The Big “D”

What is the big D?  If you are a football fan, you would probably say it refers to “defense”.  If you are a Detroit Tiger fan, you may think of the Old English Script D.  But today, I want to talk about the little “d” vs. the big “D”.   Yesterday, I talked about the twelve Disciples, disciple with a big ‘D’.  Today, I want to talk about disciple with a little ‘d’.  When most people hear “disciple”, they think of the “twelve”.  When Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations”, most people do not think of making disciples with a big ‘D’.  Most people consider that the twelve were unique, with unique abilities and unique tasks. They walked and talked with Jesus.  They experienced His miracles first hand.  They had a special relationship with Jesus.  They touched Him, ate meals with Him.  They saw Him crucified, buried, resurrected and ascending into heaven. I will grant you that their life experience was unique but their ‘job description’ was not. 

First of all, you may ask, why would I even want to challenge that idea?  I think it is very critical in how we, you and I, view our life and work here on earth.  If the ‘twelve’ were unique in their ‘job assignment’, that means that our ‘job assignment’ is different, not the same.  If our ‘job assignment’ is different from the ‘twelve’, how is it different?  If it is different, what is the scriptural basis for this ‘different assignment’?  Does any part of our ‘job description’ overlap with their ‘job description’?

Well I think there is sound scriptural support that the ‘twelve’ were not unique.  Their experience was unique but their ‘job assignment’ was not unique.  There were at least seventy other individuals who were not part of the ‘twelve’ but had the same ‘job assignment’.

After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. ²Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. ³Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. ⁴Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. ⁵But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. ⁷And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. ⁸Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. ⁹And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ ¹⁰But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ¹¹‘The very dust of your city which clings to  us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ ¹² But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.

This is the same ‘job description’ that He gave the twelve. 

“Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: ⁶But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ⁷And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. ⁸Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. ⁹Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, ¹⁰Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. ¹¹And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. ¹²And when ye come into an house, salute it. ¹³And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. ¹⁵Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city “

Most ‘church goers’ are familiar with the phrase ‘the great commission’.  When that phrase is used, most ‘church goers’ refer to Mathew 28:19

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

This same event is reported by Mark in chapter 16:15:

“ ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. ¹⁷And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; ¹⁸They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

SAME JOB DESCRIPTION!

Why the apparent discrepancy? 

Matthew says: “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”.

What are the things that they observed and what were they commanded to do?

^“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give”

We can choose to do things our way or HIS way.  We've done things our way for years, maybe we ought to do something radical, try doing things HIS way, the supernatural way!