#4 Top 40 New Testament Passages: The Ministry of Jesus (Luke 6:17-19)
He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them. (Luke 6:17-19)
If there's a passage of scripture that summarizes what Jesus' earthly ministry was about it's this passage introducing Jesus' Sermon on the Plain. Matthew is known for Jesus' famous Sermon on the Mount, but Luke has his own version of Jesus teaching his disciples as he comes down from a mountain after prayer. After that time of prayer, presumably discerning who He should call as apostles for His church, Jesus appointed the twelve apostles. He then came down to greet a large gathering of disciples. It might be worth noting the difference between an apostle and a disciple.
A disciple is a pupil, a student who adheres to the teachings of their teaching master. The apostle is a disciple with a specific role in the church. Apostle literally means "sent ones." Jesus called his disciples together and chose twelve to be sent out for the work of the Kingdom of God. (Luke 6:12-13) To these Jesus gave instructions.
Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere. (Luke 9:1-6)
Compare Jesus' instructions in the Luke 9 passage tot he Luke 6 passage which began this blog and you will find commonality. The apostles are sent in power of Christ to proclaim the the good news about the Kingdom of God, to heal the sick and to drive out demons. In short, the ministry of Jesus is to teach hope, restore health and liberate lives.
Consider Luke 6:18: "They had come to hear him..." (Teach Hope)
"to be healed of their diseases..." (Restore Health)
"those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured." (Liberate Lives)
The apostles are sent as Christ's representatives, under Christ's authority, and empowered with divine abilities to teach, heal and liberate. The outcome of their ministry is to advance the Kingdom of God on earth.
Consider Luke 9:1-2: "gave them power and authority over all demons..." (Liberate Lives)
"and to cure diseases..." (Restore Health)
"to proclaim the kingdom of God..." (Teach Hope)
Teaching Hope in the Kingdom of God is about good news. I have already discussed in a previous blog the meaning of the Kingdom. It is a spiritual kingdom within our hearts and among the disciples. The Kingdom of God seeks expression in our lives and on the earth. All who confess Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, and savior of the world belong to the Kingdom. God's love reigns in the disciple's heart and empowers followers to do good works as Jesus did. The message of the Kingdom is that God is with us. We are not forgotten. God is actively working to redeem our lives through new creation. God brings justice through kingdom workers. God lifts the burdens of the poor through the ministries of the church. God offers hope through the divine word proclaimed. Hope comes to those who seek pastoral counseling, and support groups through the church. The varieties of ways in which hope is taught can be found in worship, education, spiritual formation, missions, and health and welfare ministries.
Restoring health is accomplished through prayer circles, healing ministries, special worship services centered on healing, anointing and the laying on of hands. Jesus often offered forgiveness to those in need of healing, knowing that restoring relationships with God were fundamental to health and wholeness.
Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. (James 5:14-16a)
Health ministries includes doctors and nurses, dentists and counselors offered in poor neighborhoods at no or low cost, to foreign nations where people live in deplorable conditions. Parish nursing is a church ministry in which health education and advocacy occurs for congregations and neighborhoods through compassionate and trained nurses.
The New Testament language about the devil and demons seems archaic and superstitious nonsense belonging to an ancient people. To speak of demonic possession nowadays seems the subject matter of Hollywood horror and not for the church. But we all know people who struggle emotionally or mentally. Sometimes destructive habits of thinking are at clinical levels, requiring intervention from mental health professionals and prescription drugs. Bi-polar disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety and Depression are common these days. Billions of dollars are expended each year on treatment. Suicide rates are on the rise among the elderly and adults under 35 years of age. If there was ever a time lives needed liberation through the hopeful message of the gospel it is now.
Jesus sent out the apostles giving them power and authority to liberate lives harassed and in bondage to demonic or unclean spirits. There are definite mental health conditions that parallel depictions of demons in the New Testament. Are all mental health conditions the result of demonic activity? Do we even believe demons exist? Are there cases in which demon possession is the likely cause? In the large majority of cases, no! Still the Roman Catholic Church, and other Christian traditions, have exorcists carrying out the liturgy of exorcism to liberate lives from demonic forces. There's mystery in the spiritual realm. There are powerful forces that work against God and life, as there has been from the beginning. Chaos threatens, but our God is sovereign.
Liberation ministries are less about exorcisms and more about justice, about facing down evil and oppressive systems that marginalize and victimize people. The Church advocates for a just society and works for just change in the marketplace, government, local communities, congregations, schools and homes. We are a voice for truth, justice and equity. We labor to lift the burdens that failures in society cause. Liberating lives is about removing barriers to the abundant life, whether economic, political, or spiritual. When the Church seeks to liberate lives we ask what the world would look like if God's love were in charge. Then we go and try to help make the world look more like a place where God's love reigns.
