Last night I spent some time compiling a list of Scriptures on healing for a prayer meeting tonight. But I had forgotten about these verses until this morning.
“Jesus came and said to them, ‘All power has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go and make followers of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to do all the things I have told you. And I am with you always, even to the end of the world.’” Matthew 28:18-20 NLV
This is referred to by some as the Great Commission.
Commissioned – ships are commissioned, officers are commissioned, salesmen are commissioned, works of art are commissioned and we have been commissioned too. To commission is to put into service.
Jesus has put us into service just like He did with the disciples.
“Jesus called His twelve followers to Him. He gave them the right and the power over all demons and to heal diseases. 2 He sent them to preach about the holy nation of God and to heal the sick. ” Luke 9:1-3 NLV
As His followers, we have been commissioned to do the works of Jesus. Somewhere along the way we have lost sight of that. Peter and John were part of this group of twelve and they were also there when Jesus gave this command shortly before His ascension back to heaven. They took their commission seriously. One of the first things they did after Jesus left this earth was heal a lame man.
“The man who was healed held on to Peter and John. All the people who were surprised gathered together around them in a place called Solomon’s Porch. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them, “Jewish men, why are you surprised at this? Why do you look at us as if we had made this man walk by our own power or holy lives? 13 The God of our fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, has done this. He has honored His Son Jesus…16 You see and know this man here. He has been made strong through faith in Jesus’ name. Yes, it is faith in Christ that has made this man well and strong. This man is standing here in front of you all.” Acts 3:11-16 NLV
By faith in the name of Jesus – our calling, our commission is a mission of faith. Not blind faith but faith in the name of Jesus and in the power of God. The religious leaders arrested Peter and John following this miracle; they were intimated by the impact it had on the people in the Temple. They kept them in jail overnight and when they were released, the religious leaders commanded them not to speak of Jesus like this anymore.
Hear Peter’s answer:
“‘There is no way to be saved from the punishment of sin through anyone else. For there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we can be saved.’ 13 They were surprised and wondered how easy it was for Peter and John to speak. They could tell they were men who had not gone to school. But they knew they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:12-14 NLV
Commissioned for greatness.
We too, have been commissioned to show the greatness of God in the world. As Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel (the good news) to every person”. Let’s go!