Disciples Instructed and Sent Out

Then Jesus and His disciples went to Nazareth, his home town. On the Sabbath He went to the synagogue and taught the people. They were startled and amazed and asked each other, "Where did this man learn these things? How did He gain His wisdom and how does He do these miracles we hear about? Isn't this the carpenter the son of Mary? Aren't His brothers James, Joses, Judas and Simon and aren't all His sister living among us?"

Because He had grown up among them and was well known to them as the local carpenter they resented Him and were offended. So Jesus said to them, "A prophet has respect and honor everywhere except in his own country, among those who know him and in his own family."

Because they knew Him before and so didn't believe in Him, Jesus couldn't do any miracles among them except healing a few sick people. He was amazed at their disbelief and lack of faith.

Jesus chose twelve men from among His disciples to be apostles. They were:

Simon	called Peter, also called Cephus
Andrew	Peter's brother
James	Zebedee's son
John	James' brother
Philip
Bartholomew
Thomas	the twin
Matthew	the publican
James	Alphaeus' son
Lebbaeus	called Thaddeaus
Simon	the Canaaite
Judas Iscariot	the betrayer

After selecting these twelve apostles, Jesus sent them out to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God in teams of two. He gave them power and authority to heal every kind of disease and to cast out demons - even to raise the dead. He told them to take nothing but their clothing and sandals; no money, no food, no bag for provisions, no staff, not even a second coat. They were to accept food and anything else they needed from whoever would give it unasked.

Before they went He instructed them, "Don't go to the non-Israelites including the Samaritans. Just go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and tell them the Kingdom of God is at hand."

"A workman is worthy of his food." He told them, "Whatever town or city you go to, seek out someone worthy there and stay with them until you leave. If no one there will accept you or listen to you, leave and even shake the dust of that place out of your sandals. It will be more tolerable in the judgment for Sodom and Gomorra than for that city.

"Pay close attention - I'm sending you out as sheep among wolves - be as shrewd as serpents and harmless as doves. Watch out for men - they will bring you before their councils and whip and beat you in their synagogues. You will be brought to answer before all levels of rulers because of your belief in Me and My ways as a witness against them and their nations.

"But don't be concerned or worried about what to say when you come before them, because the Spirit of the Father will speak to them through you at that moment exactly the witness they need to hear.

"In the future, but especially in the end time, close family members - parents, children, brothers and sisters - will betray one another to be killed and you will be hated by everyone because you believe in Me. But anyone who endures to the end will be saved.

"When you are persecuted in one city go to another; you will not have preached in all the cities of Israel before the Son of Man appears at His second coming.

"Remember, a student, a disciple, is not superior to his teacher nor a servant superior to his master. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much worse will they deal with those of His household? Do not fear them - everything that has been cover will be uncovered and all that has been hidden will be revealed. What I tell you in darkness speak in the light. What I whisper in your ear shout from the housetops.

"Don't be afraid of those who can kill you body but not your spirit, fear Him who can kill both body and spirit in Gehenna, the lake of fire. Aren't two sparrows sold to be sacrificed for a penny. Yet even as inexpensive as they are the Father knows every one that falls to the ground. Your life is worth more that a world of sparrows so don't fear anyone.

"Whoever will acknowledge Me among people I will acknowledge to my Father in heaven - anyone who rejects me among others I will reject before my Father in heaven.

"Don't think that I have come to bring peace to the earth, no, I came not to bring peace, but a sword. Because I have come, a man will be against his father, a daughter will be against her mother, and a daughter in law against her mother in law. A man's foes will be those of his own household. He that loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me and he that loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

"Those who do not follow Me are not worthy of Me. Anyone who finds his life shall lose it and anyone who loses his life for My sake shall find it.

"Those who receive you receive Me, and those who receive Me receive He who sent me. Those who receive a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward and those who receive a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. Whoever gives just a drink of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple shall not lose his reward."

When Jesus had finished teaching his twelve disciples, he left to teach and preach in their cities.

Life of Christ Part Nineteen - John the Baptist is Beheaded

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