In Matthew 10:1, we read a remarkable statement: “Jesus called His twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.” This verse sparks an important question: Does Jesus still give His disciples that authority today?
The Authority Jesus Gave
When Jesus called His disciples, He imparted specific authority to them for the mission at hand. They were tasked with proclaiming the Kingdom of God, and their authority to heal and cast out demons authenticated their message. This power was not intrinsic to them but was delegated by Jesus, demonstrating His divine authority over all creation.
The Great Commission and Its Implications
After His resurrection, Jesus expanded the scope of His disciples’ mission in the Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). Here, Jesus assures His disciples of His ongoing presence, implying that His authority and mission extend beyond the first-century apostles to all believers who follow Him.
Evidence from the Early Church
The book of Acts provides numerous accounts of the early church continuing to exercise this authority. Through the Holy Spirit, believers healed the sick, cast out demons, and boldly proclaimed the gospel. For example, Peter healed a lame beggar at the temple gate (Acts 3:6-8), and Paul cast out a spirit from a slave girl in Philippi (Acts 16:16-18). These acts of power were not for personal gain but for the glory of God and the advancement of His Kingdom.
Does This Authority Apply Today?
Many Christians believe that the authority Jesus gave to His disciples extends to believers today. This belief is grounded in passages like John 14:12, where Jesus says, “Whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” Through the Holy Spirit, believers are empowered to carry on Jesus’ ministry of healing, deliverance, and proclamation.
However, there are varying perspectives on how this authority is expressed today:
- Continuationist View: This perspective holds that all spiritual gifts, including healing and deliverance, are active and available to believers today. Continuationists point to modern testimonies of miraculous healings and deliverances as evidence of God’s ongoing work through His people.
- Cessationist View: Some believe that certain gifts, like healing and prophecy, ceased with the apostolic age. They argue that these gifts were foundational for the early church and are no longer necessary because we now have the completed Scriptures.
- Balanced Approach: Others take a middle ground, affirming that God can and does perform miracles today but cautioning against an overemphasis on miraculous signs. They emphasize the importance of aligning such acts with the gospel message and God’s sovereign will.
How Should We Respond?
Regardless of one’s theological stance, there are key principles for believers to consider:
- Dependence on the Holy Spirit: The authority to minister in Jesus’ name comes through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, not human effort.
- Faith in God’s Power: Believers are called to trust in God’s ability to heal and deliver, while submitting to His will.
- Focus on the Gospel: Miracles should always point people to Jesus and the message of salvation, not to the individual performing them.
- Prayer and Boldness: James 5:16 encourages believers to pray for one another, with the promise that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Final Thoughts
Jesus’ authority to heal and deliver is as real today as it was in the first century. While the specific way this authority is expressed may vary, His mission for His disciples remains the same: to proclaim the gospel and demonstrate His love and power to a broken world. As followers of Christ, let us seek to walk in obedience, humility, and faith, trusting that He is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.
