“Then He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:2‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

This is a missionary journey for the 12. Jesus is teaching them to obey what He has been teaching them over the few months or years that Jesus has been with them. This is a partial fulfillment of Mark 3:14-15.

“He also appointed 12 — He also named them apostles — to be with Him, to send them out to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons.”
Mark 3:14-15 HCSB

Jesus’ first goal was to teach His disciples. The second was to send them out to preach the good news to the world. In this Jesus was helping them to fulfill the commissions we talked about in verse 1. 

Why was it important to learn from Jesus before going out? They had to learn to be disciples of Jesus. Jesus was commissioned by the Jewish leaders as a rabbi, John the Baptist was also a rabbi. By being a rabbi they had gone through intense schooling till the age of 12. At the age of 12, another rabbi would see good qualities in them and begin to train them. At the age of 30, they were turned loose and begin to train 12-year-old students. Also to become a Rabbi they had to have the approval of God and at least 1 other rabbi. Jesus had the approval of God and John.

“and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: You are My beloved Son. I take delight in You!”
Luke 3:22 HCSB

“Again the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look! The Lamb of God! ””
John 1:35-36 HCSB

 But Jesus did not follow the standard mold to choose His disciples. He was given 2 by John. They found 2 more. A few of these He picked up latter fishing. One more he pulled out of a dead-end job collecting taxes. One he may have pulled out of an extremist club who hated tax collectors. Jesus found the least qualified to His disciples. 

Now after all that Jesus is sending them out to preach, heal and clean. 

Jesus’ main goal was to die for our sins. His second goal was to train 12 disciples to keep the Christian movement moving. We see this in Mark 3:14-15 and also in John 17:4 and John 19:30

“I have glorified You on the earth by completing the work You gave Me to do.”
John 17:4 HCSB

“When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished! ” Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”
John 19:30 HCSB

The work He completed in John 17 was not a salvation work. It was not a healing work. It was a teaching work. The work in John 13 on the cross was a salvation and healing work. 

So the first order of business of Jesus was Salvation, and the second-order was discipleship of His 12.

This holds true for Paul.

“On the contrary, after we had previously suffered, and we were treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition.”
1 Thessalonians 2:2 HCSB

“And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
2 Timothy 2:2 HCSB

First to preach the gospel to everyone outside of Jerusalem. Then to train a few who will train others.

This is our commission also.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 HCSB

“Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 HCSB

Just to let you know that everyone has someone who is following them. So if you think that your relationship with God is your business and nobody else’s your wrong. The degree we follow Jesus will be the degree someone else will follow us. So I strongly encourage you to strongly follow Jesus because someone else is watching you. Parents those someones are your kids. Workers those someones are your coworkers. pastors those someones are your flock. 

Your sin will affect others. Consider this quick story about Achan found in Joshua 7.

“The Israelites, however, were unfaithful regarding the things set apart for destruction. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart, and the Lord’s anger burned against the Israelites.

The men of Ai struck down about 36 of them and chased them from outside the gate to the quarries, striking them down on the descent. As a result, the people’s hearts melted and became like water. Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell before the ark of the Lord with his face to the ground until evening, as did the elders of Israel; they all put dust on their heads.

The Lord then said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why are you on the ground? Israel has sinned. They have violated My covenant that I appointed for them. They have taken some of what was set apart. They have stolen, deceived, and put the things with their own belongings.”
Joshua 7:1, 5-6, 10-11 HCSB


Because of the sin of one man named Achan, 36 of His fellow warriors die in the battle of a small city called Ai. They did not sin but was destroyed because of another’s sin which no one knew about God. Who is being impacted by our secrete sins? We may never know, but know this that someone is. My Pastor’s wife once said, “The sin you dabble in will be the sin your kids dive into.” Both your spiritual and physical kids. 

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