Written ~ 03-13-2024
Read Luke Chapter Nine
Luke 9
Chapter nine starts us off with Jesus sending out His twelve disciples. The Gospels of Matthew and Mark also mention this story, so today we will combine the Matthew, Mark and Luke accounts so we can get a complete picture of what the disciples were asked to do.
First let’s remind ourselves of who the twelve men were, the chosen few that Jesus called His disciples or apostles.
Simon (whom Jesus named Peter), Andrew (Peter’s brother), James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”), Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector, also known as Levi), James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), Judas Iscariot (the one who betrayed Jesus).
Each man with different skills, different personalities, but each had the desire to follow Jesus and learn from Him.
The Scripture references we will be looking at are Matthew 10:1-20, Mark 6:6b-13 and Luke 9:1-6…
One day Jesus called together His twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
He would send them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick, so He began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits, heal the sick, raise the dead and cure those with leprosy.
“Take nothing for your journey,” He instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick…” He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a traveler’s bag or even a change of clothes. “Don’t take food… don’t take any money in your money belts – no gold, silver, or even copper coins.”
“Give as freely as you have received! Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed.”
“Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay in his home until you leave town. When you enter the home, give it your blessing. If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing. If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.”
“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about Me. When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”
So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. They cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.
This would have been a very exciting time for the disciples, but I would imagine it could have also been quite a terrifying time! They saw that Jesus trusted them to spread the Good News, that the Kingdom of God was near, but they were being sent out without Jesus coming along with them! They would be the ones to perform the miraculous signs and wonders. It might be that they relied quite heavily on Jesus to perform the miracles and they didn’t have the experience or the courage yet to try it out themselves. But Jesus didn’t really give them a choice! He gathered them together and said, “This is what you’re going to do…” Do you think any of the disciples tried to push back with any hesitation? Or do you think they were ready to hit the road? Jesus told them everything they would be doing, preaching, doing miracles and spreading the Good News to all who would listen. But He also warned them of the hardships ahead, the rejection, the possibility of being arrested and flogged. Where there would be great joy and amazement, there would also be pain and suffering. He had prepared them for everything they would encounter.
We may look at these Biblical accounts and think, “I could never do what the disciples were asked to do…” Is it because we think of that time in history when Jesus walked the earth as a simpler time? Maybe we think they didn’t have as many demands hindering their service to the Lord so they would have more opportunities to achieve all He asked them to do. Well, guess what ? We are called to do exactly what the Lord called the disciples to do! To go out into the world and share the Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ! We are to lay hands on the sick and cast out the oppressive spirit that attacks the soul of so many.
The authority Jesus gave to the disciples is the same authority He has given us today. Luke 9:1 says,
“One day Jesus called together His twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases.”
What if this verse were to say, instead of “His twelve disciples,” it just said His disciples, so it would include every one of us, everywhere, through all time. Does that bring these verses closer to home? Yes, these particular verses are calling the twelve disciples, but we have the same calling on our lives as believers and followers of Jesus Christ.
The things those twelve men witnessed must have been incredibly inspiring, not only that but maybe even surprising, especially when the first few miracles happened! As their courage, faith and trust in the Lord developed, the fear and hesitation they may have felt at first would have melted away. They would feel the presence of the Messiah as they spoke in His name. Same goes for us. As we go out with the power and the authority of the Holy Spirit backing us up, we can move mountains. The surprising can happen!
Mark’s Gospel is the only book that records the return of the disciples…
Mark 6:30,
“The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told Him all they had done and taught.”
Oh how I would have loved being a “fly on the wall” during that conversation. Even though the disciples would have been tired from their journey, their excitement would have filled the room. Each talking over the other so they could share with Jesus all they had done. There would have been laughter and tears as they marveled over each story of restoration and salvation.
God is so good. To give us these wonderful glimpses into the lives of those twelve men and their Teacher.
Let’s not forget to tell one another the marvelous things God does in our lives. Even the smallest detail may inspire someone else to seek the Lord.
Yes, we have a unbelievably great calling placed on our lives as believers. But do you recall what it says in Joshua 1:7-9?
7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
When the Lord calls you to do His work… remember…
“Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your GOD is with you wherever you go.”
~AMEN~