“When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Luke 9.1-2
Here we are, well into the Gospel of Luke, and just now Jesus is giving his disciples power and authority. Notice that it was not given to them on day one when he said to the fishermen, “Follow me.” It wasn’t even on day two or day three. It is well within the three years of ministry with Jesus that now the disciples are ready to minister for him.
He essentially gives them power and authority to do three things: 1) drive out demons, 2) preach the gospel, and 3) cure diseases and heal the sick. Notice what he does not give them—great plans to build a new church, a list of agencies in which to petition for the rights of others, an application to seminary to study theology (and the list could go on!). Jesus is kick-starting the Gospel, and these are the three central and necessary tools needed for this task.
The disciples were not ready, by the way, on day one or even day 50. They first needed to follow Jesus for a while, watch him minister, gain confidence, and grow in faith. I had a young adult come to me the other day desiring admission to seminary. I told him he needed a college degree or years of experience. He told me that at the age of 20, he had been in ministry for a while and had experience. Age twenty is like day 7 for the disciples. Not that he didn’t have the gifts and the grace to begin seminary, but now was not the time.
Well, now was the time for the Twelve, and Jesus empowered them, gave them power and authority, and sent them out. Bam! Just like that—they were off doing the work they had just seen him do for the previous years.
I wonder, however, what it means to be given power and authority. I mean, how did Jesus give it? Was it a pep talk, a commissioning service, or an indwelling of the Holy Spirit to do the work of God? I imagine if you watched Jesus bring someone from death to life, when he tells you that he believes in you and that you can go and do the same, that’s a pretty good send-off.
Regardless, Jesus, who is the Word of God, speaks truth. And when he gave them power and authority, he spoke it, and it happened. They had the ability to do just as great miracles as Jesus did—and so do we. We who have been filled by his Spirit, saved by his blood, and equipped for ministry and service can and should take authority to do that which God has called us to do: preach, heal, cast out demons.
Sometimes we miss the message and go off building churches while there are souls that need saving. We, like Peter, want to build a tent for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, when in truth we just need to go preach a sermon to our school!
When Jesus gave the power and authority, the disciples received it. Let’s receive it also by faith today so that we might be his hands and feet in a world in desperate need of the love of God.
“O Lord God, you are good. Thank you for loving me and for allowing me to walk in your grace. I trust you, Lord, and praise your name. For you are good, and your love endures forever.” Amen.