Having spent some quality time with His disciples, Jesus now thought it fit that its now time to put into practice what they have heard him teach and preach about the Kingdom of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ would never send His disciples or servants on a mission without equipping them spiritually. The disciples were equipped with power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases. They were encouraged not to depend on their strength, self-empowerment or security because Jesus had already equipped them and as a result, they were “loaded” with his power which engulfs everything; His very presence was with them.

The Lord prepared their minds in relation to self-control regarding interpersonal human approach and relationship in the preparation for their journey. The Lord Jesus Christ knew very well that they will definitely encounter people who would be very hostile and consequential in the course of their duty and practical work on the ground.

All the 12 Disciples including Judas departed, heavily loaded holding firmly to the instructions given to them and the mandate to preach the gospel. Because they held firmly to the truth and refused to speak any other message other than the mandate given to them, the Lord accomplished His purpose in their lives. 

With this Herod was perplexed, when he heard and saw what the Lord Jesus is doing through his obedient disciples and wanted to see him. 

The disciples returned and told Jesus all that they had done and He took them to a place called Bethsaida in order to open their eyes again to another encounter of supernatural display— the FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND.

Jesus who knew the end right from the beginning prepares the mind of his disciple for this encounter by showing their human limitations. Verses 12 and 13 helps us to see the human limitation of the disciples and the ground preparation of Jesus Christ to show himself mightily in their midst so as to take them to the next level of life. Jesus eventually showed His power and supreme authority by making the impossibility in the mind and eyes of the believers possible.   

Because the disciples were so glued to Jesus, it was very difficult for the authorities to identify the actual person of Jesus Christ in the midst of the disciples. When they look at the disciples, they see JESUS in all of them. Even the disciples themselves, after spending much time with Jesus couldn’t know who Jesus really is to them, only when God revealed it to them.

Today God calls us His disciples to represent Him in the world around us. His power is available in us through the Holy Spirit to carry on the task He entrusts us with.

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The Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always,

even to the end of the age.” Amen (Matthew 28:19,20)