Jesus’ Helpers
Jesus’ fame is spreading rapidly. He can’t cover all the ground on His own. Jesus’ disciples become His helpers as He sends them out to minister.
Jesus has been moving about the region for a while. We aren’t told how long, but I would guess at least a year. That gives His disciples enough time to hear His teachings and plant them deep in their hearts.
As the workload increases, so does the need to send out additional helpers. Jesus does something special before sending them out. He gives them the same power He operates in. THEY will be able to do miracles IN HIS NAME. Not of their own power, but through the gift He imparts to them.
When I looked at this portion in scripture some time ago, I broke down Jesus’ instructions into a “Job Description” format. That was interesting and enlightening. Today, we will see it in story format.
I want to back up and get one last healing in, before sending the disciples off on their mission trip.
Holy Spirit, please help me see into Your story. Show me Jesus’ love and care for His men, as well as for the world. Show me what I need to take from this story for my life as well.
♥ ♦ ♥
It has been another long, hard day for Jesus and His disciples. Jesus ministered to everyone who came to Him and taught the people in parables for hours. Daylight is quickly leaving as Jesus dismisses the last of the crowd. Afterwards, Jesus and His disciples head to the home where they are staying.
All day long, David and Daniel, a pair of blind men, sit on the corner listening to Jesus minister to the people. They haven’t approached Him, for rear of being trampled by the crowd. They are close enough to hear His teaching and catch the exclamations of joy of those He heals. Their hearts rejoice with those Jesus touches. But they also long for a chance to be near Him. To receive their own healing.
They are talking quietly between themselves. “If He ever comes our way, I will BEG Him to help us” Daniel promises.
“He probably won’t come down our street. It is too remote” David laments.
“I’ll keep hoping” says Daniel.
Jesus and His disciples are also talking as they walk along. The two men hear their voices moving closer. David and Daniel’s excitement builds as they hear Jesus’ footsteps on the cobblestones near them.
Daniel grabs David’s arm. “He’s coming our way!”
“I hear Him too. Get up! Get up!”
As Jesus draws near, David and Daniel begin to call out to Jesus. “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” (Matthew 9:27).
Jesus and the disciples continue on by, as though they haven’t even heard the two men.
David and Daniel begin following the retreating voices of their last, best, hope. They keep crying out to Jesus, but no one stops to acknowledge them.
Tapping the ground with their sticks to ensure they don’t trip over something; the two men follow as quickly as they can. The voices are starting to get ahead of them. The men increase their pace.
The sound of a gate being opened catches the men’s attention. “He is going inside! Hurry or we will lose Him.”
A door closing up ahead signals that Jesus has gone into a building; probably a house. The voices are muffled behind the walls, but David and Daniel keep following. They are so close, they will not be denied.
Daniel’s stick connects with the gate. He tries it and finds that it is unlocked. The two men push through it and make their way up to the door. They can hear voices and laughter inside. David begins pounding on the door.
“Have mercy on us, Son of David! Please!”
The pounding is so strong that everyone in the house hears it and cannot ignore it. Simon goes to the door. “I’m coming! Stop pounding” he calls out as he approaches.
Simon opens the door in mid strike of Daniel’s fist. It nearly hits Simon in the chest. “What do you want” Simon asks briskly.
“Please! We want to see Jesus. We need Him to heal us. Please!”
Jesus hears the men at the door. “Bring them in Simon.”
Simon escorts them to where Jesus is standing. They tap their sticks along the path all the way to Him.
“What would you have Me do for you?”
“Lord, restore our sight” they say in unison.
“Do you believe that I am able to do this?” (Matthew 9:28a).
The respond immediately; “Yes, Lord” (Matthew 9:28b).
Jesus smiles. “I am going to touch you. Do not be alarmed” Jesus warns them. He reaches up and touches their eyes at the same time and says; “According to your faith let it be done to you” (Matthew 9:29).
Instantly, they both can see. A shout of joy erupts from each of them as they look around the room. Then they begin hugging one another and then anyone within reach.
Jesus laughs as He watches their joy. Once they stop hugging everyone, Jesus gets their attention. “Now, you are to tell no one what has happened. Go your way and be well.”
David and Daniel both say that they won’t say a word. As they leave the house they begin exploring the world around them.
“Who knew there were so many stars in the sky” David exclaims.
“Who knew you were so ugly” Daniel jokes.
“Look whose talking! When you fell out of the ‘ugly tree’ you must have hit every branch on the way down!”
They walk on into the night. “Where are we going to go” Daniel asks.
“My sister has a home near here. Let’s go visit her.”
When they arrive at David’s sister’s home, they call out to her from the gate. She quickly answers and goes to bring them in. She puts her arm out for her brother to take it, so she can guide him.
“You are looking lovely tonight sister dear” David says with a smile.
She starts to brush his comment off as a joke until she looks at his eyes. “David! Can you see?”
He nods his head. “Daniel too” he says.
Within an hour, everyone in both men’s families have heard the good news, and it doesn’t stop there. By morning, half of the town will know.
Jesus watched the men as they disappeared in the night. He knows that they wouldn’t be able to keep this secret. He also knows that there is a great need rising in the people. Their need is more than He can fill on His own. “It’s time” He says to Himself as He closes the door.
Jesus turns to His disciples and says; “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:37-38).
They all look at Him strangely. Simon, ever courageous, says; “What do You mean Teacher?”
“I mean that I am going to send the twelve of you that I selected out to be ‘workers’ in the field of gathering souls for the Lord.”
Jesus moves over by the table. “Sit, all of you. I have much to tell you.”
