Scripture: Mark 6:7-13
Throughout the gospels, we read of Jesus calling,
first, to his disciples and then to others, that they might follow Him in faith
and service. The twelve were given
special attention through one-on-one time with the LORD, when
He taught them in a depth that others didn’t receive. He provided explanations of some of His
teaching and parables to prepare them for the days to come, but for the majority
of the faithful, they heard His sermons, and saw His healings, and experienced
His condemnation of evil and its wicked ways, but it would be simple trust and
faith, and the power of the Holy Spirit, that would enable them to follow wherever
they were led.
Remember Jesus’ words to Thomas? “Blessed are those who have not seen and
yet have believed.” (John 20:24-29) The disciples had extensive training in what
Jesus is all about, but the rest of us fall into that other category - “believing
without seeing”! And yet, is there any significant
difference in our call versus that which the Twelve received? Quite honesty, there is very little
difference, except for the details!
Read Mark 6:7-13
They had been given the authority for ministry in
and through the name of Jesus, and that would include all that the LORD
had done for this world - like sharing the truth of God, healing the sick and
infirm, taking a stand against the ways of Satan, and loving creation and the
created with all the grace and mercy and power of the heavenly Father.
And before anyone thinks that this call was limited
to the disciples, in Luke 10:1-17, Jesus
appointed seventy-two of His followers to go out “into His harvest field”. They were to heal the sick, proclaim the day
of the LORD, to
stand up against evil and the ways of wickedness, and to love others as Jesus
had first loved them (John 13:34-35). First it was twelve, then it was seventy-two,
and today, the call of Jesus Christ rests on all who know Him as LORD.
We are servants of the Father, the brothers and
sisters of Jesus Christ, and the ones who follow the nudging and blessings that
come by the Holy Spirit. As Luke 10
tells us, we are to go throughout the world to share the way of Jesus with all
who are in need of His truth. And the promise
that Christ gave to the faithful of that day, He also gives to us - “Whoever
listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever
rejects me rejects Him who sent me.” (Luke 10:16)
By faith in Jesus, by trust and acceptance of His
word, we receive His anointing to carry on in the ministry that He began, and
now calls us to be an integral part of all that He does. Over and over, we read that people were
healed because of the faith they placed in our LORD.
And today, by faith, we also come for His healing grace.
(Note: Following this short message, we held a healing service for all who were in need)
