Lucio explains that the Lord’s charge to His people flows from Christ’s own ministry, described in Isaiah 61: the Messiah, anointed by the Holy Spirit and speaking God’s Word, brings healing and restoration. Matthew 9 presents Jesus teaching, proclaiming the kingdom, and healing, moved with compassion for people who were distressed and like sheep without a shepherd. He calls His disciples to recognize the plentiful harvest and pray for workers; Matthew 10 then commissions them to minister in ways reflecting His work.
Though the twelve had a unique foundational role, Lucio sees them as representative of the wider people of God. Their commission points forward to Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was given to the Church. Pentecost is a once-for-all part of Christ’s finished work, received by faith, and the Spirit unites believers to Christ. Thus the charge is more than an external command: sharing Christ’s mission follows from union with Him. The Spirit also continues to transform believers into Christ’s likeness, equipping them for service.
The Word is likewise essential to this ministry. At Pentecost, the disciples speak as the Spirit gives utterance, and many believe. Lucio connects the healing Christ brings not only with physical restoration but especially with salvation and the renewal of the soul. Scripture restores, sanctifies, and equips God’s people for every good work. The charge includes evangelism and ministry within the Church—proclaiming, teaching, correcting, and encouraging. Lucio concludes with Isaiah 50: Christ received the Father’s instruction day by day, learning how to sustain the weary with a word. Believers are encouraged to seek continual renewal through God’s Word and to serve with a disciple’s listening heart.
Christ’s ministry: The Spirit and God’s Word bring healing and restoration.
The harvest: Jesus’ compassion leads to a call for workers and prayer.
The Church’s commission: Christ’s mission is shared by believers through union with Him.
Pentecost: The Spirit is given once for all and continues His transforming work.
The Word’s work: Scripture brings salvation, restoration, sanctification, and readiness for service.
Daily discipleship: Like Christ, believers depend on God’s instruction to sustain others.
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.