Power and Authority Given to the Disciples - Luke 9:1

The beloved physician Luke wrote how Jairus and his wife, “were astonished” after Jesus raised their daughter from the dead, “but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done”, and in chapter nine and verse one of his book Luke shared how Jesus gave His disciples, “power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases” where we read:

Then he called his twelve disciples together,

and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

The verse reads, “Then he called his twelve disciples together, ...” Luke began with the words, “then he called” or “at that time Jesus assembled and gathered” “his twelve disciples together” which means “Jesus' twelve students, pupils and attendants”. Luke shared how Jesus assembled His “twelve disciples” to grant them the following.

The verse continues, “... and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.” Luke added the words, “and gave them” which means “and granted, bestowed, supplied and furnished His twelve disciples” “power” or “spiritual strength, ability, abundance and might” “and authority” which means “right, rule and jurisdiction” “over all devils” which refers to “against each, every, the whole and everyone of the evil spirits or messengers and ministers of the devil”, “and to cure diseases” which means “to cure, restore to health and heal sicknesses, maladies and infirmities”. Luke shared how Jesus granted “might and rule” to His “disciples” over all the “demons” as well as the ability to “heal” “sicknesses and maladies”.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn of Jesus dispatching His “disciples” with “power” over “demons” and the ability to “heal” sicknesses. All power belongs to Him, and Jesus is able to equip anyone He desires with “spiritual” abilities. These strengths and abilities are to be used in His Kingdom to demonstrate God's desire to be engaged with people, and those who believe and trust in Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be granted gifts that He chooses for His purposes like He did with His “disciples”.

Next time we see Luke share how Jesus sent His disciples, “to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".