1 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 preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
The disciples were sent out on a twofold mission. First, they were to preach the kingdom of God and secondly, to authenticate their message, they were to heal the sick. All of this, of course, was to be accomplished through the power and the authority of our Lord. Demons cower at His all achieving power and supreme authority. Christ has the ability to heal every disease. In fact, let’s just remind ourselves of His job description given first in Isaiah – which we read below- and then read by Jesus Himself in Luke Chapter four:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)
Teaching on the Sabbath at the synagogue in Nazareth and in the power of the Spirit, with all eyes fixed on Him, Jesus reads these same words from the prophet Isaiah. He then follows it by stating plainly that the offer of the favorable year of the Lord was being held out to them through Him:21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4:21 (NIV) The same is true for all of His disciples today. He continues His desire for us to be “a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor” too – no matter where He plants us. No matter what circumstances we are placed in. This is a high calling indeed for the child of the King! Jesus “was sent” with very good news. The gospel is good news indeed! Once alienated from God because of our sins, through Christ we now have access. We no longer have to be slaves to sin we have been freed to become slaves of righteousness. He binds up our broken hearts and He sets us free giving us a firm place to stand. He comforts all of us who mourn and gives us beauty, gladness and praise instead of ashes, mourning and despair. Sounds like a good trade off to me! We must always remember that to be a “display of His splendor” comes only through His indwelling all-achieving power – the power of the precious Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NIV) “Jesus Christ is God’s everything for man’s total needs.” Richard Halverson How often we strive in our own strength to accomplish His purposes ending up weary and downcast. He woos us to come to Him: 28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt 11:28-30 (NIV)
In every encounter and in every circumstance God allows in our lives we are to be the aroma of Christ to a perishing world. How are we doing with this? Are we striving against the wind in our own strength or are we allowing the Holy Spirit to manifest all-achieving power within our beings? This is not easy. As humans we all have a tendency to fall back into the two year old “I can do it myself” behavior - we all know how much two year olds are able to accomplish in their own power. Yet Christ tells us that we will do even greater works than He – always remember the greatest miracle of all is a changed heart from a fallen man: 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. John 14:12-13 (NIV) Is it our desire to bring glory to the Father? Is it our desire to display His splendor? We will have what we ask. “Our actions disclose what goes on within us, just as its fruit makes known a tree otherwise unknown to us.” Thalassios the Libyan