JESUS SENDS OUT THE TWELVE

Passage: Luke 9:1-9

Key verse: 2

NIV

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve(A)(B)

9 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons(C) and to cure diseases,(D) 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God(E) and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.(F) 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”(G) 6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

7 Now Herod(H) the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John(I) had been raised from the dead,(J) 8 others that Elijah had appeared,(K) and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life.(L) 9 But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him.(M)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

9 (A)And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 (B)and he sent them out to (C)proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 (D)And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, (E)no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.[a] 4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town (F)shake off the dust from your feet (G)as a testimony (H)against them.” 6 (I)And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Herod Is Perplexed by Jesus

7 (J)Now (K)Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that (L)John had been raised from the dead, 8 (M)by some that Elijah had appeared, and (N)by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. 9 Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And (O)he sought to see him.

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 9:3 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Jesus gave the Twelve spiritual power and authority and sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them to take nothing for the journey so that they could depend only on the Lord, not on material things. They were to leave the town where people did not welcome them, shaking the dust from their feet. They were to move on to other towns where they were received. The Twelve went out, proclaimed the good news, and healed people. Discipleship training is to be evangelistic and practical—preaching the gospel and shepherding the needy (healing). The love of God through the gospel must be proclaimed; it must be practiced through shepherding. When our preaching is not welcomed, we are to move on and go to someone or some other place that is open.

Herod heard the work of Jesus through the disciples. Herod had beheaded John the Baptist for speaking the truth. In his perplexity, he said, “Who, then, is this?” Herod should have gotten the answer to his question. Who is Jesus? To know him, we must come to him and listen to his teachings. Jesus is the gospel of the kingdom of God; he is the healer from heaven.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for growing us as Jesus’ disciples through preaching and shepherding. Help us know Jesus more.

One Word: One word: Walk the walk: preaching and healing