Luke 9:1-11 "The Twelve are Sent"

Let’s Pray!

Good Morning, Calvary Chapel Lake City!

Many who led worship today are Bible College students at Calvary Bible Institute in Peru.

Be sure to introduce yourself to them after church… and thank you worship team for ushering us into a sweet time of worship today!

And… Welcome back Mission Team! Our team arrived back safely late Friday night.

They had an amazing trip and have lot’s of stories to tell which they may be willing to share during fellowship lunch today.

We’ll have them say a few words next week about their trip, but I wanted to give them time to shake the cobwebs from all the travel.

Praise God for the work He did in them and through them… thank you for your prayers for them…

and for our drivers who took them to and from the airport… and praise God for bringing them home safely…

… and now… with my wife home… I don’t have to continue eating TV dinners.

Let’s go ahead and open our Bibles to Luke 9. Luke 9:1-11 today.

In Luke 8… Jesus taught the disciples many things about discipleship and the importance of hearing the word of God and doing it.

And so to test them… He sent them into a storm… which was a storm of instruction to test whether they were listening… whether they heard and would hold onto His words.

Which they didn’t. He said “Let us cross over”, but then a storm fell on the Sea of Galilee and they quickly forgot His words.

Not like us saints. I’m so glad that when trials fall on us… that we always have perfect peace.

And I do hope you sense my sarcasm. We are so often just like the disciples… journeying with Jesus… understanding Him more… and the lessons we read of for them… are also for us.

For the disciples… Jesus was gracious and patient with them in their mistakes… and He demonstrated to them who He was.

He performed miracles demonstrating His authority over the storm… and over the demoniac at Gadara… and over the issue of blood that plagued one woman for 12 years… and over death as He raised Jairus’ 12 year old daughter from the dead.

All of which demonstrated that He was not just a teacher, but THE Messiah.

SO… in Luke 8… we saw Jesus take His disciples from a time of teaching to a time of testing… and stretching… and now here in chapter 9… a time of sending.

From classroom… to practicum… to internship… where now “The Twelve are Sent”… our message title today.

And in reverence for God’s word, if you are able, please stand as I read our passage.

Luke 9:1–11 but just vv 1-6 now to set the scene… “Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.

4 “Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.”

Praise God for His word. Please be seated.

The sending of the Twelve seems like it just happened as we turn the page in Luke from chapter 8 to chapter 9.

But, there was a back story very simply recorded in Mark 6:6b as “Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.”

You’ve probably heard the title “circuit teacher” before.

Circuit means “to circle around.”

So Jesus was traveling around the villages of Galilee teaching. And what did He see while traveling and teaching that caused Him to send the Twelve?

Well… Matthew 9:35–38 provides those details… “Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.””

So in the process of Jesus visiting various cities and villages to teach, preach and heal… He was moved with compassion for the crowds… because they seemed weary and scattered having no leader to guide, feed and protect them.

Like sheep without a shepherd.

Jesus saw them as a mission field… as a plentiful harvest, but the problem was a lack of workers who would do what He did… so He told them to pray for more workers.

Churches and Pastors are still praying that prayer.

So, the back story to sending the Twelve began with Jesus observing the need and preparing His Twelve.

And in Matt 9:35-38… we see HOW He prepared them… and while this is not an absolute pattern of HOW TO send…

… it is a good pattern for us to consider in ministry and missions.

First, in V35… Jesus led by example by teaching, preaching and healing. Which is what He would call His disciples to do as empowered witnesses and disciple makers for Jesus.

He modeled what to do… and then called them to do it.

Second, in V36… in teaching and healing in Galilee… Jesus identified a problem. Many people were weary and scattered… and were not being shepherded by the Religious Leaders…

Which had been happening for a LONG time…

Jer 50:6 declares… “My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray...”

And as one is led by the Spirit into ministry… God reveals a greater problem… and stirs the hearts of His workers to minister to other lost sheep…

And as one is faithful to step out… God reveals the next step… guiding His workers into His will.

Third, He cared… He was moved with compassion for these people.

It’s important in ministry… to have the right heart attitude for people.

Fourth, in V37… He share the opportunity with trusted disciples… and he told them there was a problem of not having enough workers.

So, He told them to pray. They prioritized praying before they began doing. It’s important for us to stop and pray for the Lord’s provision and guidance in the work we do.

Invite Him in… otherwise we may be guilty of striving in the flesh… versus operating in the Spirit.

Don’t overlook the importance and priority of prayer upon starting a work for ministry.

