by Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
v36As he saw the crowds, his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were worried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. v37So he said to his disciples, “The harvest is large, but there are few workers to gather it in. v38Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest.”
….v5These twelve men were sent out by Jesus with the following instructions: “Do not go to any Gentile territory or any Samaritan towns. v6Instead, you are to go to the lost sheep of the people of Israel. v7Go and preach, ‘The Kingdom of heaven is near!’ v8Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, heal those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases, and drive out demons. You have received without paying, so give without being paid. (Read: Matthew 9:36-10:8)
Jesus preaches, teaches, and heals. Seeing the number of people needing help, he commissions the disciples to do the same. Chapter 10 verses 2 to 4 is Matthew’s record of the calling of the twelve disciples now known as apostles. In the Bible, an apostle is a disciple of Jesus Christ that was specifically called by Jesus (in person). The word apostle means “one who is sent out” or “one commissioned”. The term appears more than 80 times in the New Testament. The primary definition of apostle applies to a singular group of men who held a supreme position of authority in the early church. These men were specifically chosen by Jesus Christ and included Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus (or Judas son of James), Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot.
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Jesus gave the apostles authority to drive evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. Jesus wants his followers to wage war against the forces of evil by driving the evil spirits and healing the sick. This demonstration of authority in spiritual confrontation is considered a continuing manifestation of the kingdom of God on earth. The context of the calling and sending of the disciples/apostles (vv.1,7-8) makes clear that the preaching of the kingdom of God is to be accompanied by God asserting his power against the forces of sin, sickness and Satan. It is Christ’s purpose that the kingdom of heaven and its power be “near” to bring salvation, grace and the healing in God’s people. When the Kingdom of Heaven is not being manifested among God’s people, they should turn from the spirit of the world and all that is not pleasing to God. “Seek…. first his kingdom and his righteousness (6:33) and pray “your kingdom come, your will be done” (6:10).
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An apostle is a person who is called and sent to do a special task. He is sent out to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the primary sense, there are no more apostles as they were men who saw Jesus while He was here on this earth, so it is not possible for a man to be an apostle today. Jesus’ earthly ministry stopped in A.D. 33, which means that no one living today could have seen Jesus during His earthly ministry. However, some people believe that the gift of an apostle still exists today. In the tradition of the Apostolic-Prophetic movement, a modern-day Apostle is one who is “called and sent by Christ to have the spiritual authority, character, gifts and abilities to successfully reach and establish people in Kingdom of truth and order, especially through founding and overseeing local churches”. Apostles, as defined and explained above, do still exist, and are still called by God to carry out the mission of growing the church. “Apostle” is clearly listed as the first in a series of gifts believers can receive from the Holy Spirit. Today, the term “apostle” is used in different ways depending on the denomination. Some churches believe that apostles still exist today and are called by God to carry out the mission of growing the church by actively participating in preaching the Good News in Christ.
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The good news is the exceedingly wonderful message of God’s redemption of sinful humanity through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the gospel, the heart, the central core of what an apostle is called for and sent to do and proclaim. The proclamation is in the context of the Kingdom of God. ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.” When the Kingdom of heaven/Kingdom of God is at hand, it means it is near or within our grasp. It is in our midst. We don’t have to look further. It means we can live in the Kingdom of God right now, right here. In this kingdom, Jesus is the king, the healer, the giver of life, the exorcist, and the great provider. In the Kingdom of God, there is peace – the peace that the world cannot give. When Jesus is king in all aspect of our life, we don’t worry about anything. His very presence in our midst is more precious than gold or silver. That is why, He urges us to “seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be given unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) When we enthrone Jesus to be the king in our life, we are bound to proclaim it to the whole world. When people accept our proclamation, they too will experience peace. If not, they will face the consequences.
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In Christian baptism, one entered into a covenant with God to ‘proclaim by word and example the Good News in Christ; seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving neighbors as ourselves; strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being; and to persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord.’ These promises are sealed by the words, “I will, with God’s help.” These promises if faithfully followed in words and works lead to the Kingdom of God here and now.
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So Jesus called to him his closest followers, the ones who’d been with him longest and observed the most closely, and passed on to them some of his power — the power to name and overcome evil, the power to heal and reconcile, power granted to him by the heavenly Father, the one, holy and living God. And then he sent them out — “apostled” them — with these instructions:
“As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons…Proclaim the Good News, ‘The kingdom of God has come near.’…It is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”
And off they went, to do the work in his name, as disciples become apostles. We too, by our baptism are called and sent to do the same… we are Jesus’ modern apostles. All of us are invited to continue the mission Jesus entrusted to the apostles which is to spread the Good News of salvation to all of us, the salvific action out of God’s love to his people. We are all challenged to destroy the culture of self-preservation and preserve the culture of heroism by helping others without expecting any in return for our actions. Being a good steward of Jesus and to create a humane society with a heart full of compassion and love to those who are greatly in need in building a just society.
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There is a church around the world today, witnessing in every nation to the Good News of God in Christ. The sun never sets on the Christian hope, the faith that proclaims the good news even in the darkest hour, the ocean depths of the love of God. All because the disciples, imperfect as they were, answered the challenge of Jesus to be sent out to proclaim the good news: “The Kingdom of God has come near.” Good Christian people, as apostles of Christ, we are called to a “mission impossible”: to bring healing, reconciliation, and love to the world, in the power of the grace of God. Each of us has our own places to which we are called — families, homes, workplaces, clubs and groups — wherever there are people hurting, searching, in pain. Our world is as full as Jesus’ world was of people who are “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Like the first apostles, we won’t be perfect. We’ll make mistakes, miss opportunities, welsh or fail to honor our word, betray our Lord. But our Lord is endlessly forgiving. And he keeps sending us back out into the world, in his name. The first apostles, our forebears in the faith, turned the world upside down, in the power of God. We too, can!
Let us pray.
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 6 Collect, BCP)**
