Luke 9:1-10

Working through His Followers

Luke 9:1-10

The Galilean ministry was coming to a close. The light that had shone there was to move southward and set behind the Cross. Before finally leaving the district our Lord made one last effort on its behalf. Calling together the Apostles He laid His plans before them, divided the district into sections and sent them out in pairs. He gave them no outward investiture, but the inward power of casting out evil spirits. Nothing was to distract them from the great object of heralding the kingdom of God.

Here we seem to encounter the origin of medical missions: their object in healing body and mind; their authority in the command of our Savior; their claims for support. George Eliot once said wisely: “The tale of divine pity was never yet believed from lips that had not first been moved by human pity.”

Notice how Herod's conscience tormented him! He had begun to feel that scourge, which has never failed to find and follow out the murderer, from Cain onward.