Matthew 10:1-6
In the previous passage which I wrote about last week, Matthew repeats a statement he made near the conclusion of chapter four. I think he repeats himself in order to emphasize the mission of Jesus in order that we may be absolutely convicted and encouraged regarding our mission as disciples of Jesus.
Learning of this mission of Christ, and starting to learn about a short-term missions adventure of the apostles, we still need to distinguish between the progression of Christ’s mission, the apostle’s mission before the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the apostle’s mission after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, and the mission of all followers of Jesus in every generation since.
First note that Jesus made it clear His mission during His three year period in this world was specifically to the Israelites. The Messiah’s immediate mission did not extended beyond Israelites until He suffered on the cross. Though Jesus had strict parameters for teaching, preaching, and healing, He was leading to His plan of being the sacrificial atonement on the cross offered to all people of all time.
And as we learn in this passage, the Israelites were the mission field for the apostle’s mission at this time before the resurrection and ascension of Jesus.
After the resurrection and just before the ascension of Jesus, the apostle’s mission would be radically expanded by Jesus to the entire world. Their mission expansion by Jesus is recorded in Acts 1:8. The apostles were a group of Hebrews who would not normally even dine together. For starters, the group included a Zion Zealot and a tax collector for Rome from the tribe of Levi, and fellowship between two such Israelites was probably unheard of. Yet the Twelve, with a replacement for Judas, ended up becoming evangelists for Christ to countries in every direction. If you are interested in learning about the missions of the apostles, see my blog entries from February to April of 2015, which were the result of countless hours of research: The Twelve Apostles
Now what is the mission for you and me? All people of every nation remain the mission field for Christians as it has been for all following generations since the apostolic age. The command by Jesus in Acts 1:8 continues for all disciples of Christ until Jesus returns.
Do note one difference between the nature of the ministry between the apostles and the rest of us Christians ever since. Apostles were given the ability and authority by Jesus to physically heal people. Yet I reiterate what I said in my last piece: I advocate the calling and ability the apostles were given to physically heal people from diseases, and to even physically raise people from the dead, was specific to the apostolic age. Yet the Holy Spirit can still assist with physical healing in unique ways and unique circumstances. This is aside from a spiritual gift of a person, and aside from diligent church attendance.
I once rented a room in a townhouse from a person who is blind, a man who is a brother-in-Christ. No minister ever restored his sight, and he was not expecting such. Yet Jesus still does miracles in this world rooted in a spiritual nature, including healing for the heart. And in order for us to do work as a part of our mission calling, we must rely completely on Him to be enabled to carry out the spiritual work of God, who is Spirit (as revealed in John 4:24).
Hunter Irvine
