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The Manger to the Cross Four
In Manger to the Cross Four, Jesus has selected the twelve and is sending them out. His instructions to them give us some clues as well to some events leading up to His arrest and trial. We will also examine more of His miracles proving He is the Messiah.
Today we are going to continue looking at events in Jesus’ life as He goes from the manager to the cross. In One we looked at some of the prophecies about the coming Messiah or Christ and how Jesus fulfilled them. Our study in Two focused on the first year and His revolutionary message. In Three we looked at some of His miracles such as raising the dead and the costs of following Him.
Four will continue to look at the second half of His year of popularity. It has some great lessons for us.
Jesus sends out the Twelve.
In Matthew 10:1 NIV, Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
Hopefully, you have been reading one of the Gospel accounts along with the Scriptures I have used in these lessons. It is not possible to include all the Scriptures that tell of Jesus during His ministry.
Since the baptism by John, Jesus has called some rather unlikely followers. Jesus is now sending them out. If you were a recruiter for any of today’s ministries you would never have looked at any one of them as a prospective leader.
We can not say they were uneducated because young Jewish men would have attended synagogue school until they were about twelve. They would have continued to learn Scripture as they attended synagogue each Sabbath.
However, there is no indication that any of them was studying to be a teacher of the Law. We know that some were fishermen and one was even a hated tax collector. Scripture does not tell us a lot about them.
It should encourage us.
Looking at the twelve disciples Jesus chose should encourage us in our walk with Jesus. They were men just like us. We find in them the same weaknesses that we find in ourselves.
Yet, after Jesus’s resurrection, these twelve men turned the world upside down. Against impossible odds, they not only established the church in Jerusalem but were instrumental in spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom to all the known world.
The Jewish leaders tried to kill and imprison them. The mighty Roman Empire saw their rapid growth and considered them a threat to the Roman way of life. Rome made it a death penalty to be found in possession of parts of the Scripture telling of Jesus.
Faith in Jesus
Their faith in Jesus made it impossible to defeat and silence them. The more they were imprisoned and killed the more their numbers increased.
They accomplished great things for the Kingdom.
However, it was not because they were well-educated or remarkable leaders. It was not because they had special training, or knew large amounts of Scripture.
It was because they knew Jesus, and bore witness to His death, burial, and resurrection. They were obedient to His commands. This obedience changed the world through Christ.
Jesus prepares them by sending them out.
Toward the middle of the second year, His year of popularity, He ordained the twelve for a special mission. Matthew 10:1 NIV says, Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
Let’s do something a little different. I want you to put yourself in their position. Jesus has just selected you.
Now try to put yourself in their place and imagine what it would have been like. Maybe you are young like John or older like Peter, but you have seen Jesus do many wonderful things. You know that He is someone special, that He has powers you have never seen before.
You have watched Jesus heal all types of sickness and even raise the dead. However, you know that you don’t have that power and the question in your mind is, “Do I have the faith? Can I really do all that He is asking of me?”
I am sure that they were just as full of questions as you would be. Can Jesus give us this authority? Can we lay our hands on someone and they are healed? Yes, it is by Jesus’s power, but it is you standing in front of that sick person.
Their mission is clear.
Jesus sends them out to preach the coming Kingdom, heal the sick, and drive out evil spirits. It is an extension of His mission. He is preparing them for what will come after His resurrection. Their job will be to build the Kingdom here on earth.
He instructs them in Matthew 10:6-8 NIV, 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
He instructs them not to go to the Gentiles at this time. After His resurrection, He will instruct them to go into all the world, but He must come first to the children of Israel. The Israelites were expecting a Messiah and should understand who He was.
Jesus told them what they needed or did not need.
Today when we decide we are called to serve God we feel that we must do a lot to get ready. Maybe we don’t know enough Bible or we decide we need special training to be witnesses.
It seems that there is always a question about how we are to fund our efforts to reach a lost world. Every project seems to need money. How do we get what we need? This was not the case when Jesus sent the disciples out to do what they had never done before.
Now I want you to notice how Jesus told them to get ready for this mission. He did not tell them that they needed special training or to do fundraising so they would have all their needs met.
It was the opposite.
He said very clearly in Matthew 10:9-10 NIV, 9 “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, for the worker is worth his keep.
I am not against a little preparation, Scripture tells us to pray and study God’s Word in 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV. It reads, Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
However, today many souls are lost because we want to do everything right and be well-financed. When what Jesus commands us to do is tell people about salvation through Him. How He paid the price for their sins and that they could be saved by putting their trust in Him.
Jesus commanded us to go, not to get ready to go. If you are saved you know the plan of salvation and you can find it easily in the Bible if you have questions.
What will happen to you?
As well as not being well prepared and financed, Jesus tells them that the world will not treat them kindly. They did not accept Jesus and they will not accept you. The world and worldly ways are your enemies even as they are God’s enemies.
Jesus tells them in Matthew 10:17-18 NIV, 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.
If you are a faithful believer you will face continuous attacks from the forces promoting evil. The world stands against the righteousness of God. They have rejected what He calls sin. Not only have they rejected it but they label anyone who stands for God’s truth as evil and hate-filled.
