Understanding Power

Can you imagine your name in that list, and that Jesus sends you out to cast out unclean spirits? To heal every disease and sickness (verse 1)?

Can you picture it?

It’s quite a question to start with, but I can imagine the disciples were turned upside down when they were sent out. Very ordinary men. Most hadn’t studied. They’d only known Jesus for a short time, still had so much to learn, and now this? Really?

It’s not such a strange thought, right?

And yet, Jesus sends them. And they go, two by two. Miracles and signs follow. So much happens. How must they have felt?

Did they understand it? The Bible doesn’t explicitly say for this sending out, but throughout the Gospels, you see the disciples’ questions and doubts come up again and again. Their misunderstandings and their own perspectives. I think they often didn’t understand much. And that’s not strange at all.

In this episode of The Chosen, questions arise like, “Why did Jesus give us the power but not the understanding?” “Why do I say things I don’t understand, or things I sometimes don’t live up to?”

Questions that hit close to home…

We talk about faith, but what about our faith?
We talk about love, but what about our love?
We talk about living in His power, but how do we do that?
We live for the Kingdom, but is that truly the case?

In the conversation between the disciples, I hear the desire to understand “it” first, and only then to share it with others. That feels safer, more comfortable. From understanding (knowledge) comes faith, and from faith, action.

But it seems Jesus flips it completely and says, “Here, go do it and trust Me.” Action first. Through this, the disciples learn that it “works.” Not as a trick, of course, but because Jesus Himself said so. This shapes their thinking and leads them to questions and growth in knowing and understanding Jesus’ heart better. It’s beautiful when questions are ‘born’ this way.

The passage from 1 John shows us something wonderful. John writes about Jesus, and he uses words like “heard,” “seen with our own eyes,” “touched with our hands”—this is what we proclaim. Not what we’ve understood—no, what we’ve experienced: seen, heard, tasted, touched.

Jesus invites you. Not to believe in a theory, but to experience, feel, and see for yourself—and through this to “know” that He is “the Word of life.”

Take the following questions with you to reflect on:

• Are you someone who likes to understand everything? Why?
• Do you think you can fully understand Jesus? How?
• What is Jesus inviting you to today?
• Does your ‘thinking’ ever get in the way? What can you do about that?
• What would you like to experience more of?

Prayer: "Lord, thank You that You want me to experience what life with You is like. I don't want to just know about You, I want to know You personally. As a friend and travel companion. As Lord and Rabbi. Lord, let me experience You, and through that, shape my thinking. I want to become like You. Thank You that You are near. Amen."