JESUS SENDS THE TWELVE TO PREACH THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Luke 9:1-9

Key Verse: 9:2

“...and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”

          Welcome back to Luke’s Gospel. We had a long break and learned many wonderful things from God through Christmas time, and New Year messages. Thank God for many servants who heard a key verse and for glorious directions to each member and to our chapter. We pray it will be the year of house churches co-working and growing in the grace of God. Semester begins at Rutgers this week, and it happens that we are on the very best chapter to restart our fishing and Bible study mission over again. Let’s pray to know Jesus’ vision for the campus through this passage and for God’s help evangelizing this semester.

1. He gave them power and authority

          Jesus and his disciples had been together for a while as Jesus spent his time traveling and teaching the Bible in many villages. He showed the power of God in many places healing sick people, driving out demons, controlling the weather and even raising the dead people back to life. The disciples were constantly amazed by Jesus’ incredible power to help others and had to be very excited by the fact that he was getting well known. They might be full of eager expectations about Jesus’ coming Messianic kingdom and the future glory they would share.

          Jesus understood their heart’s desires and decided it was time to give them a glimpse of their own destiny.
Let’s read verse 1. “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases...” This verse describes the spiritual equipment that the disciples needed to accomplish their mission. God is very wise to provide his servants exactly what they need to fulfill their duties. Jesus did not give them supreme authority so that they might control a storm or get into any big trouble. He gave them just enough powers over the spiritual and physical world to prove a point among the villages they were to visit. We call it fieldwork training. It let the disciples see the work of God was possible even if they were not the greatest preachers or the most respected scholars in the land. They should have just enough power so they may not forget that they were representing Jesus and serving as his ambassadors. It is true that ambassadors can have authority from their leaders to do certain things in the name of their country or kingdom. But many things remain the providence of the King. It is surely like this with Jesus and his mission as well. Those whom Jesus sends to witness for him to any certain place, must go their in his time and under his authority at all times. If not, they will become proud and begin to establish their own kingdom rather than represent Jesus’ kingdom.

          In this case, Jesus gave power and authority in spiritual and physical sicknesses in individual people. I still read of the same great power of God at work in many places like Indian and Chinese countryside villages. Sometimes I despaired because I did not have power to chase out demons or to heal a sickness. Once a Bible student rebuked me because she did not see the signs written in Mark’s gospel in my Bible study. In Mark’s gospel Jesus said of the believers to come, “In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” That student was unable to believe that I was following Jesus because she did not see such things in my life.
Later she invited me to her church for a revival so that I could receive such powers, but I did not go. It does not seem to me necessary to have such powers in order to believe in Jesus. It is a mystery why Jesus permits suffering and agony, when we know he could allow Christians unlimited power to heal all diseases. It is a mystery to me why he allows servants whom we know to be attacked by lying spirits and to suffer appendicitis or constipation, even untimely death when they clearly tried their best to serve the gospel to the world. I wanted to see the power of God to change those things from time to time, but at the same time, I thank God that he gives me so little evidence of his work in my life. I thank him because it makes me really trust him based on his word alone.

          We are gospel workers for Jesus too. We do need power and authority from Jesus, and he is very wise distributing his power and authority among his servants. Where is our power and authority then? Have you seen it working among us? What did it look like? I saw M. Peter’s authority on Friday. It is very great. He said, we have one hour before dinner, so let’s clean the center to prepare for the new semester. In one hour, everyone was cleaning something, even the little children were smiling and joyfully cleaning the walls. Servants painted the rooms and put away many lingering trashes. It was amazing. I even worked with Danny to finish a painting job we started many months ago. How does Missionary Peter the Silent have such people moving power? I must be the authority of Jesus, right? Jesus gives what power and authority we need when he needs to get a job done. But he does not always give the same power to everyone. Many sinners and several saints were unable to respond to M. John’s power and authority. They thought it is just human badgering. Many things get done with M. John’s direction, but some folks harbor a grudge and run away. I think they are mainly personality conflicts. Not everyone has the same power and authority. My power and authority seem very different too. I never care about authority over me or under me. I let anyone do whatever they want.
Compared to M. John or M. Peter, nothing gets done under my authority. Let’s pray this week and this semester that each person may discover individual power and authority from Jesus and act in Jesus’ name and accomplish the mission to raise house churches and make disciples at Rutgers and Princeton.