Our Fifth and final observation… for the back story in Jesus sending His Twelve… in Matthew 10:1… we read “He gave them power”… which is the Gk word exousia, meaning “authority.”

Luke 9:1 records Jesus gave them “power and authority.” Gk. dunamis (miraculous power) and exousia (authority).

They were not just going in their own power… they were endued with power and sent from above. And there’s a difference.

There are many today… and many in history who have just gone in their own power.…

“We need to do this!… We need to do that!”

People who do not wait on the Lord… people NOT empowered by the Holy Spirit… and NOT sent by God.

They send themselves… in their timing and by their own strength… not by the power of God.

Be careful of all the GOOD IDEAS out there… they are not necessarily GOD’s IDEAS.

What we NEED is God’s ideas as led by the Holy Spirit.

Paul preached in Galatians about justification and sanctification… and wrote in Galatians 3:3 “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”

Of course not. One cannot obtain salvation by works… nor to grow in holiness by fleshly efforts.

Calling and sending is similar. Striving in the flesh is NOT a work of the Spirit.

One can do it… for a season perhaps, but it will not last… it will not stand the test of time.

This principle was taught in Acts 5 when the Jewish High Council sought to kill the Apostles…

They were furious that the Apostles were preaching Jesus and telling the council they will obey God rather than men.

But Gamaliel, a well respected teacher… advised NOT to kill the Apostles…

And he gave several examples of men who rose up claiming to have a high calling… men who strived in the flesh… and their work eventually fizzled out.

He gave the example of Theudas… who grew a following of 400, but was killed and his followers scattered and the work came to nothing.

Also… Judas of Galilee rose up… and drew many after himself. He too perished and his following dispersed.

And Gamaliel said in Acts 5:38–39 “And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”

A plan or work of man will come to nothing, but a work of God cannot be overthrown… and those who fight a work of God, fight against God.

So… if you are called into ministry… walk in the Spirit… DO NOT strive in the flesh.

So in V1… Jesus “called His twelve disciples together”…

Again these are the Twelve Apostles who are listed by name in the parallel account in Matthew 10.

And Jesus gave them power and authority… as we read in Luke 9:1… over demons and disease.

They were given dunamis power… which is spiritual ability.

And authority… the right to use or exercise the power.

Jesus didn’t just tell them, “Go do the work”… He empowered them and authorized them first to do so.

They were given power and authority over several realms… over the demonic realm… over the physical realm of disease.… and over the human realm of mortality.

Matthew added that Jesus said, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.”

And after giving them power and authority to heal… He sent them…

The word “sent” in V2 in Gk is apŏstĕllō- meaning “to send forth a messenger”… is the root word for Apostles who are “ambassadors of the Gospel.”

AND, this is our closest word… in concept.. to the modern missionary.

So, these twelve are “sent ones”…

They were not just missionaries, but held the original office of Apostles… which I side with scholars who hold this is a closed office.

But, there are those today like Paul… who had the commission of an apostle… to be a sent one… him a missionary to the Gentiles…

Though Paul did not have the office of an Apostle. Matthias replace Judas Iscariot in Acts 1… and in Acts 6:2… the Twelve Apostles summoned the disciples to speak to them about the importance of deacons.

The Twelve were already functioning in Acts 6 as the office of Apostles PRIOR to Paul’s calling in Acts 9… to be an apostle… a “messenger” or “one sent on a mission.”

And look… if you hold that Paul was the Twelfth Apostle… I know the arguments for him… so don’t feel like you need to corner me after to tell me…

But one day in eternity… we will know who is right. Rev 21:14 tells us in the eternal city there will be twelve foundations, “and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”

So… we’ll be able to verify… who is that twelfth? Matthias or Paul?

I used to think it was Paul, but then I converted because of Acts 6:2… I laid down my position because I couldn’t argue against scripture. Acts 6:2 says there were twelve… it has to be Matthias.

But here in Luke 9.… it was still Judas Iscariot… which is just wildly amazing that after all he saw and even being given power and authority here… that he would still betray Jesus.

But… scripture had to be fulfilled… and numerous Psalms foretold of Messiah’s friend betraying him…

Such as Psalm 41:9 “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.” which Jesus quoted in John 13:18 citing that He knew whom He chose and that Scripture will be fulfilled.

And his office being replaced, as in Psalm 109:8 “Let his days be few, And let another take his office.” which was quoted in Acts 1 in the choosing of Matthias.