Remember only one Apostle died a natural death. All the other Apostles were murdered for proclaiming Jesus as Lord. Death was not feared but failing Jesus was.
Jesus promises you will not be accepted.
Jesus instructs them in Matthew 10:19-20 NIV, 19 “when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Our Lord will be with you today as you reach out to the world and call them to repentance. The Holy Spirit will be there with you if you allow Him to guide what you say. You will not speak without love even though they imprison you or put you to death. Ask for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and follow Him as your Guide.
Remember what Jesus said from the cross in Luke 23:34a KJV, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” We are to imitate Jesus in our love of the lost.
When Jesus speaks to the disciples here He is also speaking to us. Jesus says in Matthew 10:22-23a NIV, 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23a When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another.
The world does hate Jesus and His righteousness. It will surely hate you if you are a true follower and proclaim His Word. If you openly say sin is a sin you will be attacked and ridiculed.
However, take heart when they attack you and let God’s love flow through you toward those who are attacking you. Jesus did! He went ahead and died on the cross for them.
Remember this about your teacher.
Jesus reminds us that we are not above our Teacher. If we are imitators of Jesus we will be treated like Him. We will be the enemy of the world! They will attack us.
The world will treat you the same way they did Jesus. He says in Matthew 10:24-25 NIV, 24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
Has time changed anything?
Look at what is happening in our country right now! The government has joined with the worldly groups that advocate sin and are enacting laws to force us to accept sin and not speak against it.
Many of the organized denominations are selling out to the world to keep their attendance up and increase cash flow. Make sure that you are not a part of this turning away from God’s Word. There is nothing the world has that is worth giving up your soul.
What will our Christian response be to the world? This is what Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 10:28-31 NIV, 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
God is watching over you. Jesus was not just speaking to the twelve but to all of us. Jesus was speaking to those before Him and to all who would come after.
Will you stand for Jesus?
In our churches today we often receive a very watered-down message from the Scripture. It centers around the love of God and is true as far as it goes. It is a little like the old Paul Harvey stories, there was always the “rest of the story.”
Preachers often neglect the rest of the story in both their lives and in their preaching. Jesus is very clear about what is expected of believers. We have a job to do!
Jesus says in Matthew 10:32-33 NIV, 32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
Brothers and sisters if you are not taking the message of salvation to others you are disowning Jesus. Listen to what He says in the following verses about your love, your cross, and your life.
Where is YOUR love?
Jesus spells out what is meant by acknowledging Him. He defines what it means to love Him and what it costs. Jesus says in Matthew 10:37 NIV, 37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
God has always required first place as our God and creator. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was in, Matthew 22:37-38 NIV He says, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. ”
You may have to give up family, friends, possessions, or any number of things you cherish. God will give you joy in all things, however, real joy will only come after you surrender all to Him.
And Take up YOUR cross.
Jesus came to die for your sins and He did so on the cruel cross of Calvary. He came by His own choice because He loved you while you were still in sinful rebellion against God.
Jesus tells us to do our part to reach the lost world. Our Savior wants us to spread the wonderful news to sinners that their sin debt is paid. He knew that it would be hard and you would have to make a decision. When you decide to follow Jesus you must surrender all to Him.
He gives you an option, follow Him or not. He never promises that it will be easy and people will like you for following Him. However, Jesus is very clear that if you are not willing to follow Him, regardless of how hard it may be, you are not worthy.
Jesus says in Matthew 10:38 NIV, 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
A cross is not easy to carry and it may end your life. Many have died for their faith. However, you must take up your cross and follow Him. His reward is greater.
Give YOUR life
From our childhood, parents and other adults encouraged us to prepare to gain wealth and security on a worldly level. A bigger house or newer car or maybe a better job or business is what we should set our eyes on. This is a lie Satan uses to keep us from following Jesus.
Jesus calls us to give our lives to Him. We may be able to reach all the goals we set in our lives. However, what good will it do us if we have left our spiritual lives in a shamble? If we gain everything and lose our souls we gain nothing.
Jesus says in Matthew 10:39 NIV, 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
It is better to find our life in Jesus.
Conclusion:
Jesus sent His disciples out to preach the coming Kingdom, cast out evil spirits, and heal all manner of diseases. They had a job to do much like what Jesus has called us to do. We also are to go out and proclaim Jesus where we now live.
Each article in this series tells of Jesus’ march from the manger to the cross. They are meant to encourage you to become a true follower. Jesus makes it clear that there will be trials. Walking in the truth of Christ sets us apart from the world and the world does not like for us to be different. This is especially true when we stand for the Word of God!
Read All
I hope that you will read them all and share them with your friends. Do take time to comment if you can. Thank You!
This is a sequence of the life and ministry of Jesus. It is best if you can read them in order, but each one will stand alone. You can reach any of the articles by clicking the link in blue. Prophecies and His birth – Manger to the Cross – One, Jesus proclaims the Kingdom – Manger to the Cross – Two, Jesus’ Teaching – Manger to the Cross – Three, Jesus Appoints the Twelve – Manger to the Cross – Four, Opposition Grows – Manger to the Cross – Five, Jesus predicts His death – Manger to the Cross -6, and Jesus’ death and resurrection – Manger to the Cross -7