It is for this reason that Jesus' message resonates to us so much. He understands the day-to-day life that most people in the world face because He lived one. He understands those who suffer due to the sufferings that He faced. When His disciples ask Him to show them God, He replies that He already has. Honestly, I believe that, while He was clearly referring to Himself, He was also referring to what He had said time and again: that God is in each one of us, that whatsoever we do to the least one of us, we do unto Him.
The disciples have a difficult time with these ideas, even after He had returned from the dead to continue their instruction (now, THAT'S a dedicated teacher!). They will continue to struggle after He departs from them again--which was clearly something that He had to do if they were ever going to become independent.
The times of the early Church are detailed in Luke's writing The Acts of the Apostles. Our pastor encouraged us to read this relatively short, but interesting Book of the New Testament this next week. It chronicles the foundations and development of the Church after Jesus had physically left. It shows everyday people overcoming incredible odds and facing terrible persecution in a tiny portion of a grand empire, not knowing that their efforts would create the largest religion in the world.
These weren't perfect people, and they did not find perfect solutions. They were regular people dedicated to better the world by helping one another. There is a great deal that we can learn from them.