But… here in Luke 9… Judas was still among the Twelve… and these guys were all sent out… and Jesus sent them together, because there is wisdom in not travelling alone…

We are called to fellowship… and accountability… not to isolation… because our ‘adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Pet 5:8)

And Lions are opportunistic hunters who isolate their prey… making them an easy target.

All believers have a target on their back… don’t make the hunt easier for the adversary by straying from the pack.

So Jesus sends them together and sends them with a message… V2 “to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”

Preaching was the message they proclaimed… and it was authenticated by the healing ministry.

And the message they preached was as Matthew put it… “The kingdom of heaven is at hand…”

The kingdom of heaven or kingdom of God… same thing… was at hand or drawn near…

This was a message telling all who heard that the long awaited Messiah… their King was among them.

They may have looked back to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount… where Jesus described His Kingdom… and it was different than they expected.

And the Apostles may have preached for the people to repent… or change their mind about working to earn salvation… and instead to believe in the Messiah… Jesus Christ who had come.

Interesting… this account is recorded in all three synoptic gospels… Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

But, Matthew adds a number of details that would resonate with the Jews to whom he wrote…

For ex, Matthew 10:5–6 records, “These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Mark who wrote to Romans, and Luke who wrote to Greeks or Gentiles… they didn’t record that detail.

From those verses we also see where Jesus instructed His Twelve to go and where NOT to go.

They were NOT to go “into the way of the Gentiles”… meaning Don’t leave the Galilee region… and enter the Gentile regions (Tyre or Sidon in the North or Decapolis in the East) or Samaria in the South).

At this time, they were to focus on God’s covenant people.

“…for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” Rom 1:16…

The Gospel would go to the whole world, but first it went to His covenant people… the Jews.

Well… beginning in V3… now that Jesus prepared His disciple where and how they were supposed to Go… Now He instructs them what to bring.

V3 “And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.”

Take nothing… except for the clothes on your back and a walking stick.

How much would this stretch your faith?

Take No key resources… no money… no food… no extra staffs nor tunic… which would serve as a a blanket at night.

David Guzik wrote, “There was a rule from the Jewish rabbis that you could not enter the temple area with a staff, shoes, or a moneybag, because you wanted to avoid even the appearance of being engaged in any other business than the service of the Lord.”

Perhaps that tied in here as well… Jesus wanted His disciples to only have the appearance of being in service to the Lord.

And this was a short-term mission trip… So… they were to travel light… and trust that their needs would be provided.

Which is how we should always be walking… in faith that God will provide.

We just had a mission team return from Peru on Friday.

And when they went… they didn’t take any luggage… No food… No money… they didn’t know where they would sleep at night.

They only took the clothes on their backs and their walking sticks… which TSA confiscated.

It was an amazingly spiritual group…

Which is the only truth I just said about their trip…

It seems ridiculous… some would even say irresponsible… to go… and have no plan… and take no provisions…

And yet… that’s how Jesus commanded His disciples to go in this scene. Pretty amazing.

They were to take no time in packing bags… but to ‘just go’… without delay.

There were sheep wandering without a shepherd… there was a plentiful harvest but not enough laborers.

There was urgency… that did not require excessive preparation.

When God tells you to go… don’t wait any longer… don’t get bogged down by paralysis of analysis.

When we were called to go to the Philippines… we had a season of preparation, but at some point… God sent missionaries to us…

Who encouraged us… who mentored us… and who had the same message for us… “Just go.”

So we went without knowing many of the details about what we would do… but we trusted the Lord to reveal…

And He did… again and again and again. He is so faithful.

Jesus further instructs…

vv4-5 “Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”

When you read this in Luke, you can almost imagine twelve disciples coming to someone’s home…

And twelve men… knock, knock, knocking at the door… which might feel a bit overwhelming.

Where would they all sleep? Was there enough food? Why would I let strangers in my home?

Lot’s of good questions.

Kind of reminds me of that scene in the Hobbit… when all the Dwarves arrived at Bilbo Baggins home.

Or even my life as we are housing the boys from Bible College for my son’s wedding…

We have six now… and that number grows to eight this week.

But look… THIS scene… while it may appear as though the disciples traveled in one big group… they did not.

Mark 6:7 records, “And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two...”

In Matthew 10:2-4… the disciples are all listed by name and paired up… Peter and Andrew… James and John… Thomas and Matthew… and so forth.

And some think this is how they were sent two by two.

This two-by-two design was also seen when Jesus sent the seventy disciples out in Luke 10.

