Matthew 10:1-8 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”
Jesus sends out his disciples to spread the Good News that the kingdom of heaven has come near. To support this message of the Good News, He gives his disciples power to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. The disciples were already converts to his message about the kingdom of heaven coming near. They knew Jesus was a man of miracles, confirming to them that something special was happening in their time of existence. Events were occurring in the land that no one had witnessed since the beginning of time. Now they were given the commission to propagate this message of Jesus, the Son of Man, the perfect man. What an exciting time for them to accept their calling. They were sent to the highways and byways to compel others to believe in Jesus and his works. They were to be “little Moses,” clearing the way for a new kingdom where the Messiah, Christ Jesus, would rule justly and rightly. Jesus sent them out with an understanding that the Good News had been given to them freely; they did not earn Jesus’ goodwill. Freely you have received; freely give. They were mostly unlearned men, men of little notoriety, except for maybe Matthew the tax collector and Simon the political activist. Yet, Jesus had called them to his side, to walk with him and to proclaim a message of freedom from sin for the Israelites. The disciples felt special because Jesus was becoming very well-known, popular with the general public, yet of course hated by the religious and political elite. Up to this time, they were observers, but now they were going to be involved with Israel’s deliverance: Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. Their commission was carried out successfully: in spreading the Good News, they were able to perform many miraculous deeds. Their accomplishments made it seem that mere men with the purpose of elevating Christ Jesus in the world would have the power of God to overcome any evil, sickness or trouble they faced. Later, we see seventy-two disciples sent out with the same commission of spreading the Good News that the kingdom of God is near. They rejoiced in their power over demons. The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:17-20) If the story ended here about the lives of the disciples, we would anticipate nothing but bliss in their lives from then on, but this is not where the story comes to a close. In fact, we will see that the apostles and Jesus’ followers will suffer greatly for adhering to Christ’s teaching. The majority of people will not accept the idea that Immanuel has come to Earth in the form of Jesus Christ.
Consequently, the story goes on: Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated ALL OVER THE WORLD because you are my followers. (Matthew 24:9) Jesus promises the disciples that their lives will be very difficult and will not end with them dying in the comfort of a bed with blankets keeping them warm in a safe environment. In fact, most of them will die with people surrounding them with hatred in their eyes. Some of them will have their heads cut off, others will have spears pierce their bodies. Except for John they will die in hostile circumstances, looking at people who despise them. Where is the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy? Where is the reality that nothing will harm you? They were all harmed. The early church, with the 72 disciples in it, faced enormous persecution. Paul himself carried papers from the authorities of that time to persecute Christian Jews wherever he found them. As with Jesus, who died on the cross, the early Christians would be persecuted. That is why the disciples fled when Jesus was arrested. Another day was dawning, a day when Christians would live by faith, not by sight or miraculous experiences. Jesus told them, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. The kingdom of God will come, not to elevate man in this fleshly kingdom on Earth, but it will come to those who are elevated through Christ into the eternal kingdom of God. In this world there well be many trials and struggles, but in the eternal kingdom all that turmoil vanishes. James encouraged the church with these words: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. (James 1:2-3) We are changed into children of the living God. If everything on Earth had worked out well for the disciples and for the early church, faith would not have been needed. Faith is not needed if the empirical evidence of a happy, blissful life is present in our daily reality. However, Christians experiencing the vicissitudes of life have hope for something better. If all we have hoped for is now, no faith is needed. If Issac is born, no faith is needed, but if Issac is not born, and we are in old age, with no hope of a Issac being born, we need faith. If the Promised Land is already here, no faith for a Land of Promise is needed. But Abraham believed God, and God was faithful to him. Issac was born and the children of Israel did inhabit the Promised Land. When all hope is lost in the natural, people of God trust in the Lord by faith!
The Bible is very clear about enduring to the end by faith regardless of the experiences we have in life. Issac, the Promised Land are realities within our minds of faith. But full realization of either will not come until the death of the flesh. We accept the reality of God’s promise to us of eternal life, but we will not experience it until we breathe our last breath. But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance. You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. (2 Timothy 3:10-13) Our full redemption will be experienced someday. Then we will know God’s love fully implemented in our lives, but as with Paul we might suffer many things before our deaths. We might face rejection, heartbreak, adversaries, homelessness, hunger, retaliation, sickness, and the like. But God has promised us an Issac, a new birth, and a new Promised Land. As now, in this land of the flesh, we people of faith in Jesus Christ and his work have Isaac and the Promised Land in our spirits by faith. The Holy Spirit within us makes this faith position of ours real to us. Trust in Jesus is the gate to a new beginning and a new life. No other path is available for eternal life. He came, suffered, died, and rose again that we might have a life of bliss and happiness with God. The disciples were sent out in a hostile environment, known as the earth, but Jesus gave them special powers to conquer all the troubles that the evil one had placed on the lives of the Israelites. They had divine power to deliver people from captivity. We also have this divine power to deliver people from captivity through our words, prayers, and lives. Let people see the light of Jesus in our words, in our experiences, in our prayers. As we wrote last week, we are the light of the world, and we are going to let our light shine so people will glorify God. God knows our lives and has planned out our lives from the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. (Psalms 139:16) The disciples, who were greatly blessed by Jesus, experienced the high place of seeing even the demons under their control, but they also experienced the adversary’s hatred towards them. But they were people of faith, looking forward to a new life, a new place to settle. We are those people too! God has planned out our lives for his glory, but our part is to endure through faith, believing God desires good for us no matter what we experience in our fleshly bodies. How is your faith today? If you lack faith, ask God for more so you might endure in joy and peace, understanding God knows everything that is in your life. As servants of God we submit to him in every part of our lives, even when things are not going as we desire. God chose us to serve him. As with the disciples, go into the world, share the Good News that God has come to Earth to all people. Let them know that Immanuel can live in their hearts through the residence of the Holy Spirit. All that is needed is faith in Christ Jesus, the Savior who will come to all who call upon his name. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
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