If there's a passage of scripture that summarizes what Jesus' earthly ministry was about it's this passage introducing Jesus' Sermon on the Plain. Matthew is known for Jesus' famous Sermon on the Mount, but Luke has his own version of Jesus teaching his disciples as he comes down from a mountain after prayer. After that time of prayer, presumably discerning who He should call as apostles for His church, Jesus appointed the twelve apostles. He then came down to greet a large gathering of disciples. It might be worth noting the difference between an apostle and a disciple.
A disciple is a pupil, a student who adheres to the teachings of their teaching master. The apostle is a disciple with a specific role in the church. Apostle literally means "sent ones." Jesus called his disciples together and chose twelve to be sent out for the work of the Kingdom of God. (Luke 6:12-13) To these Jesus gave instructions.
Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere. (Luke 9:1-6)
Compare Jesus' instructions in the Luke 9 passage tot he Luke 6 passage which began this blog and you will find commonality. The apostles are sent in power of Christ to proclaim the the good news about the Kingdom of God, to heal the sick and to drive out demons. In short, the ministry of Jesus is to teach hope, restore health and liberate lives.
Consider Luke 6:18: "They had come to hear him..." (Teach Hope)
"to be healed of their diseases..." (Restore Health)
"those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured." (Liberate Lives)
The apostles are sent as Christ's representatives, under Christ's authority, and empowered with divine abilities to teach, heal and liberate. The outcome of their ministry is to advance the Kingdom of God on earth.
Consider Luke 9:1-2: "gave them power and authority over all demons..." (Liberate Lives)
"and to cure diseases..." (Restore Health)
"to proclaim the kingdom of God..." (Teach Hope)
Teaching Hope in the Kingdom of God is about good news. I have already discussed in a previous blog the meaning of the Kingdom. It is a spiritual kingdom within our hearts and among the disciples. The Kingdom of God seeks expression in our lives and on the earth. All who confess Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, and savior of the world belong to the Kingdom. God's love reigns in the disciple's heart and empowers followers to do good works as Jesus did. The message of the Kingdom is that God is with us. We are not forgotten. God is actively working to redeem our lives through new creation. God brings justice through kingdom workers. God lifts the burdens of the poor through the ministries of the church. God offers hope through the divine word proclaimed. Hope comes to those who seek pastoral counseling, and support groups through the church. The varieties of ways in which hope is taught can be found in worship, education, spiritual formation, missions, and health and welfare ministries.
Restoring health is accomplished through prayer circles, healing ministries, special worship services centered on healing, anointing and the laying on of hands. Jesus often offered forgiveness to those in need of healing, knowing that restoring relationships with God were fundamental to health and wholeness.
Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. (James 5:14-16a)
Health ministries includes doctors and nurses, dentists and counselors offered in poor neighborhoods at no or low cost, to foreign nations where people live in deplorable conditions. Parish nursing is a church ministry in which health education and advocacy occurs for congregations and neighborhoods through compassionate and trained nurses.
The New Testament language about the devil and demons seems archaic and superstitious nonsense belonging to an ancient people. To speak of demonic possession nowadays seems the subject matter of Hollywood horror and not for the church. But we all know people who struggle emotionally or mentally. Sometimes destructive habits of thinking are at clinical levels, requiring intervention from mental health professionals and prescription drugs. Bi-polar disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety and Depression are common these days. Billions of dollars are expended each year on treatment. Suicide rates are on the rise among the elderly and adults under 35 years of age. If there was ever a time lives needed liberation through the hopeful message of the gospel it is now.
Jesus sent out the apostles giving them power and authority to liberate lives harassed and in bondage to demonic or unclean spirits. There are definite mental health conditions that parallel depictions of demons in the New Testament. Are all mental health conditions the result of demonic activity? Do we even believe demons exist? Are there cases in which demon possession is the likely cause? In the large majority of cases, no! Still the Roman Catholic Church, and other Christian traditions, have exorcists carrying out the liturgy of exorcism to liberate lives from demonic forces. There's mystery in the spiritual realm. There are powerful forces that work against God and life, as there has been from the beginning. Chaos threatens, but our God is sovereign.
Liberation ministries are less about exorcisms and more about justice, about facing down evil and oppressive systems that marginalize and victimize people. The Church advocates for a just society and works for just change in the marketplace, government, local communities, congregations, schools and homes. We are a voice for truth, justice and equity. We labor to lift the burdens that failures in society cause. Liberating lives is about removing barriers to the abundant life, whether economic, political, or spiritual. When the Church seeks to liberate lives we ask what the world would look like if God's love were in charge. Then we go and try to help make the world look more like a place where God's love reigns.
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