And what this shows us… is that Jesus was strategic and practical.

It was strategic to have people paired up allowing them to expand the area they could cover… two-by-two also allowed for accountability…

And it was practical… it’s much easier to house and feed two… versus twelve… or seventy for that matter.

Or a bunch of college boys.

For us today… there’s wisdom for us to live a “two-by-two” Christianity.

We should not go it alone… life gets tough… the enemy will tempt us…

And if we have forsaken assembling with other believers… and no one is there to encourage us… or ask the hard questions… and hold us accountable…

We become easy prey… for that lion… your “adversary the devil”… who seeks whom he many devour.

So… who are your “two-by-twos”… your ‘accountability partner’… your friend whom you can be real with?

If you don’t have an answer… get intentional to get to know people.… get involved… show up… serve.

You don’t have to go it alone.

And, Jesus further instructs in V4 for them to accept hospitality and stay there until the mission was over…

The mission was not a vacation… they were not to focus on where they were staying… or try to get better lodgings… this would only distract them from the purpose of their mission.

So when the were taken in… Jesus said they were to bless that home.

Jesus said in Matthew 10:12-13 “And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.”

The disciples were to “greet” the household meaning ‘to pronounce a blessing upon the home.’

And, they were to let their “peace come upon it...”

As ambassadors for Jesus, the Twelve represented the Prince of Peace… and they brought the gospel of peace…

One who believed in Jesus and His gospel would also receive peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

One who denied His message was not worthy…

In rejecting the message… they rejected Christ… and peace with God returns to the messenger.

In Matt 10:40, Jesus said, “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

Further, in V5… if one rejected Jesus… the disciples were to just move on… and not even allow the dust from their land to cling to their shoes…

… which was a classic Jewish action… as the very dust of Gentile cities was unwanted and was shaken off the feet of Jews upon leaving Gentile land… and returning to the Holy Land.

This which was a sign of separation and contempt for idolatrous life… AND a proclamation of judgment.

Which seems to be what Jesus was driving at at the end of V5… “shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”

But for Jesus… it was not simply because they were Gentiles, but because they rejected the message of the Gospel and His messengers who carried it.

In Acts, Paul and Barnabas were rejected and expelled from Antioch… and Acts 13:51 states “...they shook off the dust from their feet against them...”

Today… in some way we might say, “I wash my hands of the matter” meaning I am no longer responsible because I have done all that I can. Any impending judgment is the sole responsibility of the offending party. I want nothing more to do with them.

And in the case of rejecting Jesus Christ… and His messengers who carry the Gospel… that rejection is so severe…

… that Matthew (and Mark) included a warning by Jesus.

Matthew 10:15 states, “Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

We just finished Genesis 19 in our midweek service… and looked at the judgment of Sodom, Gomorrah, and the other ‘cities of the plain.’

They were destroyed to stand as a testimony against wickedness… and they were completely destroyed as heaven rained down brimstone and fire upon them.

And as Jesus is saying that cities who reject Jesus and His messengers… will receive an every greater judgment… as Jesus looks beyond this world to an eternal judgment for all who reject Him… which the Bible calls “hell.”

Which just goes to show… how in God’s economy… how wicked He views rejecting the Gospel message… the good news of Jesus Christ.

And so, Jesus… as He sends His disciples… He also warns His disciples that not everyone will receive them.

In fact in Matthew’s account Jesus even describes how hard it will become in the Tribulation where even close family members betray and even deliver tribulation believers over to authorities for death.

But He promises the Spirit will speak through them during those persecutions.

And any rejection Jesus experienced… “a disciple is not above his teacher” and He taught them many other things in Matthew 10. You should go back and study that chapter this week… which parallels much of what Jesus states in Matthew 24-25.

But Jesus warned His guys… rejection is a part of ministry… just as Jesus was rejected in even His hometown of Nazareth… and many other places… the disciples could expect the same.

Which is not the greatest pep talk when you send someone, but IT IS honest. Jesus never promised us absolute health, wealth, sunshine and rainbows for all of our days when we become a Christian.

But trials and tribulations… they form in us character… conforming us into the image of Christ… and the refiner’s fire draws out of us dross… impurities… especially that of the sin nature.

And even though we may be reviled and persecuted for Jesus’ name and for righteousness… if Jesus is the motive for us sharing… Jesus in the beatitudes said, “Blessed (or ‘oh how happy’) are you.

