Apostles

Not many people would be willing to go out as a representative of Jesus if the requirements of the original 12 apostles were expected today. Would you go?

Matthew 10:5-42

• Don’t go to the Gentiles. Don’t go to the Samaritans. (v. 5). Jesus had a target audience in mind.
• Go to the lost sheep of Israel (v. 6). As far a Jesus was concerned, the Jews, as a people and nation, were not saved. Though certainly the Jews considered themselves saved. How many nations are likewise deluded and lost today?
• Preach the kingdom of heaven is at hand (v. 7). Not some distant future relationship with God. But a present knowledge of God.
• Freely you have received; freely give (v. 8). Do not preach for money. Do not sell the gospel. Salvation cannot be bought, not even by good works.
• Without a large bankroll and without extra clothing, they went expecting those who received their message would provide for them. For the workman is worthy of his hire (v. 9-10).
• Some places and people would receive the gospel and the gospel preachers. Others would not (v. 11-15).
• The world would not be friendly to them; and they must expect opposition and know how to handle it. But they must not worry about their response when arrested (v. 16-20).
• Like Jesus, and because of their association with him, the apostles would be maligned and persecuted (v. 21-25).
• But they should not fear the consequences, for their heavenly Father watches over them (v. 26-31).
• The gospel of peace with God will bring wars among men who will not be reconciled to God(v. 32-36).
• The ultimate question is whether Jesus means more to us than our families or even our own lives (v. 37-39).
• How men treat the representatives of Christ indicates their attitude toward Christ himself (v. 40-42).

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Sending The Apostles

How many apostles did Jesus have with him? What were there names? Besides learning from Jesus, what else did they do?

Matthew 9:35-38

• Jesus was busy ministering to multitudes.
• He was compassionate on them because they were as sheep without a shepherd.
• The apostles were told that there were too few laborers among them, and they should pray that the Lord would supply laborers.

Matthew 10:1-4; Luke 9:1-3

• So Jesus marshaled his men and sent them out to cast out demons and heal diseases and preach the gospel.
• They went out without extra food, extra money, or extra clothes.

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The Blind See And The Dumb Speak

Can there be any doubt that Jesus is the Messiah?

Matthew 9:27-34

The Blind See

• Two blind men follow Jesus, acknowledging his deity, begging for mercy.
• Did they believe that Jesus could give them sight? Yes.
• “According to your faith, be it unto you.” What would you receive from God if all depended upon your faith?
• Although instructed not to tell anyone, they told everyone they met.

The Dumb Speak

• A demon-possessed man was unable to speak.
• Jesus cast out the demon and the man could speak.
• Never before had this been seen in Israel.
• As always, there was a Pharisee nearby who said that Jesus himself was demon-possessed.

Mark 6:1-6

• Back home, in a synagogue on the sabbath day, Jesus taught.
• Listeners wondered how someone without training could speak so authoritatively.
• They knew his father, his mother, his brothers and his sisters.
• Their unbelief prevented Jesus from doing many miracles in their midst.

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Another Ruler

Nicodemus was a ruler of the synagogue. He was not the only synagogue ruler to come to Jesus, however. Today we witness a ruler-father intercede on behalf of his only daughter.

Mk 5:22-24, Mk 5:35-43

• Jarius. A public figure. A leader of the synagogue.
• Father. Concerned. Shameless-falling at the feet of Jesus, crying, “Come and heal her.”
• Hope shattered when a messenger comes from the house and announces, “Your daughter is dead.”
• Jesus, not limited by the past, encourages, “Be not afraid. Only believe.”
• Peter, James and John alone of all the apostles accompany Jesus to the house where they find many mourners gathered, including (already) minstrels.
• When Jesus asks why the fuss, and suggests that the girl is but sleeping, the crowd laugh him to scorn.
• Jesus calmly takes mother and father to where the girl lay.
• He clasps her hand, and bids her to arise.
• When the 12-year old rises and walks, Jesus instructs the parents not to tell anyone. Then he commands that she be fed.

Meditation Points:

1. Would you throw away all respectability to plead for your child’s life? Would you throw away all respectability to plead for your child’s soul?
2. Would anyone suggest Jesus is unfair to restore life to this child and not to all who died in that city that day?
3. Yes, she was dead. The mourners were right. But their unbelief prevented them from seeing possibilities.
4. How could the parents keep this quiet?

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