Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
Luke 9:1-9
Key Verse 2
“...and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”
Introduction
Jesus sends out the Twelve to preach the kingdom of God. Until now, like apprentices the Twelve had primarily observed their grandmaster, Jesus Christ. They watched Jesus preach the kingdom, drive out demons, heal a paralytic, calm a storm, and raise the dead. Jesus worked hard, and they kept saying “Wow!”, and then felt hungry and sleepy. Now Jesus was sending his disciples to preach and to heal.
Through this event, we can see through what Jesus really wants his servants to do: preach the kingdom of God. We can also learn how to do this. May Jesus equip us all to preach the kingdom of God through this study.
1. Read verses 1-2. With what purposes did Jesus send them out? When Jesus sent the Twelve, what did he give them? Why must gospel workers have the power and authority of Jesus? Why do you think the message of the kingdom of God important?
1-1, Read verses 1-2.
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.
1-2, With what purposes did Jesus send them out?
To drive out all demons, to cure diseases(to heal the sick), to proclaim the kingdom of God, and also they were encouraged to work for the kingdom purpose as a team
That is why Jesus called them together.
What Jesus is doing at today’s passage reminds us of how to be an electrician.
Before electricians can work unsupervised, they are usually required to serve an apprenticeship lasting from 3 to 5 years under the general supervision of a Master Electrician and usually the direct supervision of a Journeyman Electrician.
Journeyman can work independently, however city electrical permits can still be obtained through a Master Electrician.
Jesus like a Grandmaster Electrician wants to upgrade His disciples from apprentices to be journeymen through on the job trainings on top of classroom education.
In verse 10, they were called as the apostles, which derives from the Greek verb, “to send,” and “a messenger.”
“When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done.”
Luke 6:12-13 read,
“It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles” - When Jesus chose the twelve, he had already appointed them as the apostles, the true leaders of the world.
Mark 3:13-15 show Jesus’ blueprint for them.
“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” - In 1984 NIV, verse 14, He appointed twelve, designating them apostles...
1-3, When Jesus sent the Twelve, what did he give them?
power and authority
1-4, Why must gospel workers have the power and authority of Jesus?
Although Jesus’ disciples were young, Jesus entrusted them with spiritual power and authority.
Demons are evil spirits who deceive in order to destroy (Jn 8:44). So those who are sent must be ready to fight. They must have the attitude of soldiers of Christ Jesus.
These days, many people deny the existence of demons for they want to ignore the spiritual reality of their inner lives and they can live freely.
But the Bible clearly says about demons. A man possessed demons in the previous lesson was a good example.
Preaching the kingdom is compared to a spiritual battle against the forces of evil.
We must pray for Jesus’ power and authority before doing anything.
In ancient times, kings used heralds to deliver their messages in public places. The herald shared the king’s message just as it was, claiming the authority of the king.
Sometimes rebellious people did not like the message, and they attacked the herald. A good herald had to be ready to give his life to proclaim the king’s message.
In the same way, effective gospel workers deliver King Jesus' message with a life-giving spirit.
Preaching is also the public presentation of the gospel before an assembled audience.
The goal is not mere education, but to move sinners’ hearts with the word of God so that we repent of our sins and accept Jesus as King.
One way of doing this is through the Sunday message.
Those called to preach in this way must devote themselves and do their best (1 Ti 4:13; 2 Ti 2:15).
Even Paul asked prayer from the Ephesians so that he would not be fearful, but proclaim the kingdom boldly.
Still there are many ways of doing preaching such as one to one study, group study, or preparing their environment through music and chair set up.
Also in order to cure diseases(to heal the sick), they were given spiritual power and authority.
Jesus is the greatest physician who cured all kinds of diseases and heal his disciples from their spiritual sickness such as selfishness, politically minded, or indifferent.
Jesus helped his immature disciples to see through the spiritual reality and its ultimate reality, the kingdom of God.
They were molded into the workers to build the kingdom of God together!
1-5, Why do you think the message of the kingdom of God important?
The kingdom of God is where God’s anointed king, Jesus reigns.
When anyone accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior, the kingdom of God comes to their hearts.
King Jesus drives out all darkness, and rules over them with God’s holy love.
In Luke 4:18, 19, Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
Jesus loves those who accept him as king. Jesus works for good in their lives. Jesus blesses them with real victory.
When Jesus talked about freedom and release, many Jews assumed Jesus would overthrow Roman rule and establish a kingdom like David's where Israel was the center of the world.