So, don’t let rejection bog you down… don’t allow rejection to detract from the mission purpose…

Shake off the dust from your feet… and be faithful witnesses to our King and Savior Jesus Christ.

Our job is to faithfully proclaim… to sow seeds.

Whether a person receives or rejects the message… that is on them… and judging them is on God.

So… now that Jesus led by example… demonstrating all that He wanted His disciples to do.

And shared the problem of many weary and scattered people.

And modeled a heart attitude of compassion.

And shared the opportunity of a great harvest, but few workers.

Then gave them power, authority and sent them…

And instructed them what to say, and how to respond to reception or rejection…

Now… it was on the Twelve to go and obey Jesus… or stay and go about their own lives and follow their own will.

Which some do. God supplies all the information for the calling, but they say ‘no.’

We have a choice to obey God or not. And those choices we make now… the yes’s we say for Jesus in this lifetime… with the right heart attitude for His glory…

God takes note of these… and Scripture promises rewards in heaven… to His faithful.

And these Twelve… they were faithful… look at V6.

V6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

It’s easy to read V6 and overlook the reality of just how faithful and how much the Twelve sacrificed to follow Jesus.

They left their nets… and their tax office… their lives… their ambitions… their businesses and families… and took up their cross to follow Jesus.

They’ve been walking with Jesus now for two years… and for the first time He sends them out to do all that He has been modeling and teaching… we read only that… they did it!

They said, “Yes”… they obey how He led. Don’t overlook this… and emulate this in your walk with Him.

Luke states they went through the towns… we can assume these were towns in Galilee… and where they went they preached the gospel… the good news that salvation from sin is a free gift for all who trust in Jesus Christ.

And they healed people everywhere.

Mark 6:12–13 words the same message this way, “So they went out and preached that people should repent. [change their minds] 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.”

What a beautiful commissioning… and obedient following by Jesus’ twelve.

A for sure highlight which marks the end of Jesus’ second year of ministry.

Now… all three synoptic writers… Matthew, Mark and Luke next record the account of this also being the time when John the Baptist was beheaded… and Herod Antipas’ thoughts about John.

Somewhat fitting in light of all we just read… for John too was one who was sent… and John too answered the calling being faithful to Jesus Christ.

7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, 8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. 9 Herod said, “John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things?” So he sought to see Him.

If you want to dig into many more details surrounding the death of John… you will need to read the parallel accounts in Mark 6 and Matthew 11…

Luke gives the most abridged version sharing the thoughts of Herod the Tetrarch.

This is the son of Herod the Great and Malthace. Herod the Great… was a paranoid tyrant who ruled over a united kingdom, but when he died… his sons were appointed with the title Tetrarch.

They ruled over a fourth part of a province… which was Galilee and Peraea. And Antipas ruled from the years 4 BC—39 AD.

Making him the same Herod whom Jesus called a “fox” and whom Jesus would stand on trial before prior to His crucifixion.

Which was a huge point of contention, because in the original will Antipas was named as the sole heir. Josephus records Antipas and Archelaus both travelled to Rome to contest the will, but Caesar Augustus upheld Herod the Great’s last wishes.

And, you can just imagine with the upbringing Antipas had… it’s no wonder we see some of the poor choices he makes as well… including marrying his brother’s wife, Herodias…

To which John the Baptist called them out… was imprisoned in the fortress Machaerus… and later beheaded at the request of Salome… Herodias’ daughter… as coached by Herodias.

Which was not what Antipas wanted to do… but he made a prideful oath… in front of many rulers… who gathered for his birthday… so he didn’t back down.

It was recorded that Herod thought John was a just and holy man… that Antipas feared and protected him… and even “heard him gladly.”

Interesting that Jesus just spoke about the wicked cities that would be cursed for rejecting the message of the Twelve…

If I were one of Luke’s Gentile readers… which I am… my mind might think these events are not just slapped together chronologically… but Luke weaves them together thematically.

Herod was a picture of those who heard, but didn’t believe… and it would be worse for him than Sodom.

It’s never enough to simply hear… one must also believe. And there’s no indication that he ever did.

In fact… if you zoom in on Jesus’ trial before Herod in Luke 23.… it’s pretty clear that he did not believe.

Herod hoped to see a miracle by Jesus… and questioned Him with many words… but Jesus “answered Him nothing.”

To which Herod and his men of war treated Jesus with contempt and mocked Him.

And look… when God has nothing more to say to a person… that is a form of God’s wrath.

It’s called the “wrath of abandonment.”

