He sent the apostles out to tell about God’s kingdom and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take nothing for your trip, neither a walking stick, bag, bread, money, or extra clothes.” [Luke 9:2-3 (NCV)]
I think of Jesus’ instructions every time I pack for a trip! Take only what I’ve got on my back and the one pair of shoes on my feet? He’s got to be kidding! When we’re taking a trip, wanting to be prepared for any eventuality, it seems like I pack everything but the kitchen sink!
Wanting to visit family and friends and enjoy the fall colors, we took a three-week road trip from southwest Florida north to Illinois and back a few years ago. With casual and formal occasions planned in both rural and city locales, we packed plenty of clothes and shoes. We also packed essentials like prescriptions, toiletries, camera, phones, iPads, and assorted chargers along with back packs, sweatshirts, jackets, and rain gear. The car was stocked with snacks, bottled water, maps, and Fodor’s guidebooks. Even then, we weren’t prepared for every eventuality. Unprepared for snow in the mountains, we needed a snow brush/ice scraper and I purchased a fleece vest and warm hat!
Unlike the disciples, we’d spent weeks researching and planning our trip. Because we made hotel reservations for the entire journey, we knew where we’d rest our heads during our travels. We even made some dinner reservations in advance! As for money, we had both credit cards and cash but the disciples had neither! They were expected to depend on the good will and hospitality of the towns they visited.
Jesus, however, wasn’t sending the disciples on a vacation—they were on a God-ordained mission and Jesus was training them. This was an opportunity for the disciples to put into practice the principles He taught them. Jesus wanted His followers to understand that, when doing God’s business, they could and should rely on Him (rather than themselves) for their needs. Rather than putting their faith in TripIt, Google Maps, or AAA, they had to trust God with their journey.
Moreover, Jesus knew His time on earth was short—the disciples’ assignment was urgent and He wanted them to focus on the mission rather than logistics. As for receiving hospitality—welcoming the traveler or sojourner was a cultural obligation in Jesus’ day. The sharing of food was a token of friendship and a perfect setting for them to develop relationships while passing on the good news about Jesus. The first evangelism assignments taught Jesus’ followers the simple but profound lesson that, ultimately, our provision comes from God, not gear!
Had I been one of the disciples, would I have taken nothing with me as instructed? Would I have trusted God to provide everything I needed or would I have worried about my next meal or where I’d rest my head at night? Would I have tucked away some money or a few pieces of bread in my pocket “just in case”? What about you?
Each of us may be sure that if God sends us on stony paths He will provide us with strong shoes, and He will not send us out on any journey for which He does not equip us well. [Alexander MacLaren]
Although the common position for prayer was standing, Jesus fell to His knees that night in the garden of Gethsemane. Luke describes Him as praying so intensely that His sweat dropped like blood. Having used the word hósei, meaning “as if it were, like, as, as though, or much like,” Luke may have meant Jesus sweat so profusely that it dripped from Him like blood. Nevertheless, Luke was a doctor who paid great attention to detail; he may have described hematidrosis, a rare medical condition in which the capillaries rupture causing blood to seep into the sweat glands and then out onto the skin. It’s caused by high blood pressure, a bleeding disorder, or extreme distress or fear, such as facing abuse, torture or death on the cross! Whether Jesus’ sweat poured off his body as if it were blood or He literally sweat blood, the Lord’s prayer was so intense that an angel came and strengthened Him.
Scripture tells us that Jesus had at least six siblings: James, Joses, Simon, Jude, and two unnamed sisters. Can you imagine what it was like being a brother or sister to Jesus? Both his conception and birth were proclaimed by angels, a star announced His birth, and magi from the East presented Him with expensive gifts. It’s tough to top that sort of entrance into the world.
Angels taking on bodily form and appearing to people certainly wasn’t an everyday occurrence. Although they are God’s messengers, the message angels bring can be good news or bad. While they may help God’s people as they did for Elijah and Daniel, angels also execute God’s judgment as they did when striking down the firstborn males in Egypt. I suspect Gabriel looked fiercer and more powerful than the elegant sweet angels hanging on our Christmas trees. When he arrived unannounced in the empty Temple sanctuary, Zechariah was overwhelmed with fear and, when he suddenly appeared in an empty room in Nazareth, Mary was troubled and perplexed. Not knowing whether he was on a mission of judgment or mercy, it’s no wonder both Zechariah and Mary were fearful. Gabriel began his visits by telling them both not to be afraid.
Today’s socks tell me, “I am perfectly made” and remind me of Psalm 139’s affirmation that, “I have been remarkably and wondrously made.” All of my low-cut athletic socks have pithy affirmations woven into the toes. Depending on what pair I choose, I’m reminded that I have hope or that I’m loved, brave, strong, grateful, kind, powerful, blessed, or thankful. My favorite pair, however, tell me, “I am with you always!” It may seem silly, but there are times, especially during difficult days, when I recall the day’s affirmation on my feet and I stand a little more assuredly.
Back in 1957 (long before PETA existed), Curt Richter, a professor at Johns Hopkins, conducted a series of cruel and inhumane experiments to demonstrate the power of hope and resilience in overcoming difficult situations. In this case, the difficult situation was rats being put in a bucket of water with no means of escape and timing how long it took them to drown. After two preliminary experiments, Richter hypothesized that introducing hope to the rats would increase their survival times.
Devotions of the Heart 