Monday 16 July, 2012

9 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.” 6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

The disciples are deliberately commissioned to go and preach the Gospel.  Jesus imparts both power and authority to them to cast out demons and heal the sick.  Then He sends them out to preach the Good News.

Jesus instructs them to travel light, as the people they meet will be expected to provide what they need.

If they are not welcomed, which was expected by one Jew to the next, then they were to leave in a manner that left the village in no doubt as to the fact they were responsible for their fate, that is God’s blessing was removed from them.

Jesus obviously had the authority to invest both power and authority in the disciples for the task.  This commissioning or ordination is an important aspect of releasing people for public ministry.  It is not simply that they are recognized as ministers of the Gospel by the wider body but that they are endued with both power and authority in the realm of their ministry for the penetration of their ministry in effect and extent.

Written by Ps. Richard Botta