Matthew 12; Mark 3; Luke 6 – October 8

Mark 3:10-11 tells of some of the success of the ministry of Jesus: “For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him. And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, "You are the Son of God."” As great as this was, Jesus couldn’t just focus on what was happening at the moment; He needed to multiply Himself into other disciples and Apostles. Jesus couldn’t do it alone, nor did He desire to; it’s His desire to work through all of us as His body. Luke 6:12-13 says, “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles” It was His desire that these disciples spent time with Him so they would begin to know His teachings, walk in His ways, and begin to do the same and greater works than Him. Mark 3:14 &15 makes this point clear: “He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons.” The plan of Jesus has not changed in our day; He first wants us to “be with Him,” then He can send us into our call.