LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD (WEEK 19) - THE MAKING OF A MOVEMENT

Up until the ninth chapter of the Gospel of Luke, we have seen Jesus doing a LOT of things. Just last week we read how Jesus cast out a legion of demons, healed a woman who had been unclean and diseased for twelve years, and raised a little girl from the dead. By now, the disciples have known something significant about Jesus: he has power to do the impossible. The miracles have validated his message in regard to the Kingdom of God being at hand.

But up until now - this has been a JESUS thing only, right? They have been with him and supported him and listened to and learned from him. But it’s been HIM.

That’s good. That’s necessary. You have to watch and learn to understand what the Gospel is all about. But here’s the deal: it can’t stay just a Jesus Thing. As disciples, these guys have been called by Jesus their rabbi to be LIKE him. In fact he tells them in John 14:12: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” Jesus is not calling these guys to be fans, nor is he even calling them to just be followers because you can follow and fall short of what Jesus envisions his disciples to be; no he calls us to be imitators, to DO what he does, to reflect HIS character and even his POWER.

So here in Chapter 9 Jesus is letting his followers do a trial run, if you will. They’ve been watching the dance - now he encourages them to try it as well! 

How would their ministry begin? Exactly how HIS began: Matt. 4:17  “ From that time on Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” This is the foundation of any kind of service or miracle they would do. If they didn’t keep this one main thing in mind at all times: that it’s NOT about them, or what they can do - the spiritual authority they will exercise, the message they will proclaim – it’s all about the Kingdom of Heaven.