2. Preach the kingdom of God

          Let’s read verse 3. “... and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Disciple’s main mission has not changed. Jesus sends us to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. The Kingdom of God is near, repent and believe the Good News! Jesus the great physician is ready to heal all sin sickness and to rescue your soul from the power of death. It is the main message of Jesus’ people, our high calling and greatest blessing in this life. It is one thing I can do for Jesus which I believe anyone can do. But might be the most difficult thing to do. Anyone can heal a sick person if they study hard to be doctor, or if Jesus gives them divine authority. But sharing the message of repentance to have eternal life is dangerous. People don’t like it when we tell them to repent and live holy lives according to the Bible. So the real sickness of mankind is very hard to cure. But it is the real purpose of preaching the Kingdom of God and healing the sick. Healing our sin-sickness is what Jesus actually came to do. It was foretold by Isaiah that his servant would take up our infirmities and carry our sorrows, being crushed for our iniquities and transgressions against God.

          Preaching the kingdom of God is the most glorious mission a person can have. To preach the kingdom is truly to stand side by side with Jesus in the struggle of good against evil. Preaching the kingdom of God is really serving as ambassadors from God’s kingdom to this earth by inviting the lost souls to enjoy eternal life.

Pray for each person here today to know the hope of God for them in this and serve him faithfully to ‘rescue the perishing, lift up the fallen and ‘snatch them in pity from sin and the grave. Wow, that song is really what it means to preach the kingdom. There is no greater calling or purpose for life on earth that this.

          There is no better time than now to preach the kingdom either, and no better place on earth to share the kingdom than here. Let’s pray about this. Heavenly father, we are here in the world for just a few years. Please help us see the glory that you shared with the apostles and servants of the Lord Jesus who understood the real need and real sin problem of mankind. Help us fix our mind and life on Jesus’ mission to save the lost and make time every day for preaching the kingdom of God. Please show us the victory through many trials and struggles when we lay down our life for your sheep. Make every day this semester a sincere struggle to grow in knowledge of your word let us see your kingdom come. Amen.

          When Jesus sent the disciples to preach the kingdom he made it really difficult with regard to material provisions. See verse 3. “He told them: "Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic.” This was very inconvenient, especially to go with no money, but the training made them trust God entirely for all provision and help on their mission. In the old times it was possible to walk into a town and locate your self in the square to wait for a generous citizen to invite you to their home. Now we generally disregard strangers because our towns are much too big, so that we don’t know everyone in the neighborhood. They might start preaching in the square all day long and when a kind citizen invited them to stay, they would say,  “We are sent here by Jesus of Nazareth, to tell your village about his works and the kingdom he brings and which the Jews have long expected. We believe he is our Messiah.” What a grace of God when the apostles were invited to stay in one home until they could speak to everyone in town and heal many sick people.
God surely did provide many such places. And it is sure the news of Jesus brightened many homes through their effort.

          We should think about preaching the kingdom in our day for a moment. We don’t preach as they did staying in one village for a few days. We are usually expecting a long haul sharing the message for many years in one place. Still there is a lot of discussion about how to share the message in Christianity these days. Christians are concerned because their evangelical strategies don’t seem to produce fruit. Many worry a lot about their second gen members because they don’t stay in church like they used to. Even seminary scholars are trying to discover the right way to preach the kingdom because it is harder and harder to evangelize the lost in America. Dr. Jun even invited many scholars to come and share the latest evangelistic strategies and studies with staff members too.

          One idea was that Americans in this generation cannot grow in the former church contexts because their thought pattern and community environment was radically changed. Suddenly many scholars wrote a book about evangelizing tribes and tried to help Church communities change their system and structure. Some believe it is necessary to make the gospel message fit the context of each society more correctly. They desire to help the congregation invite other culture people for fellowship so they can become more inviting to the changing community. Others think that cultural stigmas and social barriers caused frustration for the work of God. There are now books and seminary courses about sharing the gospel correctly in societal contexts.

          I try to have an open mind and think they might have something there. But when I remember how God’s word spoke to me right off the page as the word of God, I don’t find myself too interested in any special method. Maybe there are good reasons for each type of study. Perhaps they do explain some works of God in different places. But I don’t know what they have to do with me. I asked sheep from time to time what they think about evangelizing.
Many say that we cannot help anyone today if we are not first interested in what they are interested in. They say it may be possible to help them if we first share some common interest like a hobby or a clique, because in general, people don’t want to study the Bible. I asked Minsung about that too this morning and he said the same thing. So I thought what could Jesus say to disciples today? We have hospitals that do a good job helping the sick. Does Jesus want us to “preach the kingdom of God and hang out?” I don’t know.

