Copyright © S P Townsend
Called apostles, meaning “those sent out”. Appointed (1) to be with Jesus, (2) to be sent out to preach, (3) to have authority to drive out demons (Mark 3:13-15).
Jesus appointed twelve apostles. These included Judas Iscariot, who was replaced by Matthias in the period between the Ascension and Pentecost. But these were not the only apostles recognised by the early church. Paul became an apostle (1 Cor 1:1) and in the Acts of the Apostles both Paul and Barnabas are referred to as apostles (Acts 14:14). Two relatives of Paul, Andronicus and Junia, are referred to by Paul as apostles, indeed as “outstanding among the apostles” (Romans 16:7). (Incidentally, Junia is a female name.) When Paul, Silas and Timothy wrote the first letter to the church at Thessalonia, they referred to themselves as “apostles of Christ” (1 Thess 2:6,7). There is possibly an implication in Galatians 1:19 that James, the Lord’s brother, was considered by Paul to be an apostle. In addition a number of individuals are referred to as apostles of a church or churches (2 Cor 8:23; Phil 2:25). So nine or ten individuals in the New Testament are referred to as apostles, in one sense or another, in addition to the original twelve.
Notice that whilst “being sent out” is the main feature of an apostle’s ministry, the first role of the apostle is to “be with Jesus”. The first call is to follow Jesus, the second call is to go to serve Him. The second cannot succeed without the first. Jesus said, “Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me … Apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4,5).
Now, did you know that the Messiah himself is called a branch? Isaiah prophecied, “A Rod will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him” (Isa 11:1,2). The rod or staff is a symbol of the Messiah, and I believe that is why the apostles were sent with no other equipment than a staff. Of course a staff would help them on difficult terrain, and provide some means of protection, but one would have thought that food, money, a change of clothes, stout shoes and a waterproof cape would be just as important, if not more so. But they were to carry nothing but a staff, and this staff was like a badge of authority. It spoke of the one who had sent them, of his authority, of his fruitfulness, of the anointing of His Spirit. It was a visible sign and reminder that “apart from me you can do nothing.”
Sent out in pairs, with authority from Jesus over unclean spirits.
Told to take no luggage, food or money; their only aid was a staff.
They preached that people should repent.
They drove out demons, and healed sick people through anointing with oil.
Matthew tells us that they were specifically sent to the lost sheep of Israel – not to the Samaritans or the Gentiles. They were to preach that the kingdom of heaven was near, and as well as healing the sick and driving out demons they were also instructed to raise the dead (Matt 10:1-15).
This was different to the Second Commission (Matt 28:18-20) when they were instructed to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything Jesus had commanded.
Now it is easy to be confused here. When we think of the Apostles preaching the gospel we tend to think that they were telling people that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture, that he was buried and on the third day was raised from the grave, according to the Scripture, that He ascended to Heaven and is now seated on the right hand of the Majesty on high, and that one day He will return to judge the living and the dead.
This indeed was what they taught after the resurrection, ascension and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. But when Jesus sent them out two by two to the villages of Israel these men had little understanding of the cross, and still less of the resurrection. They carried a different message, but no less urgent. “The kingdom of God is very near,” they said. “The king himself has appeared amongst us and sent us to you. You must repent of your evil doings, and return to the Lord your God. You must change your ways and start living according to His word.” With words of command they cast our demons, and with the oil of anointing they healed the sick, demonstrating that the power of God’s kingdom was indeed present.
God was giving the nation of Israel the opportunity to turn to him and welcome His rule of their lives.
Now it is interesting to ask the question, what if the people had indeed repented? What if the nation of Israel had indeed humbled itself before the Lord, just as the people of Ninevah did when Jonah preached his words of judgement. What if all the people, from highest to lowest, acknowledged Jesus as the messiah and crowned him as king?
Now it may be foolish to ask such questions, because we know this did not happen, and none amongst us really has the wisdom to determine what might have been. My tentative answer, in particular, may be very wide of the mark. But I ask this question, and suggest an answer, because I want us to better understand the immensity of the blessings God has poured upon us.
Well, I am quite sure the Old Testament prophecies would still have been fulfilled, and so Jesus would still have been crucified. But now, I surmise, this would have been because of the wrath of Rome being poured out on what it saw as a rebellious Jewish nation. Indeed it was the fear of such a response that partly motivated the High Priest in his personal rejection of Jesus. “Better that one man die for the people,” he said, “than that the whole nation perish” (John 11:50). The Shepherd would have been struck down, and sheep would have been scattered. And after this the Romans would have commenced the destruction of Jerusalem, even as actually occurred in AD 70. But the final outcome would have been different from AD 70, for whilst the Roman army was still about the business of destroying the city and its inhabitants Christ himself would have returned, even as Isaiah prophecied, to destroy the attacking army and rescue his people. Then would have been ushered in the millennium kingdom of righteousness and peace under the reign of Christ.
And we would have missed it! We would have been excluded. For Paul said, “Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of Gentiles has come in” (Rom 11:25). Israel did not repent, and as a consequence the opportunity has been given to the Gentiles – to you and me – to come to Christ. The blessing of Christ has come to us, who did not merit or deserve it, because the people of Israel rejected Him. And the gospel of grace is still extended to the whole world because Israel for the most part still has not repented. And this will continue until the full number of Gentiles has come to Christ, as purposed by God. And then Israel will repent. As the scripture says, “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob” (Rom 11:26).
I wonder if you have ever thought of things like this, that Israel did not repent, did not accept Jesus as Messiah, and still continues in unbelief, because God loves you and me and longed for us to become part of His family.
It is little wonder that Paul breaks off his writing at this point with a wonderful doxology. “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” (Rom 11:33).
Notice what was not included in either the first or second commission to the apostles. They were not called to control the Church. They were not asked to come up with a strategy for converting the nation of Israel or the nations beyond. They were not given authority over other people, whether believers or non-believers, only over demons. They were not set upon thrones as kings. Their role was very clear – go and call people to repentance; go and call people to be disciples of Jesus; teach them to obey Jesus; heal the sick and drive out evil spirits to demonstrate the proximity of the kingdom of God.
“Feed my sheep,” Jesus said to Peter (John 21:18) not “get the sheep to feed you.”
“Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you,” said Jesus (Matt 28:20) not “tell them to obey everything you command them.”
“All authority is given unto me,” said Jesus (Matt 28:18) not all authority has been given unto you.
You see, since the outset of the Church the biggest and most difficult lesson to be learned by its leaders is that they are not its head. And, sadly, some have never learned that lesson, and the Church has been battered and bruised and torn as a consequence. In the world’s way of organising things the leader is the head, the leader is in control, the leader runs things. But this is not the case in the Church. Jesus alone is the head of the Church; He is in control and He runs things.
If there were any part of the body that best represents the leaders of the church it would be the soles and the heels of the feet. These are the parts that carry the weight of the church, that bear its burden. These are the parts that move first when the head tells the body to start walking.
So, you who aspire to church leadership, you aspire to a great ministry. But if your vision of leadership is the same as the world’s idea of leadership then you had better think again. Listen to what Jesus had to say about this.
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matt 20:25-28)
"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. (Matt 23:8-11)
Leadership in the Church never was about ruling or controlling people. It was always about being a slave for Christ’s sake. It never was about being elevated higher. It was always about descending lower. It was never about receiving the recognition, acclaim and adulation of others. It was always about becoming nothing for the benefit of others.
Copyright © S P Townsend