Believe it or not

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

BELIEVE IT OR NOT

Matt 10:1-4

10:1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

NIV

Here we have Jesus picking the actual twelve that we refer to as the Apostles, including Judas Iscariot who betrayed him and thus was later replaced by Matthias, due to the fact Judas committed suicide after his betrayal of Jesus. So we have the twelve now and Jesus gives them this mission, this commission. He gives then both the qualification and the authority, as Luke uses both these words in his account. We are going to see further instructions in the following verses, but it would be good for us to consider this qualification and authority first. We know at least some of these men who Jesus called to himself because we were made privy to his saying to them, “Follow me”.

Matt 4:18-22

 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 "Come, follow me ," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."  20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

NIV

We are not sure as to how much time has elapsed since the first call of these four men as well as how soon after that he called the rest of them to follow him. We also know he called others and then more simply followed him because of all his miracles and thus were witness also of his teaching. So the actually number of who we would call disciples is uncertain, but from that number he calls out twelve to be his trusted close disciples whom he qualifies and gives this authority to cast out evil spirits and heal the sick, even raise the dead, as we will also see in the next couple of verses. The question is; was this just for the twelve? We know he later commissioned the seventy-two who came back and rejoiced because even the demons submitted to them in his name. So this qualification and authority was not simply for the twelve, although we certainly know they were very special men. Matthew calls them Apostles as he gives the names of the twelve. This Greek word translated Apostle means a delegate, specially an ambassador of the Gospel, officially a commissioner of Christ, a messenger sent forth with orders. It would seem this definition could apply to many believers rather than just the twelve, in fact it could apply to us. Do we not accept the great commission as directed to all believers from the time of Christ even to this day.

2 Cor 5:20

20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors , as though God were making his appeal through us.

NIV

Some would say that was just Paul who was Christ’s ambassador, but then if we take away all those verses that were just for them, we would be left with little to nothing other than salvation. No, we have to internalize all of the word of God for our lives, otherwise what is the point of all of it. So then if that is the case, then should we not also be messengers sent forth to share the Gospel message? Have not we hear the call of Jesus to follow him? Now we should also note that these men first spent some close times with Jesus before he appointed them with this authority. Some would use the term he ordained them. But that word is not in the Greek New Testament here. He did give them the power and authority. But it is also true these men were qualified by Christ first. He watched them in the days or months that preceded this commissioning. This is why he called these twelve out from the others who followed him. They had been qualified by him and thus were given this authority. It would make sense that we too must go through this qualification process in order to be given such authority. The church in general has taken this to mean attendance of some bible college or seminary in order to receive the authority to minister as an ordained individual. The church gives them that authority. But Jesus is who must qualify those he gives authority to drive our demons, heal the sick and yes, even raise the dead. This may be why new believers may not have much authority, but why then do so many mature or long time believers not seem to have that authority? Are we back to this just being for the twelve? But we all are messengers of the Gospel. We all are called to go into all the world and preach the good news. We all are called to be followers of Jesus. We all have been told that we would do even greater things then he did. We all have been told if we ask anything in the name of Jesus, it would be done for us. We all know it is God’s will that men be freed from the possession and oppression of evil spirits. We all know it is God’s will that people are healed. We know that if we ask according to his will it will be done. So then after spending so many years following Jesus, studying his word, proving it to be true, believing everything it says, should we not be qualified to be given this authority? Yet are we back to just the twelve because it seems there is not much driving out of demons, healing the sick going on today. Or is that just because we don’t really believe? It may just come down to whether we believe it or not.