The disciples all gather around the table, anxious to hear what Jesus has to say.
“I am going to be sending you out in groups of two. You will have the support of your brothers as you go. Before sending you, I will also give you the authority and power that lives in Me to do the works that I do.”
The disciples look at one another in astonishment. “But Lord, how can we…” Andrew says before Jesus raises His hand to silence him. “There are many instructions that I must impart to you before I send you out. Heed them carefully.”
Jesus looks around to ensure that every eye is on Him before proceeding.
“Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give…” Jesus spreads His arms wide, to encompass all His disciples.
“… Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep…”
Jesus looks around to see who is still with Him and who is thinking about not having money along the way. He looks directly at Judas, but doesn’t make it obvious.
“… Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town…”
Eyes go wide around the table. This is a hard punishment. “I pray I don’t have to ever do that” Simon whispers.
Jesus nods. “I hope so too Simon” Jesus turns His attention back to His instructions. His face takes on a very serious look.
“… I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes…”
The disciples faces all register fear. “Jesus, are You sure we need to go? Wouldn’t it be safer if we stayed with You?”
“Safer for who, John? I cannot cover the whole of Israel alone. Those who do not hear the word will not be ‘safe’. They will be in danger of eternal death.”
John bows his head. “I’m sorry Lord. It just sounds… dangerous.”
Jesus nods. “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
“So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows…”
Jesus looks at John and waits. “I understand, Lord. I will go wherever You send me.”
Jesus gives John an encouraging smile. “… Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven…”
Jesus face becomes deadly serious again. All the disciples ready for whatever comes next.
“… Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it…”
Jesus pauses to let that sink deep into His disciples’ hearts. His face softens as He continues.
“… Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward” (Matthew 10:5-42).
Jesus stops. He looks around. “Are there any questions?”
Everyone starts talking at once. Jesus holds up His hand. “I should have phrased that a different way. Do you all understand what I have just told you?”
“Yes, Lord” echoes around the table.
“I know there will be questions as you go out. Bring those to the Lord in prayer and discuss them with your partner. Trust that the Lord will provide the answers you need, at the time you need it.”
Heads nod around the room. Jesus stands from His seat at the table. “I am going to pray for all of you together, then each of you as you leave. Know that I will also be praying for you the entire time you are gone. I will NOT be praying in fear, but in expectation for what the Lord is about to do through each of you.”
The disciples all get up from the table and join Jesus in a circle. He begins to pray.
“Abba, Father. I return to You these men that You have entrusted to Me. Let Your Spirit rest on them, giving them power and authority to heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead, and proclaim the day of the Lord. Grant them wisdom in all they do. Bring those to them that are seeking Your kingdom. Provide for them as they go on this first of many journeys to come. Daily build their faith in You. Open their eyes to the harvest and give them hearts to work in the fields; bringing many to Your kingdom.”
As Jesus prays for His disciples, the Spirit of the Lord rests on them. They feel their faith and confidence grow strong. Their hearts are ready.
Jesus calls them, two at a time, to Him. As He speaks over each pair, He lays His hands on their shoulders.
“Simon and James, son of Alphaeus. You will go together. In My name you will have power over all spiritual forces. None will be able to stand against you. Trust in each other and support one another.”
“Nathaniel and Andrew. You will go together. I give you authority to speak to the people in My name. Go forth and be My witnesses.”
“James, son of Zebedee and Bartholomew. You will be strong together. In My name, Satan will have to flee. All authority I give to you.”
“Thomas and Matthew. You will build one another up in faith. You will see wonders you only dreamed about. You will never be the same again after this day.”
“Philip and Judas. You will hold one another accountable. Your strength will be made even stronger as you share My words and works.”
“John and Simon, the zealot. Your hearts are strong and true. You will hold one another up in love. You will share My words and works with love like no other.”
After pairing everyone up, Jesus addresses the entire group again. “You do not go alone. I will be with you wherever you go. And My Spirit will never leave you while you are working for My Abba.”
The teams turn to one another and start talking about what to expect. Jesus holds up His hand again.
“Right now, it is late. You all need rest. You will leave first thing in the morning. There is plenty of time to talk along the road.”
It is difficult to sleep for everyone this night, as they are thinking about what tomorrow holds; and every tomorrow after that. When morning comes, they are all ready to go. Jesus bids each pair goodbye as they set off for different destinations. They won’t part ways until after leaving the city though. There are only so many roads to walk on.
(to be continued)
I have no idea the actual pairings the Jesus set up, or the prayer He prayed over them. But I have no doubt that they left with both excitement and fear. This was the first of many missions they would go on.
It would have been wonderful to have sat at Jesus actual feet. To be one that He blessed and empowered that day. Being there that day isn’t necessary though to receive His Spirit and authority. He gives these to ALL who call Him Lord and Savior. He gives each of us gifts to use in building His Kingdom. I don’t know if all the disciples had the same ‘gifts’ or not. But the gifts they did have were honed to a razor’s edge by the time they departed this world. I pray God keeps ‘sharpening’ mine.
Father God, thank You again for Your stories. I feel like I could be in the room and see Jesus as He speaks to His disciples; HIS chosen men. The ones You gave Him for this very purpose. Including the one who would ultimately fail Him.
Judas received Jesus’ gifts, just like the other disciples. Was there a difference in how this mission trip went for him? Of did Jesus simply speak through him and mitigate any problems while he was away?
I will NEVER turn away from You! But, I KNOW that I WILL fail You at times. Speak through me and mitigate any mistakes I may make while on my journey. Let me be speaking Your words every time I sit down to write Your stories.
