“The King’s Delegation”
Matthew 9:14-10:1
“And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.” - Matthew 10:1
Sound familiar? These were the works that Jesus did! “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.” [Matt 4:23]
The ministry is the same; the pattern familiar: Preaching, teaching, and serving. But notice the all-important, “He gave them power.” This is the critical factor. Jesus gave His disciples power to do what He did. He had authority to impart authority to others.
In Matthew’s post Sermon on the Mount record, Jesus showed His authority over everything in heaven and on earth by miracles. He has authority over disease [8:1-15]; the spirit-realm [8:16-17; 28-34]; nature [8:23-27]; sin [9:1-8]; and religious tradition [9:10-13]. This morning we will see His authority over death [9:18-26]; blindness [9:27-31]; and muteness [9:32-34]. And yet His most important display of authority comes in Chapter 10: He imparts His authority to others. Jesus “gave them power” to do what He did; to preach, teach, and heal every disease and sickness. This is a great miracle! He will take the common and unappealing and give them Kingdom authority to further the Kingdom.
This is a precursor to Pentecost when the Spirit came upon the Church in Acts 2. In John’s Gospel Jesus spent much of His Upper Room discourse preparing His disciples. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things” [Jn 14:26]. “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” [Jn 16:7]
Just before Jesus’ ascension “He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father.” [Acts 1:4] “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” [Acts 1:8]
This “power” is the imperative in this life of faith. Jesus has authority to delegate authority [Spirit-filled power] to others. It is a Holy Spirit authority from the very Throne of God, and He delegates that authority to His disciples.
