anointing.
11. They ministered with Jesus and He debriefed with them afterwards.
12. There was a friendship there.
13. They had great respect for Jesus and a deep loyalty and commitment to Him. But there were also times they were intimidated by their mentor.
14. They could count on Jesus to protect them from criticism and to support them.

Now that we have the list, let's look at a few scripture examples for each item on it.

1. They sat under his teaching in public meetings. In other words, when Jesus held public meetings, His disciples were there, listening to His teaching and being instructed along with everyone else. Here are a few examples:

   Mark 6:1-2

   1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue.

   Mark 2:15-17

   15 Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi's house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, "How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?" 17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

   Mark 11:11

   11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

2. Sometimes Jesus would initiate private teaching just for them. The disciples had more access to Jesus than the average person. Jesus went out of His way to teach them more than just what He taught publicly. He was committed to helping them learn and grow spiritually.

   Mark 8:31-33

   31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."

   Mark 12:41-44

   41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."

3. They had private access to Jesus to ask questions, and they initiated a lot of questions. The disciples were a bit proactive in their relationship with Jesus. They valued His insights and experience. They had a level of access to Jesus that others did not have. They could approach Jesus and interact privately with Him.

   Mark 4:1-10

   1 And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. 2 Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching: 3 "Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.
   : : 10 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God;

   Mark 5:30-31

   30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?"
   31 But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, "Who touched Me?"'

   Mark 7:14-17

   14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"
   17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.

   Matt 13:10-16

   10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"
   11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
   16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

   Matt 13:36

   36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."

4. They fellowshipped with Jesus. They hung out with Him in non-religious and non-church settings.

   Mark 1:29-31

   29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

   Mark 6:30-34

   30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31 And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.
   33 But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them..

5. They worshipped God with Jesus (observed Passover and sang Psalms). Mentor and mentee should be involved in worship activities together.

   Matt 26:27-30

   27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."
   30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

6. The disciples did not always understand what Jesus was trying to teach them. No matter how good of a teacher a mentor is, there will be times when their mentee simply does not understand. This happens and both sides need to make allowances for this.

   Mark 8:13-21

   13 And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side. 14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. 15 Then He charged them, saying, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."
   16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have no bread."
   17 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened?
   18 Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?" They said to Him, "Twelve."
   20 "Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?" And they said, "Seven."
   21 So He said to them, "How is it you do not understand?"

   Matt 15:12-16

   12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"
   13 But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."
   15 Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us."
   16 So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding?

7. The disciples were sometimes corrected or rebuked. Mostly the mentor will be there to encourage and teach. But there will be times when the mentor will have to bring some correction to the person they are working with. The correction does not terminate the relationship, it merely addresses (and hopefully resolves) a problem area in it or a fixes a misunderstanding on the part of the mentee.

   Mark 4:37-41

   37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

   Mark 10:13-16

   13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

8. They sometimes let Jesus down, but He did not disqualify them. There will be times when a mentee disappoints their mentor or lets them down. This is not the goal of the relationship, but it is bound to happen.

   Mark 14:37-40

   37 Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 39 Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. 40 And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him.

9. Jesus sometimes praised or encouraged His disciples. A mentor needs to give positive feedback and to encourage the ones they are training. A mentor needs to positively reinforce it when the mentee learns and correctly processes a key truth.

   Matt 16:13-19

   13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
   14 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
   15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
   16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
   17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

10. The disciples were given opportunities to be "raised up" .. being allowed to do real ministry receiving an impartation of anointing. A mentor must allow some hands on training. There are times when the mentor must not over supervise so that the mentee can practice what they have been learning. The mentor should begin to try and involve the mentee in some aspects of their ministry. Also, there should be an impartation of anointing from the mentor to the person they are mentoring:

    Mark 3:13-15

    13 And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. 14 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:

    Mark 5:35-37

    35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue's house who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?"
    36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid; only believe." 37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.

    Matt 15:32-37

    32 Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way."
    33 Then His disciples said to Him, "Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?"
    34 Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven, and a few little fish."
    35 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 36 And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. 37 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.

11. The disciples ministered with Jesus and He debriefed with them afterwards. Debriefing is a very important part of training. It is important for the mentor to allow the mentees to debrief with them after doing ministry together. There needs to be a forum for the mentor to point out spiritual principles and for the mentee to be able to ask questions about their experiences ministering.

    Mark 12:38-40 (Jesus debriefed with the disciples after being tested by scribes and Pharisees)

    38 Then He said to them in His teaching, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, 39 the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."

    Mark 9:2-13

    2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"-- 6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.
    7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" 8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.
    9 Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.
    11 And they asked Him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
    12 Then He answered and told them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him."

    Mark 9:38-40

    38 Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us."
    39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For he who is not against us is on our side. 41For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

    Matt 17:14-21

    14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him."
    17 Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me." 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.
    19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?"
    20 So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

    Matt 19:23-30 (Jesus debriefs a ministry situation with His disciples)

    23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
    25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"
    26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
    27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?"
    28 So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first

12. There was a friendship there.

    John 15:15

    No Longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing, but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known unto you.

13. They had great respect for Jesus and a deep loyalty and commitment to Him. But there were also times they were intimidated by their mentor.

    Matt 26:33-35 (They were deeply committed to their mentor)

    33 Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble."
    34 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."
    35 Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And so said all the disciples.

    Mark 9:31-32

    31 For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day."
    32 But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.

14. They could count on Jesus to protect them from criticism and to support them.

    Mark 2:23-28

    23 Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?"
    25 But He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: 26 how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?"
    27 And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.

    Matt 9:14-17

    14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?"
    15 And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. 17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."