The Mission of the 12 and 70 Disciples

The Mission of the 12 Disciples (Matthew 4:18-22, Luke 5:1-11)

Jesus called the twelve (12) disciples to make them “Fishers of Men”.

Jesus’s mission was to win souls for God. Therefore, the disciples were to help in soul-winning.

In other to achieve this Jesus trained the disciples by sending them out on trial missions to preach and perform miracles of healing.

However, as fishers of men, they continued the work of the mission even after Jesus had gone; and that is why Jesus appeared to the disciples and gave them the “Great Commission”

“Go into the world and make

disciples of all nations: teaching them

to observe all that I have commanded you”

The Mission of the (12) Disciples (Matthew 10:1-15, Mark 6: 7-13, Luke 9: 1-6)

The disciples were trained to win souls for God. Jesus sent the twelve on a trial mission to the Gentiles and Samaritans only to the household of the Jews.

However, the Gentiles refer to all foreigners, while the Samaritans were half-Jews and half foreigners.

Because of time, the twelve were to limit their activities to the Jews only.

Jesus charged the twelve disciples to preach that the kingdom of God was near. They were to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons.

All these, they will do without asking for a reward. Also, they were not to go with money, food, tunics, (clothes) sandals or staff.

In any town or village, they entered they should stay with a hospitable person, bless them in return for their kindness, but if they are not welcomed, they should move to another town or village.

The Mission of the 70 Disciples (Luke 10: 1-24)

Likewise, Jesus sent more disciples. 70 in number, to win more souls for the kingdom. This is because “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few” 

The (70) seventy were also sent out in twos, and as “LAMB” in the midst of “Wolves”. Also, the message is “The kingdom of God has come near to you”.

However, Jesus gave them the following instruction;

i. Carry no money, clothes nor sandals and greet no one along the road.

ii. In any house you are accepted, say peace unto them

iii. Stay in the house where you are received and accepted and eat whatever they provided for them.

iv. They should heal the sick and say unto them, the kingdom of God is at hand.

v. They should shake off the dust of any town that refuses them.