It’s highlighted in Rom 1:24, 26, and 28… where when an unbeliever consistently rejects God… God eventually ‘gives them up’ to uncleaness and vile passions… and ‘gives them over’ to a debased mind.

And Herod Antipas was of this sort… Jesus ‘answered Him nothing.’

And as Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

So was this true of Herod.

And beyond Jesus having nothing to say to Him… Herod’s conscience plagued him in his role over John’s death… and paranoia was setting in.

Herod heard the accounts of Jesus’ preaching, teaching and healing ministry…

… He was perplexed… or “at a loss”… “to be in doubt and perplexity.”

Because rumors were spreading that Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead… as both had ministries of repentance.

Some thought Jesus was Elijah… as Elijah displayed miraculous signs and it was foretold he would return.

Some though Jesus was like an OT prophet… perhaps because of His prophetic ministry… or as Deut 18:15 foretold of a Prophet being raised up whom Israel would hear.

But all of these thoughts and rumors fell short of who Jesus is.

Just like still today… there are many who have perceptions about Jesus… that simply fall short.

One must come to that place Peter came to… “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Which is to say Jesus is Savior, and Jesus is God. Anything less falls short of who are Lord is.

And Herod fell short. Herod did not believe… and is his superstition… even paranoia… Mark 6:14 records Herod going around telling people… “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”

What a blessing that we… for such a time as this in which we live in 2026… have been called… and we believed…

And ALL of us are commissioned to be His Spirit empowered witnesses… to preach the Gospel… and to make disciples by going, baptizing, and teaching.

And we have been entrusted with the word of reconciliation as Ambassadors for Christ.

2 Cor 5:20-21 reads, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

This is one of the highest titles a Christian can claim. You are His messenger, and His representative to those around you.

An Ambassador lives in one country to represent another.

And if you are a believer… you are not of this world… heaven is your home… but you represent the Christ while you are here on earth.

And if you don’t believe, believe in Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

And you will become His Ambassador… you will escape the wrath to come… and He will have a mission for you as well.

Well closing out… the Apostles now return from their mission…

And we can only imagine the amazing stories they had… and the excitement as they shared their testimonies… and how they built one another up in the faith.

vv10-11 to close “And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.”

Various scholars have mapped out Jesus’ Three year ministry… and the return of the apostles here in V10… marking the beginning of Jesus Third year of ministry.

Which has been called, “The Year of Opposition” as the plots against Him increase, and the cross looms ahead.

But this account closes on a good note where the mission of the Twelve has ended… with no mention of persecution… but many ministry moments.

Mark tells us they told Jesus all they had done and what they had taught. Which tells us they were obedient to do what Jesus instructed them to do.

Mark also tells us Jesus took them to a deserted place “to rest a while.”

The evangelist Vance Havner was known to say, ‘If we don’t come apart and rest, we’ll just come apart.’“

And the Twelve would need rest…

And hopefully they at least got a power nap… but mostly they would learn to rest in the Lord… for in the next scene…

The multitude grows to 5,000 men plus women and children… to whom Jesus had compassion…

He would receive them… teach them… heal them… and all five thousands were fed.

He was moved with compassion for them then… and He is moved with compassion for you today.

Worship Team please come.

What a great God and always-available Savior we serve!

Let’s close out today… taking communion… which is fellowshipping with the Lord.

Remembering our Savior… who gave His very life for us to be reconciled to the Father.

Praise you Jesus.

Let’s Pray!

Our communion passage today is…

1 Cor 11:23-31 “...the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.”

Please distribute the elements...

Communion is a time for us to look three directions…

We look back remembering Jesus’ sacrifice… His broken body and shed blood for the remission of our sins.

His new covenant. Salvation by faith through grace.

Look forward in hope of His imminent return… we proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. He is coming.

This is also a time to look inward for a moment of self-examination…

To reflect on our treatment of other Christians… have we been loving… and unselfish… (per the context of Paul’s passage)?

Reflect and also confess to God any unconfessed sin.

Examine yourself… in order to partake in a worthy manner.

But, the reality is… none of us are worthy… so Praise Jesus… because only in Him have we been made worthy.

Once you have prayed… take the communion elements individually.

Our worship team will play one worship song, and then close us in prayer.

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If you have never accepted Jesus as Lord...

...either let the cup pass and do not partake in communion -or- the better option...

Pray and trust Jesus as your Savior today.

Believe that His death was the sufficient sacrifice for your sins.

… and then take communion.

Our prayer team will be available to pray with anyone who needs prayer as we close.

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