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Day 106

Luke 9:1-11 , Mark 6:7-13 "THE POWERFUL IMPACT OF THE MINISTRY OF THE TWELVE"

Day 106 – Luke 9

Text: Luke 9:1-11 , Mark 6:7-13

THE POWERFUL IMPACT OF THE MINISTRY OF THE TWELVE

How did The Twelve fare in their ministry? Luke, ever the careful researcher-historian recorded the resounding success of the Disciples very cleverly in the following verses.

“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,
And by some that Elijah had appeared,
And by others that one of the prophets had risen again.”
Luke 9:7-8

Luke went on to record almost innocuously the report of the Disciples,

“And the Apostles, when they had returned,
told Him all that they had done.”
Luke 9:10

The Gospel of Mark gave a more straightforward report,

“So they (The Disciples) went out and preached
That people should repent.
And they cast out many demons,
And anointed with oil many who were sick,
And healed them.”
Mark 6:12-13

INTEREST OF HEROD THE TETRARCH AROUSED

Again, we ask ourselves, “How effective was the ministry of The Twelve”? Luke’s answer was to note how the curiosity of Herod the Tetrarch was aroused!

There are a number of things we need to note as we read carefully Luke 9:1-10:-

1. Of course, we must bear in mind that Jesus had already established a very significant Name and Ministry for Himself.

2. The obviously successful ministry of His Disciples now further enhanced that. Their success added to the Glory of the Name of the Lord Jesus, and rightly so! The Disciples would have it no other way. The success of their ministry was because they had been especially empowered!

3. Herod was even more puzzled when conflicting reports were received. Opinions differed as to how phenomenal and miraculous events were taking place in Galilee, his region of political power.

a) One opinion was the John the Baptizer whom he had recently executed had been resurrected. Luke 9:7
b) Another opinion was that the famous Old Testament prophet, Elijah had come to earth again. Luke 9:8
c) A third opinion suggested that one of the ancient prophets had risen again and was now ministering in Israel.

4. Herod was obviously not satisfied with these reports. He wanted to verify for himself these conflicting reports. He wanted to see Jesus himself.

That Luke made this observation concerning the curiosity of Herod the Tetrarch in the context of the sending out of The Twelve Disciples is not without significance. This was his way of saying that the Disciples had a very powerful ministry – so much so that the Name of Jesus was even more widely acclaimed!

ANOTHER IMPORTANT LESSON FOR THE DISCIPLES

Jesus of course expected that the Disciples would have had such a powerful ministry. He knew the power and authority that He had given to His Disciples. He had been similarly empowered by the Spirit of God.

In Mark’s Gospel account, we read the tender word of the Lord Jesus to His Disciples, after they came back to give Him a full report of what they had taught and done,

“And He said to them,
Come aside by yourselves
To a deserted place and rest a while.”
For there were many coming and going,
And they did not even have time to eat.
Mark 6:31

The Disciples must now learn what He Himself practised! They must withdraw from time to time for a physical and spiritual retreat.

“Then He took them and went aside privately
into a deserted place belonging to the city of
Bethsaida.”
Luke 9:10

It is great to have a successful ministry. However, Jesus knew that successful ministries always came with a high price tag. The Disciples were so busy ministering to people that they did not even have time to eat. Yes, God’s special grace and power sustained them, but they still need to learn how to care for their physical health.

He must teach them that they must take time for both physical and spiritual rest. They must take time, as He did, to pray, to meditate, to be physically refreshed, because the multitudes would come upon them all too soon.

THANK GOD FOR A WONDERFULLY CONSIDERATE MASTER

What a great Teacher the Lord Jesus was to His Disciples! On the one hand, He would stretch them to their limits. On the other hand, He also made sure that they had a little bit of time for themselves to be spiritually and physically recharged. He made sure that the ministry did not consume His Disciples! They had to learn how to master their work!