Tuesday 22 October, 2019

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, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere. 7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, 8 others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. 9 But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him.

So far in Luke’s telling of the Gospel, the disciples of Jesus have had amazing experiences with Jesus. They have been present with him as he has healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons, proclaimed the truth and taught the way of life.

But they are about to experience God working through them… something entirely different.

Jesus gives them the Holy Spirit and authority to do the very things they have seen him do. He even commands them to live the kind of life he has been living, not worrying about even the basics of life like food and shelter but trusting that their heavenly Father will provide for them in this ministry.

Jesus calls me to do the same, not to be content watching from the sidelines as his church is at work in the power of the Spirit, or to be content reading the Gospel accounts. Jesus calls me to receive that same authority and power and to be obedient to his Spirit. Then I will experience God at a completely deeper level.

Written by Andrew Mellor