They envisioned world conquest and material abundance as the fruit of the coming kingdom.
However Jesus taught that sin was our real problem--not Roman rule.
Jesus came to solve our problem of sin and death. To do so Jesus had to go to Jerusalem and die on the cross. His body was pierced, and he shed his blood. Jesus died for our sins.
On the third day, God raised Jesus from the dead and made him the first fruits of eternal life. Jesus came to forgive our sins, heal us, cleanse us, and restore the image of God
the message of the kingdom is a message of hope. Jesus promised that he will come again to this world. He will come as the glorious King and Judge of all creation and render a final judgment.
He will destroy all evil and unrighteousness. He will throw the devil and his followers into the fiery lake of burning sulfur where they are tormented day and night, and can never again bother God’s children.
Sin will be totally eradicated. Death will be swallowed up in victory. Those who accepted Jesus as their King will live with him forever in peace and love. Everything that was ever wrong will be made right.
Revelation 21:4 says, “There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain.”
There will be life and love and peace and everlasting rejoicing and praising God. The glory of God will shine forth in all creation without blemish. This is what God wants to do and this is our true hope.
2. Read verses 3-5. Why do you think Jesus told them to take nothing? Why do you think Jesus instructed them about where to stay? (4) What did Jesus tell them to do when people do not welcome them? How can we apply Jesus’ instructions in our mission life?
2-1, Read verses 3-5.
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.”
2-2, Why do you think Jesus told them to take nothing?
When we go on a journey, we try to plan well and bring everything we will need. In the course of doing so we can become engrossed in worries and anxiety. We can think too much about our personal comfort and lose spiritual direction.
Jesus wants us to trust him for everything, depend on God alone, and go to the mission field by faith.
2-3, Why do you think Jesus instructed them about where to stay? (4)
By doing this, they could make a deep relationship with one family. This family could become the basis for establishing a church which could serve the community after the disciples left.
Although they delivered their message to many people, raising one family as leaders was important.
Also they are supposed to immerse themselves into their culture to be missionaries.
As a good example, mother Sarah Barry identified herself with many poor Koreans by living in a Korean house, eating smelly Korean food in order to serve young Korean students.
2-4, What did Jesus tell them to do when people do not welcome them?
If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
If the disciples took rejection personally, they could fall into self-condemnation. Then they might lose their focus and try to make people like them.
They might even be tempted to compromise the message to make it more appealing.
2-5, How can we apply Jesus’ instructions in our mission life?
That is why many preachers in our time do not use the words “sin,” “repentance,” “judgment,” “cross,” or “self-denial,” but prefer to rely on entertainment or business oriented ministry.
Jesus’ people must not compromise the gospel message.
Jesus said, “Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved. Whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mk 16:16).
The gospel is a matter of eternal life and death. Jesus’ people must deliver the message just as it is.
When their message is rejected, they should shake the dust off their feet and leave.
This is the best way to testify to the sovereignty of the message. And it helps the disciples to keep a right attitude toward the message.
3. Read verses 6-9. How did the twelve respond? (6) What was the response of the people? Why was Herod perplexed and what did he say? What can we learn from their responses?
3-1, Read verses 6-9.
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.
3-2, How did the twelve respond? (6)
Jesus’ disciples followed Jesus’ instructions and preached the kingdom and healed the sick.
Though they were young and inexperienced, their ministry was very powerful. They healed many people with the power of Jesus.
3-3, What was the response of the people?
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.
3-4, Why was Herod perplexed and what did he say?
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, 9 But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him.
Although Herod was a king outwardly, but inside he suffered greatly from demons.
3-5, What can we learn from their responses?
the kingdom of this world under the rule of the devil was shaken to its core by the disciples’ evangelistic mission.
Though they were weak, Jesus, the Almighty God, was doing great things in and through them.
Conclusion
In this passage we learn that Jesus really wants his disciples to preach the kingdom of God in this dying world. Jesus loves the world and he wants to restore God’s glory in the world. Jesus wants to send us out to share the message of his kingdom. We cannot do this in our own strength. We need the courage and power and wisdom and authority that only Jesus gives. Let’s pray and make a new decision to preach the kingdom in this troubled world. There is no despair or failure in Jesus Christ. According to his vision, the twelve who were entrusted with the gospel message have been used to evangelize the whole world. May the Lord help us to continue to serve disciple making ministry on college campuses starting from great Los Angeles area.
One word: Kingdom of God!
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