Matthew 9:35-38; 10:1-4

Matthew 9:35-38; 10:1-4 NIV

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 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 the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

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Did you ever wish that Christ would call you like He did His 12 apostles? I used to wish my name would be called when I was a small boy. I fantasized about walking with Jesus, helping Him in His ministry of healing and hope and holiness. I would hear the bible stories and imagine myself there with Jesus. But childhood fantasies give way to real life challenges. When my wife and I were involved in a ministry known as Marriage Encounter. We attended a weekend retreat in which we were presented a question. "Do you wish to hear the Lord call your name?" We each shared our answers. I remember being visibly shaken by the question. Deep in my core that boyhood fantasy was alive! I longed to hear the Lord call my name more than anything. Eventually I heard the call into ordained ministry, a ministry akin to apostleship.

There are many disciples, all of whom are called to share in Jesus' ministry. Some are financers, like some of the women who supported Jesus.

Luke 8:1-3 NIV

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

Others provided shelter like Simon the leper. (Mat 26:6) Still others housed churches like Mary, mother of John Mark. (Ac 12:12), but apostleship is a unique calling apart from others. It is to plant new churches, to lead churches toward spiritual maturity and effective ministry. It is to cast vision and lead ministry to fulfill God's vision. It is to birth new expressions of ministry or revitalize existing ministries in new directions. But apostleship is not simply administrative leadership. It's sharing fully in the ministry of Jesus, leading and participating in a ministry of teaching, healing and liberation.

The gospels summarize Jesus' ministry in several places. Matthew 9:35 and 10:1 does a nice job of encapsulating the dimensions of His ministry.

Matthew 9:35 NIV

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.

Matthew 10:1 NIV

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

Jesus taught hope as He proclaimed good news about the kingdom of heaven and of God. He touched the sick and healed them, restoring health. He drove out demons, liberating souls from captivity. He liberated masses from hunger with miraculous food. He shares this ministry with His disciples, with the apostles leading them, and Christ leading us all. He gives authority to His followers in order that they might carry on a ministry of hope, health and holiness, through teaching, healing and liberation in the power of Christ.

As we've seen already, Jesus is connecting people to God, the source of life. Holiness is to be set free from everything that keeps people from living their fullest life in God. It is to be set free from our addictions and earthly attachments that we might fully live in God and serve God's redemptive mission in the world. To be holy is to be like God. To be holy is to be fully set aside for God's purposes. In order for holiness to happen we need liberation from sin, demonic influence or bondage, and social injustice. Christ sets us free to live for Him and join His ministry. Filled with Christ we can lead others compassionately into God's loving embrace.

Jesus looked upon the crowds and felt pain for them like a mother feels when her children are hurting. He said, "Look at all these people in need of God! The harvest is plentiful. But there's a problem. Many souls will rot on the vine because there aren't enough of My disciples who will go and do the hard work it takes to reach them. The workers are few."

Jesus beckons the church to pray for the Lord to send workers into the harvest of souls that Jesus began. Jesus picked 12 that He discerned were ready to join Him and lead His church. There's Peter, Andrew, James and John, fisherman from Galilee. He chose Matthew the tax collector. He chose a zealot, and Judas Iscariot who ended up betraying Him.

How about you? As a Christian you too are called to share in Christ's ministry in some capacity according to your faith and giftedness. Do you look at your neighbors and yearn for them to know the love of God as you do? Do you feel compassion for the harassed and helpless of our world? Then perhaps you are hearing the Lord call you to join Him in the harvest.

Pray for the church to be what the Lord knows we can be, a light in the darkness and the salt of the earth. We are the people of hope, health and holiness. Find your place in the harvest field and gather people to Christ Jesus.