Rick Washburn, Jr.

Luke 9:1–6 · Devotional

From the series: The Savior of All — Learning to Trust Jesus Fully

Imagine being told to leave your wallet, your phone, your bag — everything — at the door. No safety net. No backup plan. Just go. That is precisely what Jesus asked the twelve disciples to do when He sent them out on mission in Luke chapter nine.

“He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.”

— Luke 9:1–2

Sent, Not Just Schooled

For months, the disciples had been walking with Jesus — watching Him calm storms, raise the dead, and cast out demons. They had front-row seats to the most remarkable ministry the world had ever seen. But Jesus never intended them to remain in the audience. Discipleship, by design, is meant to lead somewhere. As the Apostle Paul would later write to Timothy, the goal is always multiplication: faithful people equipping faithful people to teach others still.

“The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

— 2 Timothy 2:2

The moment in Luke 9 is the next-level step. Jesus looked at these twelve ordinary men and said, in essence: It’s your turn.

Power That Isn’t Yours to Claim — But Is Yours to Use

The first thing Luke tells us is that Jesus gave them power and authority — over all demons, and to cure diseases. This was not power they had generated through years of spiritual discipline. It belonged entirely to Jesus, and He freely entrusted it to them for the work ahead.

The principle holds for us today. When Jesus gave the Great Commission, He anchored it in His own authority: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth — go, therefore.” The “therefore” is the hinge. Because He holds all authority, we go. Because the Spirit dwells in us, we are equipped.

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

— Acts 1:8

You are not waiting for the right credentials, the perfect season, or enough confidence. Jesus already gave you everything you need. The question is whether you trust Him enough to use it.

The Radical Instructions: Take Nothing

Here is where the story gets uncomfortably specific. Jesus told the disciples to take nothing for the journey — no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Strip it all away. Each item He named represents something we quietly lean on:

• No staff — personal protection and security
• No bag — backup supplies and storage
• No bread — immediate provision
• No money — financial independence
• No extra tunic — comfort and convenience

This wasn’t God’s blueprint for every ministry trip — Jesus Himself later rescinded these particular instructions in Luke 22:35–36. This was a training exercise, a carefully designed moment to confront the disciples’ hidden idols of self-sufficiency. The lesson: when you have nothing to fall back on but God, you discover that God is more than enough.

Word and Deed Together

The disciples were sent to do two things: preach the kingdom of God, and heal the sick. Both mattered. The Gospel is not merely a verbal announcement; it has hands and feet. Jesus consistently ministered to the whole person — body, soul, and spirit — and He commissioned His followers to do the same.

Throughout history, God has opened remarkable doors for the Gospel when His people have shown up not just with words, but with bandages, meals, schools, and open arms. We have been entrusted with the message of Jesus — but we also carry the responsibility to reflect the heart of Jesus through compassion and generosity toward those around us.

✦ Reflect & Respond

1. What “safety nets” are you holding onto that might be keeping you from full obedience — a financial cushion, a backup plan, a need for certainty before you act?
2. How does knowing that you carry the authority of Jesus — not your own — change the way you approach sharing your faith?
3. Is there a person, a neighborhood, or a need in your community where God might be calling you to show up with both the message and the heart of Jesus?

Lord, strip away my idols of self-sufficiency, control, and comfort. I confess that I lean on my own resources more than I lean on You. Remind me today that I carry Your authority and Your Spirit. Show me where You are sending me — and give me the courage to go. Amen.