Unlimited: Jesus Sends Out the 12
Apr 5, 2024 1928
Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”They went out and preached that people should repent.They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them (Mark 6:6–13, NIV).
Jesus expanded his ministry. Jesus sends out the 12 disciples after they’ve watched and learned from what he did, and he sends them out to do the same.
And he gave them some very strange instructions. Why does Jesus tell them not to take bread, a bag, or any money or extra clothes? That seems very strange.
Jesus Sends Out the 12 Disciples To Learn Lessons
Jesus had his eye on the spiritual lesson that he wanted them to learn: that when they were on a mission for him, they weren’t to burden themselves down with material possessions. They were to move quickly through the towns and villages, announcing repentance and the Kingdom of God.
And just as they had seen Jesus do, they also did.
The church was never meant to be God’s heavy infantry, but instead, his light cavalry, sweeping across the world announcing the message of forgiveness and salvation through Christ.
Every one of us – you and I – has been sent by Jesus in this world, like Jesus sent the Twelve.
But too often, we’ve done what Jesus told the disciples not to do: we’ve weighed ourselves down with material possessions. We’ve made what we have to be more important than who we are: messengers for Jesus.
– Eliezer Gonzalez
Eli’s Reflection: What about you? Perhaps it’s time you decluttered your life for the sake of the Kingdom. What is weighing you down and keeping you from your calling? Perhaps it something you own but perhaps it is something you are carrying in your heart and mind. Lay it all at Jesus’ feet today.
Maritha
Dec 4, 2020
Dr. Eli, Thank you so much for the message. They really enlighted me and filled my soul. I am giving all my problems to the Lord Jesus Christ to carry and help me with these hard times that my family is facing. God bless your day? Maritha