JESUS SENDS OUT HIS DISCIPLES

Matthew 10:1-42 Key Verse 10:7 JESUS SENDS OUT HIS DISCIPLES As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Last week we learned that Jesus saw people as sheep without a shepherd. Jesus saw the world as a plentiful harvest. But there was a problem: the workers were few. What did Jesus do? Did Jesus give up? No! Jesus raised the twelve disciples and sent them out to the world as harvest workers. May God help us to know how Jesus sends out his disciples into the world and participate in Jesus ministry as his disciples in this generation. Part I: Jesus called his 12 disciples (1-4). Look at verse 1. He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. Jesus called his 12 disciples. He did not draft them, force them, or ask them to volunteer; he chose them to serve him in a special way and gave them authority. Here authority means Jesus spiritual authority. In Mt 8:8, a Roman centurion understood Jesus authority fully and said, Just say the word, and my servant will be healed. But nowadays people do not like to hear the word, authority. They do not like authoritative figures and rebel against them unconditionally. It is because those who are in authority tend to oppress and mistreat others. But Jesus was different. He used his spiritual authority to reveal God s compassion by healing the sick and driving out demons from people. Now Jesus imparted his spiritual authority to his disciples so that they might be able to drive out evil spirits and heal every disease and sickness as Jesus had done. We must seek to have Jesus authority in us through prayer and sincere Bible study. Without Jesus authority in us, we cannot help others spiritually. Look at verses 2-4. 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; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon 1

the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve were ordinary, common people. At the same time, they were extraordinary mixtures of twelve different kinds of people. For example, Simon Peter talked big; his brother Andrew acted quietly; James and John schemed for the top disciples position; Philip calculated; Bartholomew, whose real name is Nathanael, meditated; Thomas doubted; Matthew the tax collector was a traitor of his people, while Simon the Zealot was a member of a radical political party working for the violent overthrow of Roman rule in Israel; James son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus kept low profiles; and Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus. Twelve is the number of the tribes of Israel, which represent all peoples of all nations. When Jesus chose twelve disciples, he had in mind to save all peoples of all nations through them. How? Jesus raised twelve representative kinds of people as his disciples so that each might be a shepherd for people just like himself. Even though they were ordinary, they were humble. They were willing to learn of Jesus and grow in Jesus. After being with Jesus for three years, they were transformed and became powerful witnesses of Jesus and wonderful shepherds of God s flock. Here we learn that Jesus has hope and vision for us to be raised up as great servants of God in spite of our shortcomings and weaknesses. Praise Jesus! However, nowadays, many people think only certain people are fit to follow Christ as his disciples. But God can use anyone, no matter how insignificant he or she appears. When you feel small and useless, remember that God uses ordinary people to do this extraordinary work. Part II: Preach this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. (5-15) Let s read verses 5-10. In verse 6, Jesus said, Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. Jesus set the scope of the ministry to his disciples. Jesus instructed them to begin with the lost sheep of Israel especially in Galilee. Why didn t Jesus send the disciples to the Gentiles or the Samaritans? It is because Jesus came first to the Jews (Romans 1:16). Later they were to expand their ministry to the Gentiles as well. How can we obey Jesus instruction practically? There are many people who never talk about Jesus to their family members, friends or classmates. We must begin to take care of the people around us first. Evangelism must start where we are. COD first, DuPage second, America third, and the whole world fourth. In UBF history, Dr. John Jun was the first student shepherd. After believing in Jesus through Bible study, he witnessed to his classmates. Out of 80 medical 2

students, 60 students came to study the Bible through him. We should pray that God may raise many one to one Bible teachers who can feed lost sheep of DuPage County first. Look at verse 7. As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' This was the message Jesus had proclaimed at the beginning of his messianic ministry. The Israel people were waiting for the Messiah to usher in his kingdom. They hoped for a political and military kingdom that would free them from Roman rule and bring back the days of glory under David and Solomon. But Jesus was talking about a spiritual kingdom. Jesus wanted his disciples to preach this message; the kingdom of heaven is near. The gospel today is that the kingdom is still near. Jesus, the Messiah, has already begun his kingdom on earth in the hearts of his followers. One day the kingdom will be fully realized. Then evil will be destroyed and all people will live in peace with one another. This is the message we must proclaim. This is the ultimate good news for all mankind. People live with a utopian dream. But the problem is: they cannot find paradise on earth. Even Florida or California cannot be such paradise. Only the kingdom of heaven is the paradise God had prepared for us. Some of us suffer from homesickness. But we should know that we are pilgrims on earth. We came from God and will go back to God. We must look not backward but forward. We must run the race of faith forward with perseverance, longing to enter the kingdom of heaven--our journey s end. Jesus said, The kingdom of heaven is near. This means that the kingdom of heaven is not far away but available to us right now. Jesus came to this world to bring the kingdom of heaven down to this world. When we repent our sins and accept Jesus as our Savior, we are born again as children of God and we can experience the joy, peace and happiness of the kingdom of heaven. We can also enter the kingdom of God. We must have the living hope of the kingdom of God in our hearts and plant it in others hearts as well. While on earth, we as Jesus disciples must believe in God s provisions. (9, 10) Part III: Search for some worthy person (11-15). Look at verse 11. Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. Here worthy means trustworthy. Meeting one trustworthy person is the beginning of evangelizing a town or a city. God began his world salvation work with one 3