          Let’s read verse 3. “... and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” I can see each modern strategy at work right here even without anyone knowing they did it. So none are altogether right or wrong, but I do believe straight up evangelism to share the Bible are the most consistent and proper in accord with the Bible. Personally, above all the latest ideas and strategies, one word from the Bible still speaks to me. 1 Corinthians 7:24 - “Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.” I hear that word often when I think of running away from my mission or of trying some other strategy to make my gospel work more effective. God called me from darkness to light with one word from Matthew 4. Through several and precious words of God, he directed me to serve him here at Rutgers as campus shepherd, establish my house church for world mission and leads me to pray persistently for raising disciples. Honestly, I don’t know if the scholars are right or wrong and I probably will not pay much attention to them anyway. I think they are not doing much to improve Christianity, because when I compare the church that emerges from their teaching it seems contrary to things the Apostles and Jesus asked us to do. When I see it I don’t want to share their direction. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.” I thank God for calling me from the world and for leading me to share the Bible in New Brunswick. I pray to share it somehow in Highland Park and hopefully to the ends of the earth.
I think I will stick to what he called me to do: invite folks to Bible study, share common life with his servants, and do what I can teach the all nations to obey everything Jesus commanded. I will pray for Bible study, messages, and cold call evangelism to be the way he chooses to speak to someone through me just as he did to me. I believe God’s calling should be particular and personal for each, and that he will give wisdom and grace to each one for the mission, but I also think to preach the kingdom should be the main focus of any mission at any time.

          In any time or place, using whatever method, there will be those who do not appreciate the message too. Jesus saw that coming as well, and instructed the apostles what to do in verse 5. He said, “If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.” I was told that such a thing can be a terrible sign toward some people if we were to show them the sole of our feet. To shake off the dust toward the town was an awful sign of God’s pleasure with the people who rejected his messengers. They indeed rejected God if they were to kick out the apostles considering them kooks or fanatics. This instruction makes an impression that the message of salvation from God’s servants is absolutely the only way, and that whoever scoffs at the message is doing a terrible thing. They insult God and ruin themselves in the big picture. From God’s view, those people are worth less than dust. Jesus said in another gospel that the people of Sodom and Gomorah will be better off than the people who rejected the apostles on their mission. It might be the same today. This always makes me tremble when I think of the message I share with others in my tract and Bible study and in my preaching. What if they continue rejecting the message? The punishment seems beyond imagination.

3. A disappointing response

          Let’s read verse 6. “So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.”
The apostles went to work right away, and they worked hard. In rain and shine, they preached Jesus’ kingdom and they spent many hours healing all kinds of malady and condition. Even if they found a house to stay in, I think in a day or two they would become too busy even to eat. Healing people everywhere is really amazing but it must be hard work. There is no mention of how many places they went or how long the journey lasted, but it is said below that their activity was reported to Herod the ruler of Galilee.

          They were really stirring up a lot of headlines. But it is very unfortunate and disappointing to see what the mighty work of God produced in the people. Look at verse 7 and 8. “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, others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life.” This is very disappointing to me. I am sure the apostles were talking all the time about Jesus who sent them to proclaim the kingdom. But the people remained dull in their hearts and blind to the fact that Jesus was their Messiah. There response makes it look like all the cared about was their legends and superstitions. Unrepentant people are like that in every time and place. Though the work of God happens right in front of their eyes, they will not look at Jesus the man in charge of everything and or consider him the ruler. Herod seemed to have a logical conclusion about what the people said, because it was ridiculous to imagine that John the Baptist came back to life. It says he tried to see Jesus in verse 9, but it was not to learn anything about the kingdom of God. In fact, Herod wanted to see Jesus do something miraculous. He is a very sad fellow that only seeks Jesus for a show of his miracle power or trick like a magic show. Jesus always rebuked the crowds who came for such benefit seeking reasons to his company. We are very sad people too if we only seek Jesus for some benefit in this world or to experience a miracle so that we can believe.
It is testing God to do such things and nothing will come out good from that kind of attitude.

          This weeks message is a good message for our fellowship because the whole town will be full of students again. It reminds us of our primary mission in life to preach Jesus all over the world hoping that sinners will discover healing for their sin and death sickness. Let’s learn from the Apostle’s example and go to the campus village and the neighborhood to preach Jesus and ask God to use his power and authority to heal many this semester.

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From David Gates

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"It is not the healthy who need a doctor

but the sick. I have not come to call the

righteous but sinners." (Jesus of Nazareth)