“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.”
And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The commissioning of the twelve moves from the prayer for laborers (9:38) to the sending of laborers. Jesus first gives authority — the authority to heal and exorcise is delegated, not manufactured, and the delegation is explicit. The twelve disciples receive the same comprehensive authority that Jesus has exercised in chapters 8–9: over unclean spirits (8:28–32; 9:32–33) and over every disease and every affliction (4:23; 9:35). The kingdom authority that belongs to the Son is extended to those the Son sends. John 20:21 records the risen Jesus saying: as the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you — the chain of mission and authority.
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
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