In a small business, to bring on a new employee feels exciting but also heavy. It requires a lot of my personal time at the beginning to determine who has the professional qualifications, skills, and excellent work ethic and attitude. Although we train new employees, there is a steep learning curve, and not everyone understands or implements the training which creates the need for more training, guidance, and correction. In reading Luke 9:1–8 today, I stopped to consider how Jesus was able to confidently send out apostles.
Luke 9:1–2 TPT “Jesus summoned together his twelve apostles and imparted to them authority over every demon and the power to heal every disease. Then he commissioned them to preach God’s kingdom realm and to heal the sick to demonstrate that the kingdom had arrived.”
Luke 9:8 TPT “The apostles departed and went into the villages with the wonderful news of God’s kingdom realm, and they instantly healed diseases wherever they went.”
The Training
How did the apostles know what to do after Jesus commissioned them? They didn’t receive a playbook, training videos, or a phone with Google/YouTube. How did Jesus trust that they would get his messaging right, pray for people “correctly” to be healed, or in general, reflect positively on his brand? Truth is, he probably knew they wouldn’t get it “right” (and that’s assuming there is a “right” when it comes to these things). But clearly something worked because they spread the “wonderful news of God’s kingdom realm, and they instantly healed diseases wherever they went.”
Maybe it wasn’t about doing it “right” that resulted in the revelation light spreading and people being healed. Instead, perhaps, it was having walked with Jesus daily that the apostles witnessed first hand how to operate not by a rule book, or policies and procedures, but how to listen and do what the Father says to do. In John 12:49 NLT, Jesus said, “For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.” Knowing and following Jesus, the apostles could then do what the Father said to do because had seen the Father through Jesus. As Jesus said in John 14:9 NLT, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!”
In knowing Jesus, the apostles would have seen him heal not only physical needs, which was absolutely important, but also fulfill the deepest desires of those he met. He forgave sins, healed hearts, healed bodies, cast out demons, and fed multitudes — just to name a few. They saw the kingdom realm at work as they literally walked with Jesus from place to place.
The Kingdom Realm
Having watched this day in and day out, they had to have an understanding of the kingdom realm and its interactions here on earth. I picture this like two side by side dimensions or worlds running parallel to each other — only the kingdom’s side operates almost opposite but at the same time in fulfillment or completion of the rules in our physical world. So much of the Sermon on the Mount, is taking a belief, law, or rule in our world and contrasting and fulfilling it with the truth of the kingdom realm. For example, in Matthew 5:43–47, Jesus says:
“43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”
Although it might have been logical and justifiable in our world to love the lovely and hate our enemies, Jesus explains that the kingdom does not operate in this fashion. Instead, the kingdom is founded on love from which grace and forgiveness are generously poured out. And how grateful I am! For at the cross, extended towards the liars, betrayers, murderers, and accusers that physically put him there, he forgave them. Luke 23:34 TPT says, “While they were nailing Jesus to the cross, he prayed over and over, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.”
Doing The Same
Having seen Jesus do and say what the Father instructed and watching him operate in our world bringing the kingdom realm truths to earth, the apostles went out to do the same. The question I have for myself is, do I believe I can do the same?
I don’t believe there was a procedures manual for the apostles, and I don’t believe there’s one for us today. It’s about:
1. Walking with Jesus.
2. Understanding the kingdom realm — not just having knowledge of the things listed in the Sermon on the Mount or other scriptures — but truly accepting the love of God as the place from which grace and forgiveness are abundantly accessible, poured out, and lavished on those who will simply receive them.
I’m sure there were apostles who wondered if they were ready or who thought they needed more teaching about scriptures. But it wasn’t about the apostles knowing information and regurgitating the same to crowds. It was about their dependence on the God of the kingdom realm to order steps, provide instruction, supply rest, and to walk with them every step of the way.
