Restless The Podcast

Hi this is Steve and welcome back to the New Press On. In the gospel of Mathew, we are told of an event that reveals the playbook (force-multiplier) of how Jesus will get the Good News of the gospel out to the world beginning with the local community. His tools 12 uneducated, unrefined commoners, and simple men of faith. They were the commonest of the common. They were from rural areas, farmers, and fisherman. Yet it got worse… Matthew was seen as filth among people, classified as the lowest of the low for working alongside the Romans in collecting taxes, and at the time being under Roman rule was the most hated thing of all.

What we know is that Jesus purposely passed over the elite, aristocratic, religious professionals and influential men of society and chose men from the dregs of society. That’s how God has always worked throughout the course of history. He exalts the humble and lays low those who are proud.

Yet as I read this story found in Mathew 10 there are a few things that strike me.

1.     Jesus gives these uneducated and unrefined commoners authority…the authority of God

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

2.     He sends them out with only the clothes on their back.

“Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— 10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff,

The orders were clear, don’t go alone, You’ve been delegated incredible authority and take nothing with you but the clothes on your back…you will depend fully on the Lord. Jesus sends out the commonest of the common, filth among people, classified as the lowest of the low.