Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
Reflection:
Today marks the movement from when Jesus went from instructing the disciples and modeling what it looked like to bring in the kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven, to sending them out to do the very same things. Note the following:
1. Jesus sent them out two by two. Two is better than one for many reasons. There is mutual support and encouragement, and if one falters the other one is there to pick them up. Solo ministry is very dangerous for this reason. Every minister of the Gospel should look for at least one partner and follow this model.
2. As they are sent out they are given authority. Authority is the right or power to execute something. In this case Jesus gave them authority in the spiritual realm over impure or evil spirits. As they brought in the kingdom, they would be confronted by them, as will we see if we start bringing in the kingdom. But it is important we need not be afraid, but exercise the authority given to us by Jesus.
3. Jesus sent them out with little provision, except what they would needed for the day. He was not being hard on them, but teaching them to rely on God and the goodwill of those who would welcome them, and be hospitable to them. This would teach them utter reliance on God for all things material and spiritual.
4. They had a simple message the same as Jesus preached, "Repent for the kingdom of God has come near." Repent means to have a change of mind and subsequent change of life, as a preparation for Jesus to come into your life and through your life.
5. They drove out demons and healed the sick by anointing them with oil. Anointing with oil is also mentioned in James, when they prayed for healing in the early community. It is not so much magical, but a sign of the Holy Spirit in a physical sense, similar to the laying on of hands. It was a personal touch, just as Jesus did for many. i.e. the lepers
6. If someone was not open to the message, they were to move on, and shake the dust off their feet as a sign that these people had rejected Christ, not them. They were simply the messengers. They weren't told to try and convince or manipulate them, but simply offer the Good News of the Gospel, like one beggar reaching out to another.
Application: If this is how Jesus equipped his disciples for ministry, would not this be our model for today. Notice the simplicity, yet profundity of the disciples obedience to the calling and the similar results. Simply put, they trusted Jesus to do through them what he had shown them. Is our calling and method any different today? I think not! The greatest need in our world is to see the kingdom break through in the world where we live in the power of the Holy Spirit. This gives each of us a chance to participate in the greatest thing on earth, God changing lives and transforming our society for His glory. Amen.
Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
Reflection:
Today marks the movement from when Jesus went from instructing the disciples and modeling what it looked like to bring in the kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven, to sending them out to do the very same things. Note the following:
1. Jesus sent them out two by two. Two is better than one for many reasons. There is mutual support and encouragement, and if one falters the other one is there to pick them up. Solo ministry is very dangerous for this reason. Every minister of the Gospel should look for at least one partner and follow this model.
2. As they are sent out they are given authority. Authority is the right or power to execute something. In this case Jesus gave them authority in the spiritual realm over impure or evil spirits. As they brought in the kingdom, they would be confronted by them, as will we see if we start bringing in the kingdom. But it is important we need not be afraid, but exercise the authority given to us by Jesus.
3. Jesus sent them out with little provision, except what they would needed for the day. He was not being hard on them, but teaching them to rely on God and the goodwill of those who would welcome them, and be hospitable to them. This would teach them utter reliance on God for all things material and spiritual.
4. They had a simple message the same as Jesus preached, "Repent for the kingdom of God has come near." Repent means to have a change of mind and subsequent change of life, as a preparation for Jesus to come into your life and through your life.
5. They drove out demons and healed the sick by anointing them with oil. Anointing with oil is also mentioned in James, when they prayed for healing in the early community. It is not so much magical, but a sign of the Holy Spirit in a physical sense, similar to the laying on of hands. It was a personal touch, just as Jesus did for many. i.e. the lepers
6. If someone was not open to the message, they were to move on, and shake the dust off their feet as a sign that these people had rejected Christ, not them. They were simply the messengers. They weren't told to try and convince or manipulate them, but simply offer the Good News of the Gospel, like one beggar reaching out to another.
Application: If this is how Jesus equipped his disciples for ministry, would not this be our model for today. Notice the simplicity, yet profundity of the disciples obedience to the calling and the similar results. Simply put, they trusted Jesus to do through them what he had shown them. Is our calling and method any different today? I think not! The greatest need in our world is to see the kingdom break through in the world where we live in the power of the Holy Spirit. This gives each of us a chance to participate in the greatest thing on earth, God changing lives and transforming our society for His glory. Amen.
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