The Ministry is in Our Hands

There is a legend of a conversation between Jesus and the angel Gabriel, after the ascension. The conversation focuses on how Jesus’ work on earth will continue. Gabriel approaches Jesus and asks, “Master, you suffered terribly on earth to pay for the sins of humankind. Does everyone down there know and appreciate the extent of your sacrifice?” Jesus replies, “No, not yet. Right now, only a handful of people know about it.” Puzzled, Gabriel asks, “What plan do you have to tell everyone else?” Jesus explains, “I have asked Peter, James, John, and a few other friends to spread the news. They will tell others, who will then tell others, until the message spreads to the ends of the earth.” Gabriel, knowing the limitations of human beings, asks, “Yes, but Master what if Peter grows weary and goes back to fishing: What if John loses his enthusiasm, or the others who come after them forget? Do you have a Plan B?” With a study and loving gaze on Gabriel, Jesus simply answers, “I have no other plans. I am counting on them.” Jesus left his work in the hands of ordinary, imperfect people like you and me. He is counting on everyday ordinary followers to continue to spread his message of love. We are an extension of his ministry. You can read about it in Matthew’s story of the life and ministry of Jesus

Read Matthew 9:35-10:8

Jesus traveled among all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, announcing the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The size of the harvest is bigger than you can imagine, but there are few workers. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers for his harvest.”He called his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to throw them out and to heal every disease and every sickness. Here are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, who is called Peter; and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee; and John his brother; Philip; and Bartholomew; Thomas; and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean; and Judas, who betrayed Jesus.Jesus sent these twelve out and commanded them, “Don’t go among the Gentiles or into a Samaritan city. Go instead to the lost sheep, the people of Israel. As you go, make this announcement: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, and throw out demons. You received without having to pay. Therefore, give without demanding payment.

Reflect on Matthew 10

Jesus Sees the Need

When Jesus sees the crowds, he is moved with compassion. He calls and invites people like you and me to join his mission. In the story, he equips those whom he calls with his authority, and he sends them out to share God’s love in both word and deed.

Matthew tells of Jesus’ teaching, preaching, and healing throughout the towns and villages. Then he writes, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

The word “compassion” refers to a deep, gut-level concern that moves a person to action. When Jesus saw the need, he didn’t feel sorry for the people, he was moved from deep within himself to care for the people.

Matthew tells us that Jesus sees us as “sheep who need a shepherd.” People are not seen as problems to avoid, but as people who need care and direction. He is moved by their condition.

Jesus Calls for Workers

Then Matthew changes the image. The shift is from sheep to harvest. “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”

The problem is not that there are too few people interested in God; the problem is that there are too few workers willing to serve. Jesus’ first instruction is “Pray.” He says,” Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers.”

Ministry begins with prayer and then moves into action. God’s mission first requires being aware of the need and then a response to meet the need. God wants you and me to participate in God’s mission.

Jesus Equips and Sends

Jesus calls twelve ordinary people, and he gives them authority to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons.” I think it is interesting that God often chooses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary purposes. The authority belongs to Jesus. He simples calls and invites us to carry out his mission in the world.

He says, “Freely you have received; freely give.”

The grace they received was gift from God. What they are learning is that God’s love is not something to just talk about but is an action to be demonstrated through acts of mercy and restoration.

Respond

Jesus looked at the crowds and saw people who were “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” His heart was filled with compassion. But instead of trying to do all the work Himself, He called ordinary people to follow. He equipped them for ministry and sent them out to respond in love.

It might be helpful to think of it this way. In a small town located in the mountains was a clinic. Because it was the only medical facility in the area, it functioned at capacity most of the time. The staff worked tirelessly to meet the needs of those who were sick, injured, and in need of care.

The director of the clinic, Dr. Carter, noticed that there was a growing number of people coming to the clinic who were lonely, experiencing grief, and needing basic care.

One evening, he stood at the clinic window looking out at the crowded parking lot. A young nurse walked up, stood beside him, and said, “It has been another full day.”

He responded, “Yes, every day is getting fuller. There are so many people who need help. I look out and all of you are working as hard as you can to meet the needs. The problem is not the needs. Our problem is, we don’t have enough people helping to meet the need.”

The next week, when making out the staff schedule, Dr. Carter did something unexpected. He invited a dozen or so people from the community to help address the needs of the clinic. He asked his mechanic, a teacher he knew, a farmer he had helped, the clerk at the grocery story, a retired firefighter, and several others. None of them were doctors and some of them even wondered why they had been invited.

At an initial gathering, Dr. Carter looked around the room and said, “The town is hurting, and I can’t reach everyone by myself. I’m going to teach you how to help.”

So, Dr Carter began to train them for service. He taught them how to recognize emergencies, how to provide basic care, how to comfort frightened families, and how to connect people with resources.

At the end of their training, the doctor handed each of them a medical kit and said, “You know enough to begin. I’m sending you out as an extension of the clinic.”

The mechanic raised his hand, “What if we’re not ready?”

Dr. Carter smiled, “You’ll never feel completely ready. But the people need help now.”

It did not take long for those invited to care for the needs of the community to scatter throughout the community. They checked on elderly neighbors, responded to emergencies, delivered medicine, and encouraged discouraged families.

Months later, someone asked Dr. Carter, “Do you ever get concerned about giving ordinary people so much responsibility.”

He looked out at the town and replied, “The need was too great for me to keep it to myself. The best way to care for people was to send others to care for them too.”

Jeus says, “The harvest is plentiful.” The needs are great and Jesus still calls each of us to become his hands, feet, and voice in the world. The compassion of Jesus always leads to mission.

Return

Give thanks for God’s call upon your life, and thanks for the people you encountered today. In what ways were you aware of following Jesus? How did you live out your call? How did you experience God’s love? In what ways did you model and share God’s love? With whom do you need to celebrate the love you experience in and through them: what will you do differently tomorrow?