Jesus Sends Out the Twelve: Lk 9:1-9

The second Sunday of Christmas – January 5, 2024

 

Scripture reading: Luke 9:1-9

Introduction

• What does God expect us to do on earth during this time period between our Lord’s ascension to heaven and his return to earth (Mt 28:18-20)? How has he equipped us to do it?
• Brief review: What has Luke taught us so far about the power and authority of Jesus?
• Today, we’ll examine a text that explores Jesus’ commissioning of his disciples.

 

Jesus commissions the twelve

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.

• Parallel accounts: Matt 10:1, 5-11:1; Mark 6:7-13
• “The Twelve” –The remnant of Israel, vanguard of “new” Israel (cf. Rom 11:11-21; Rev 21:9-14). Compare Lk 10:1-16 (cf. Gen 10; Dt 32:8-9).
• The Twelve go out two-by-two (Mk 6:7; cf. Dt 19:15).
• “He gave them power and authority.” Authority is exousia, the legal right to represent the sanctioning authority (e.g., legate and delegate). Power is dunamis, the physical force required to carry out the legate’s will. Both are required. Our authority comes from the Father and Son as ambassadors of the rightful king (Mt 28:19-20). Our power comes from the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). The entire Trinity is involved.
• “He gave them…” – Our authority and power are purely derivative, based on relationship. Some people want power and authority without the relationship (e.g., Acts 8:9-24 Acts 19:13-16). People can get power and authority from the evil powers (cf. Rev 13:4). Ultimately, all authority and power—even for bad guys—come from God (e.g., Rev 6:8; 9:5; 13:5).
• “Proclaim the kingdom of God” – not the “Four Spiritual Laws” but the message that God was about to set up his promised kingdom on earth through Jesus as the next step in his strategy of redeeming humans and renewing the whole creation!
• “…and heal the sick” – they were not just to proclaim with words but to demonstrate the kingdom with power and compassion. Miracles give evidence that the kingdom has “come near.” Mt 10:7 is more specific about the evidences: “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers and cast out demons.” All these things lead people to “repentance” (Mk 6:12-13).
• “Take nothing for the journey, no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt” – they were to travel light and trust God to protect and provide for them. These were temporary restrictions for this specific assignment. See Lk 22:35-38.
• “Whatever house…” – Be grateful for God’s provision; don’t look for “the best.”
• “If people do not welcome you, leave their town” – move on, there is more to do.
• “shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them” – a sign of judgment: God is rejecting you because you are rejecting his messengers (e.g., Acts 13:51).

 

The results of the ministry assignment

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.

• For Herod: Herod Antipas was one of the sons of Herod the Great. Family tree (explain). Now, Antipas was tetrarch of Galilee and Perea from 4 BC to AD 39. He heard reports of Jesus’ ministry and was perplexed and asks the question so common in Luke: who is this Jesus? He wants to see Jesus, something he finally gets to do in Lk 23:6-12.
• For those who believed and obeyed: They were blessed by Jesus’ instruction and many by his healings, exorcisms and other miracles (cf. Lk 9:10; 10:17-18).
• For those who didn’t believe: They were hardened, warned and later judged (cf. Mt 10:16-23). God’s word and work are always a fork in the road. They result in blessing for some and judgment for others (cf. Lk 2:34; 3:7-9; Rom 11:7).
• The Apostles: They were “catching” people as Jesus prophesied in Lk 5:10. As they did so, they experienced great joy and were built up in their faith (e.g., Lk 10:17).

 

Takeaway

• What is the Lord saying to you from this text? Whatever it is, tell the Lord you are willing to obey.