Monday 16 November 2015

Anyone can do it - Sunday 15th November 2015

At the start of Jesus' ministry, he selected and trained 12 ‘apostles' to go out and spread his message. He didn’t send the apostles out to tell people about himself. He sent them to do the very same things that he himself was doing: "to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick."
At the end of his ministry, Jesus took a further, bolder step. He sent out a much wider group of people - 72 of them - with exactly the same task and instructions. “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” These latter missioners had received little training. Indeed, Jesus deliberately sent them out ill equipped, saying, "I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals.” He had come to realise that his message was so simple it didn’t require experts.
The shift from the 12 to the 72 is significant. Jesus’ mission was no longer a task for the selected few, it was a task for anyone who made themselves available.
Our task as Christians is neither to worship Jesus nor promote the Christian brand. Our task as Christians is to continue the work that Jesus started: calling people back to God's love, showing them and telling them how much they are loved.
Anyone can do it.

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