person Abraham. Jesus began his ministry at Capernaum with Peter. Peter and his mother-in-law offered their house to Jesus to be used as the Capernaum Bible center. When Paul went to Philippi, he had nowhere to stay. On Sabbath, he went out to the riverside. There, he met Lydia, a powerful woman of God, who invited Paul to her home (Ac 16:11-15). Lydia and the Philippian Christians constantly supplied Paul with prayer and material support (Php 4:16) during his ministry in Macedonia. God blessed COD UBF with several worthy persons until the foundation of our ministry is firmly established. This year is the year of raising one to one Bible teachers among college students. With much prayer and persistence, we must search for some worthy persons who can grow as coworkers. Look at verses 12-15. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. The disciples must boldly speak the gospel message so that others may believe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and experience the peace of God and the joy of heaven and have a living hope of the kingdom of God. If people did not welcome the gospel of the kingdom, the disciples were not to be discouraged by their rejection. Instead, they were to shake the dust off their feet when they left that home or town, believing that God would punish them on the day of judgment if they do not repent to the end. Jesus wanted them to have absolute and uncompromising faith. Part IV: Be shrewd and innocent. (16-42) In order to do the work of God, the disciples must pay the cost. Jesus prepared their hearts to expect persecution from the religious and political leaders and family members. Where there is the work of God, there is also Satan's attack. What kind of attitude should they have toward persecution? Look at verse 16. I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. The disciples must be as shrewd as snakes. When wolves attack them, they don t need to volunteer to walk right into the mouth of wolves. Jesus also said in verse 23, Flee to another. This fleeing is not just to save their lives but to proclaim the good news of Jesus kingdom everywhere. For example, Christians in the Jerusalem church met together everyday at the 4

temple. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Ac 2:42) They wanted to enjoy this spiritual fellowship forever in Jerusalem. But then persecution broke out. The early Christians did not stay in Jerusalem like sitting ducks to be arrested by their persecutors. They fled to other cities as Jesus had commanded them. As they scatter to Gentile cities, they began to proclaim the gospel of Jesus to Gentiles. Thus in his infinite wisdom God used the fire of persecution as the torch to ignite the fire of evangelism. We as Jesus disciples must be wise. If we lack wisdom, we must seek God s wisdom in all circumstances. Jesus said in verse 22. Stand firm to the end. At the time of persecution, we must not be discouraged. We must keep our faith to the end. We must not hate or retaliate against those who persecute us. Rather trusting God s protection, we must be as innocent and peaceful as a dove. Part V: Fear God and love Jesus. (24-42) At the time of persecution, the disciples must think of Jesus. Look at verses 24-25. A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household! One person watched the movie, The Passion of the Christ. When he was asked, What did you learn from the movie? he answered, Jesus suffered a lot for me. Before watching the movie, he thought that he was suffering a lot for Jesus. But now he is thankful to Jesus that Jesus suffered both physically and spiritually in order to save him from his sins and eternal condemnation. He also envied Simon of Cyrene who carried the cross in place of Jesus. At the time of persecution, the disciples must think of Jesus and find themselves privileged to suffer together with Jesus as his disciples and servants. The disciples must overcome the fear of people by fearing God only. Look at verses 26-28. So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. The disciples must be bold and courageous witnesses of Jesus. They should not be afraid of people who may kill their bodies but cannot kill their souls. 5

Look at verses 29-30. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. The disciples must believe that their life is in God s loving hands. They don t need to fear anything because whatever happens, God will not leave them or forsake them. He will surround them forever by his care. If that is so, what then shall they be afraid of? Look at verses 37-39. Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. John Bunyan was the author of the famous book, The Pilgrim s Progress. For his preaching the gospel of Jesus outside of the Church of England, he was imprisoned. The thing that troubled him most about his imprisonment was the effect it would have upon his wife and children. What was to happen to them without his support? It broke his heart to pieces. And yet, he made a choice to trust them to God s caring hands and decided to choose to love Jesus more than even his family members. In God s mercy to many of us, the chance to make this kind of terrible choice may never come; but the fact remains that we must choose to love Jesus more than anybody else and be worthy of Jesus. In all circumstances, we as disciples of Jesus must acknowledge Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords. We must receive him into our hearts. We must receive and honor God s people even with a cup of cold water. Jesus said in verse 42b, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward. Today we learn that Jesus raised the twelve disciples and sent them out as harvest workers. He felt that he was sending them out like sheep among the wolves. Still, Jesus sent them out by faith, trusting in God. Jesus sent them out in hope and vision for his disciples to become courageous and sacrificial shepherds and leaders in God s work and history. Let us master the basic instructions that Jesus gave his disciples. Let us fear God and fear no one. Let us love Jesus more than anyone or anything else. May God raise us as worthy disciples of Jesus Christ. 6