Notes from Luke 9 - 4-11-21

EMISSARIES OF THE KING (Luke 9:1-9)

Lord as always we ask for your blessings on our bible study, all of its members and their loved ones. We ask that tonight each soul receives the spiritual food necessary to satisfy their hunger… Thank you Lord Jesus for your presents with us, your guidance and your support as we embark each week on a new vista, a new chapter and new experience as we read and relive your life with you and seek to comprehend your word…We are grateful for the work of Luke, inspired by you, that we are left with his record, incite and wisdom…

We pray these things in Jesus’ name

amen

9:1-9 Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God, and to cure those who were ill. He said to them, "Take nothing for the road, neither a staff nor a wallet, nor bread nor money, nor two tunics. Whatever house you go into, stay there, and leave from there. As for whoever do not receive you--when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as evidence against them." So they went out, and they went through the villages, preaching and healing everywhere.

Herod, the tetrarch, heard about the things which were going on. He did not know what to make of them, because it was said by some, "John is risen from the dead"; and by some, "Elijah has appeared"; and by others, "One of the prophets of the ancient days has risen again." But Herod said, "John I myself beheaded. Who is this about whom I hear such reports?" And he tried to see him.

In the ancient days there was in effect only one way of spreading a message abroad and that was by word of mouth. Newspapers did not exist; books had to be hand-written, and a book the size of Luke--Acts would have cost over $50. per copy to produce! Radio and television had not even been dreamed of. That is why Jesus sent out the Twelve on this mission. He was under the limitations of time and space; his helpers had to be mouths to speak for him.

They were to travel light. That was simply because the man who travels light travels far and fast. The more a man is cluttered up with material things the more he is shackled to one place and distracted from his mission. Jesus ,through his apostles established and permanent churches but to do this Jesus also needed the catalyst for it all.. He need his disciples.. his preachers of the “Good News”… The trappings of convention, of the “material” served to only inhibit his mission…Consequently he sent his disciples out 2 by 2, without possessions, armed exclusively with the Holy spirit… This required great faith….

If they were not received they were to shake off the dust from their feet when they left the town. When Rabbis entered Palestine after some journey in a gentile land, they shook off the last particle of heathen dust from their feet. A village or town which would not receive them was to be treated as a strict Jew would treat a heathen country. It had refused its opportunity and had condemned itself.

That this ministry was mightily effective is plain from Herod's reaction. Things were happening. Perhaps Elijah, the forerunner, had at last come. Perhaps even the great promised prophet had arrived (Deuteronomy 18:15). But "Conscience doth make cowards of us all," and there was a lingering fear in Herod's mind that John the Baptiser, whom he thought he had eliminated, had come back to haunt him.

One thing which stands out about the ministry which Jesus laid upon the Twelve is this--over and over again in this short passage it joins preaching and healing. It joins concern for men's bodies and men's souls. It was something which was not to deal only in words, however comforting; but also in deeds. It was a message which was not confined to news of eternity; it proposed to change conditions on earth. It was the reverse of a religion of "pie in the sky." It insisted that health to men's bodies was as integral a part of God's purpose as health to their souls. This was proof indeed of human understanding of God.. This was proof indeed the Jesus was the son of Man, The son of God and our Lord and saviour.. This was the tangible to prove of the incomprehensible… God is walking as a man among us…



Dear Lord, we know that you still walk among us, and with us, beside us and are watching over us and for all of these things we are grateful.. We ask that tonight that you grant us a more substantial view of your word. Grant us the wisdom to use this knowledge so that, through Jesus, our light will shine also everywhere we go and with whomever we associate. We ask for the strength, knowledge and perseverance to minister whenever we are able, to share the good news and to be a living example of your word that we study here each week… We are thankful for prayers answered and for all of the blessings that thou hast bestowed upon us…

We ask these things in Jesus’ name

Amen