Our paragraph topic is: (Instructions to the Twelve) Part 4.
Christ continues to prepare his disciples for their solo journey. He has told them where to go. He has told them who to seek. He has told them what they are to proclaim. He has told them how to dress, what to wear, what to carry with them, and what not to carry. The disciples are to become laborers. They are to be worthy of their calling and the work they are to perform. Their work must be deserving of their pay. Now as he gathers them around, he gives them instructions for the battles they are to face. He tells them what their first encounter will be.
Christ began his mission of preaching and teaching with miracles. He cast out demons, healed the sick and cured the lame. The words of his ministry spread like wildfire throughout all of Syria. Large crowds followed him from Galilee and Decapolis, and Jerusalem and Judea and even from beyond the Jordan. His fame preceded him. The people had heard of him, and the spiritual world of demons knew about him. They heard the word of his fame and the battle was being prepared for his coming. It was a time of war and Christ was the great warrior who conquered all the territories that he entered. There was no stopping the onslaught of his ministry.
Now the disciples were being prepared to enter the battle with the spiritual world. They are given powers to fight the demons. They are given powers to cure the sick and heal the lame, cleanse the lepers. They are given powers to push back the forces of darkness and to bring light into the lives of the people. But the demons do not give up. Christ instructs his disciples to enter a village or a town and to, "Inquire who in it is worthy." They are to inquire amongst the people of the village who they thought was holy and spiritually worthy in their town.
What would this do? The village or town would spread the word, saying to each other, "There is a man in town seeking the one who is worthy." Every person who thought that they were worthy would come forth. Every person who had claims on being worthy would appear. And those who had authority would appear out of curiosity. The town would become a buzz with the talk of who is worthy. And the demon possessed people would also appear to put down this talk of being worthy because it is contrary to their cause. Finally the true person who is worthy would appear, to reveal himself or herself to the disciple, to receive his blessing. So Christ gave his disciples a challenge call to bring forth the true person that was holy and worthy, and also to bring forth the evil ones.
Christ gives his disciples a challenge call to bring forth the worthy in the villages and towns they are to visit. What a wonderful example he has given, even to us, today. When we enter a new job, who do we align ourselves with? When we enter a new town, a new community, a new school, who do we seek? Do we seek the one that is worthy or do we seek the one that is popular? Do we seek the one that is most talked about or the one that is least talked about? In our social environment, in our work environment, even in our church environment, we are challenged to fit in. Those who are there before us, will challenge us. They will play games with us. They will trick us. They will seek us out, to determine where we will fit into the social order. How do we, as people of the faith of Christ, align ourselves with others in preparation for the battle? Do we seek or inquire who is worthy or do we just fit into the world???
Christ continues to prepare his disciples for their solo journey. He has told them where to go. He has told them who to seek. He has told them what they are to proclaim. He has told them how to dress, what to wear, what to carry with them, and what not to carry. The disciples are to become laborers. They are to be worthy of their calling and the work they are to perform. Their work must be deserving of their pay. Now as he gathers them around, he gives them instructions for the battles they are to face. He tells them what their first encounter will be.
Christ began his mission of preaching and teaching with miracles. He cast out demons, healed the sick and cured the lame. The words of his ministry spread like wildfire throughout all of Syria. Large crowds followed him from Galilee and Decapolis, and Jerusalem and Judea and even from beyond the Jordan. His fame preceded him. The people had heard of him, and the spiritual world of demons knew about him. They heard the word of his fame and the battle was being prepared for his coming. It was a time of war and Christ was the great warrior who conquered all the territories that he entered. There was no stopping the onslaught of his ministry.
Now the disciples were being prepared to enter the battle with the spiritual world. They are given powers to fight the demons. They are given powers to cure the sick and heal the lame, cleanse the lepers. They are given powers to push back the forces of darkness and to bring light into the lives of the people. But the demons do not give up. Christ instructs his disciples to enter a village or a town and to, "Inquire who in it is worthy." They are to inquire amongst the people of the village who they thought was holy and spiritually worthy in their town.
What would this do? The village or town would spread the word, saying to each other, "There is a man in town seeking the one who is worthy." Every person who thought that they were worthy would come forth. Every person who had claims on being worthy would appear. And those who had authority would appear out of curiosity. The town would become a buzz with the talk of who is worthy. And the demon possessed people would also appear to put down this talk of being worthy because it is contrary to their cause. Finally the true person who is worthy would appear, to reveal himself or herself to the disciple, to receive his blessing. So Christ gave his disciples a challenge call to bring forth the true person that was holy and worthy, and also to bring forth the evil ones.
Christ gives his disciples a challenge call to bring forth the worthy in the villages and towns they are to visit. What a wonderful example he has given, even to us, today. When we enter a new job, who do we align ourselves with? When we enter a new town, a new community, a new school, who do we seek? Do we seek the one that is worthy or do we seek the one that is popular? Do we seek the one that is most talked about or the one that is least talked about? In our social environment, in our work environment, even in our church environment, we are challenged to fit in. Those who are there before us, will challenge us. They will play games with us. They will trick us. They will seek us out, to determine where we will fit into the social order. How do we, as people of the faith of Christ, align ourselves with others in preparation for the battle? Do we seek or inquire who is worthy or do we just fit into the world???
