Intro: If you know me, you know I love teamwork; a team works together to achieve a common goal. Much can be accomplished with a focused and devoted team. As disciples of Christ, we are on God’s team for the purpose of reconciliation or restoration. Jesus doesn’t need us to be successful; he is powerful and victorious by himself. But, he chooses to gather a team of people and serve “with” them. This relationship and teamwork with Christ changes ordinary lives and makes them extraordinary in love and power. This is the true picture of the Church with Christ as the Head (Col 1:18).
In our passage from Luke today, Jesus comes down the mountain with his disciples and the crowds gathered to hear his teachings. The people have heard about the power of Jesus to deliver a person from evil, as well as the healing found in just one touch of his hand. The disciples are there to work as a team with Jesus in serving the tremendous needs of these people.
Crowds Follow Jesus
17 When they came down from the mountain, the disciples stood with Jesus on a large, level area, surrounded by many of his followers and by the crowds. There were people from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from as far north as the seacoasts of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those troubled by evil spirits were healed. 19 Everyone tried to touch him, because healing power went out from him, and he healed everyone.
Prayer: Lord, you truly make the lives of your children extraordinary with how you form and equip us as your team to reveal the power found in serving others. Give us a fresh glimpse today of ways we can join in your purpose of restoration. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Teamwork by E. A. Guest
“Its all very well to have courage and skill
And it’s fine to be counted a star,
But the single deed with its touch of thrill
Doesn’t tell the man you are;
For there’s no lone hand in the game we play,
We must work to a bigger scheme,
And the thing that counts in the world today
Is, How do you pull with the team?”