The beloved physician Luke wrote how, “the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, where he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray you therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you”, and in chapter ten and verse nine of his book Luke shared how Jesus tells His disciples to, “heal the sick … and say … The Kingdom of God is come near unto you” where we read:
And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
The verse reads, “And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, ...” Luke began with the words, “and heal the sick” or “and cure, relieve and restore to health people who are ill, weak, infirm, feeble and impotent” “that are therein” which means “who are living within the city”, “and say unto them” or “and utter, declare and proclaim to the people of the city” the following words. Luke shared how Jesus told His disciples to “cure” people who are “ill” and proclaim the following words to them.
The verse goes on to say, “... The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” Luke continued with the words, “The Kingdom of God” which means “the rule, reign, dominion and kingship belonging to the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “is come nigh” or “has approached, been drawn and brought near” “unto you” which means “to the people within the city”. Luke shared how Jesus told His disciples to tell the people within the cities that God's Kingdom was “near” to them.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn more of the responsibilities of the disciples who were sent out by Jesus. They were to “restore” people to “health” who were “sick” and tell them that “God's Kingdom” was “near” to them. In other words, Jesus' disciples were to help people both “physically” and “spiritually”. God loves people, and He wants to be in a relationship with them through His Son Jesus Christ. God will help people “physically” which lasts while they are on the earth, and He will help them “spiritually” as they shall be granted the opportunity to live eternally in His Kingdom forever. Let all who read these words consider the responsibilities of Jesus' disciples and understand those methods continue to apply today.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus tells His disciples, “into whatsoever city you enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out”, 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".
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