Today in the Gospel of Luke we find Jesus at the beginning of his public ministry. In today’s group organizational theories, he would be organizing his team, setting-up his mission statement, deciding goals, and picking objectives. Instead, we see that Jesus has a different approach. Jesus starts with prayer – an all-night prayer vigil on higher ground apart from the crowds. Based on that prayer he calls a group of twelve disciples to leadership roles, to be apostles. Coming down from that higher group with the twelve, he comes to a level plain and encounters the crowds of people.
The people of course were like all of us – some people were already disciples, some were curious, some wanted a quick cure. Like us all were filled with hopes, needs, joys, desires, despair, brokenness, diseases, and torments. Jesus with the twelve, moves right into action. He wades right into the crowd to begin curing their despair and sickness, their physical and spiritual infirmities. Jesus’ presence reestablished true life for them.
Here we see a basic methodology: PRAYER – CALL – ACTION. This rhythm establishes a basis for our Christian life. Authentic prayer leads us to change and to action – not just change and action in our own personal lives but actions that heal the people and the world around us.
Power came forth from him and healed them all.