Sunday, March 30, 2008

Commissioning the Twelve To Go Forth, To Heal the Sick, Proclaim The Good News


Jesus commanded the disciples to go out, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God and healing, yet without the necessary provisions of food, housing, and clothing. These would be provided for them through those who believed their message, as the power of the gospel was worked out through their preaching and healing. If the gospel did not work, if the Lord’s promises were not true, the disciples would have been in trouble. Jesus’ commandments were purposed to create needs which only He could provide, and which would be obtained only through faith.

The great need of the disciples, like us, was not to know more (in a purely intellectual way) about Jesus, but to trust Him more. The disciples also needed to learn to trust in Him in His absence. Jesus could have gone with His disciples, but He purposely stayed behind. They needed to find Him sufficient in His absence, for they would soon learn that He would not be with them (in His physical body) for long.


----From commentary of Bob Deffinbaugh with the full text here.


Of all the commentaries I've read this week on the Gospel of Luke, this one on turning the other cheek---what it does and doesn't mean---is the best I've read and the hardest to live.

People who think embracing Christ and the Good News is a panacea or a quick fix are simply deluded. It can be the hardest thing in the world, and without the Supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, it is impossible.

1 comment:

WomanHonorThyself said...

youre so right..tis always soooooooo difficult to take the high road isnt it?.:)