LUKE 9:1-6, 9:57-62 & 10:1-2

In reading Luke’s narrative here it seems clear that Luke, the physician and historian, wanted his Gentile friend Theophilus, and all of us, to know that reaching people with Christ’s message of hope and redemption is a responsibility that is not restricted to the Twelve Apostles whom He had already sent on a similar mission (Luke 9:1-6). When Jesus sent out the “seventy-two” (10:1), He was setting the stage for all His disciples to be involved in carrying out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). We need to also remember that when Luke recorded his account of the Gospel, he could personally identify not only with what had happened prior to Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension, but also with what happened after the church was born (The book of Acts). In his own lifetime he participated directly in carrying out Christ’s ultimate mission for coming into our world. 

The context of our biblical text is Jesus and the Twelve going to Jerusalem. In Luke 9:57-62 Jesus discouraged those who desired to follow Him. Why? Because He wanted them to know right away that following Him would be costly, and not to learn later that there are costs involved for being a faithful disciple. For example as the Jewish religious leaders became increasingly hostile toward Jesus, He wanted His disciples to be prepared (John 15:18-19). 

*Jesus wants His disciple’s total dedication, not half-hearted commitment. We cannot pick and choose among Jesus’ teachings and follow Him selectively. We have to accept the cross with the crown. We need to count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that has given us security. Without looking back we need to fully focus on Jesus and allow nothing to distract us from following Him.   

How can all believers in Christ and local churches participate in the fulfillment of the Great Commission? 

1. By being. Our doing flows from our being “in Christ”. This is our identity. It is who we are. It is how we live in our particular communities. John 17:20-21 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” 
2. By going short-term. In the market place. In the workplace. In school. In our hobbies and other activities. In the countryside. In the inner city. Short-term mission trips with a specific purpose. Etcetera. The Apostles had a special calling, like some believers today, to go with the Gospel to the nations. There are others, however, who are needed for short-term assignments and special projects to boost the ongoing work of advancing the Gospel among unreached people and/or help start and build up young churches among these people.  1 Peter 3:15 “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” 

A few more comments on Luke 10:1-2:

Many more people were following Jesus than just the Twelve. Here Jesus selected 72 from among them to go and prepare the towns and places He will visit. These disciples were not better educated, more capable, uniquely qualified or of higher status than Jesus’ other followers. What equipped them for this assignment was their awareness of Jesus’ power and a vision to reach all people with the Gospel. The application for us is it is important to dedicate our skills to God’s kingdom, but we also need to be equipped with Christ’s power and have a clear vision of what He wants us to do. 

There is no unemployment in Christ’s service. The Head of the church and the Lord of the harvest has a job for everyone. Jesus instructed His disciples not to just work but to also pray for workers. Part of every person’s job is to pray for new workers and to help them learn about service in God’s kingdom. Whatever our role in God’s work, we need to pray for more laborers. The Lord Jesus wants us to pray, recruit and equip others to join us and as they explore opportunities to serve Him. Think about this, as soon as some people turn from their sin and trust the Savior, they immediately want to go with the Gospel to others who do not understand it. Jesus had a different approach: we begin by mobilizing people to pray. And as we pray for unsaved people and witness to them, we pray that other disciples will join us in reaching out to those who do not yet know Christ as their personal Savior. The Holy Spirit, through God’s Word, people helping us grow in our faith and providentially arranged circumstances, will lead us to a task tailor-made for us according to our innate strengths, personality, spiritual gift/s and learned skills, (Ephesians 2:10) but remember praying for harvesters goes with it. 

3. By going long-term. As mentioned previously some disciples have a unique calling for long-term mission service. They are sovereignly set apart by the Holy Spirit and identified, equipped and commissioned to go to various parts of the world by leaders of a local church usually in partnership with a missionary sending agency. Acts 13:1-3 “Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucious of Cyrene, Manaen a lifetime friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”  
4. By giving. God has an accounting system. He calculates every good deed a person does or amount of money given, little or much, and deposits it into our personal bank account. We should not think little of a seemingly insignificant good deed done or a small financial gift given in Jesus’ name. God rewards our faithfulness. Paul uses a business metaphor in Philippians 4:15-17 “And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.” (ESV footnote: “the profit that accrues to your account.”) He reminds his brethren in Philippi that their financial partnership with him in his ministry is ultimately for their benefit. 
5. By praying. Paul asked for prayer. Because Paul needed prayer, so do we! He asked the brethren in Colossae to pray that he will have opportunities to share the Gospel of Christ. Colossians 4:2-4 “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison-that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.” 

*I really like Colossians 4:12 “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.”

Conclusion: In order for us who are “in Christ” to walk fully in God’s will we need to participate in Christ’s ultimate mission for coming to our world. What is your role? Are you a sent-one? If you are let us keep going with the Gospel by living and preaching it as we make fellow disciples. Are you a sender by your prayers and finances, or an advocate by serving on the missions committee or by providing pastoral care, hosting or helping with logistical support when needed? If so *thank you very much!

One of my favorite biblical texts is 3 John 5-8 “Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore, we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.” 

We are the body of Christ. We are one “in Christ”.

In order to complete the Great Commission it requires: the whole church, to send the whole Gospel, to the whole world, by both our life and our lips. There is an important job for everyone.