The message of Luke 9:1-11 presents a striking contrast between two kingdoms. This passage challenges us to examine where we place our trust. Do we cling to fragile control, or do we step into the security of Christ’s kingdom?
And 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. And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.
On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing.
The Kingdom of Good News
Jesus gathers His twelve disciples and grants them power and authority over demons and diseases. He sends them out with a mission: to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. This moment marks a shift in their role. They move from being followers to active participants in Jesus’s work.
Their authority is not their own. It is borrowed, given by Jesus for a specific purpose. They are not spiritual elites who have reached a higher level of faith. They are ordinary men, flawed and often confused, yet entrusted with the message and power of the kingdom.
Their mission consists of two key tasks: preaching and healing.
Preaching the Kingdom
The disciples are sent to proclaim that God’s reign has arrived in Jesus. This is the same message Jesus has been declaring. The kingdom of God is not distant or theoretical. It is present, unfolding in real time. It is an invitation to repent and believe.
Preaching is not about offering advice or giving people a list of things to do. It is the declaration of good news: God has acted to save, forgive, and restore. It is not about the listener; it is about Christ. True preaching does not leave people with burdens of self-improvement. It leaves them with Jesus, the one who has already done everything for them.
Healing as a Sign of the Kingdom
Alongside preaching, Jesus sends the disciples to heal. This healing is not just about physical restoration. It is a sign that in God’s kingdom, brokenness is being undone. Disease, oppression, and suffering do not have the final word. These miracles serve as visible proof that Jesus is making all things new.
While we may not see healing in the same dramatic ways today, the spiritual reality remains. Jesus heals the wounds of guilt and shame. He frees people from the bondage of sin. He reconciles relationships and restores hope. His kingdom brings real transformation, both then and now.
The Kingdom of Fear
In contrast to the kingdom of good news, Luke introduces us to a kingdom of fear. Herod hears of Jesus and is deeply unsettled. He is perplexed, unsure of what to believe. Some say Jesus is John the Baptist raised from the dead. Others think he is Elijah or another prophet. Herod, who had John beheaded, wonders if his past actions are coming back to haunt him.
Herod has a very real and relatable fear of losing control. He is a ruler clinging to power, threatened by the idea that Jesus might disrupt his kingdom. This is the same fear that grips many people today. When Jesus confronts the false securities we build, our first visceral instinct is to resist. We fear what surrendering to Him might mean for our carefully constructed lives.
Jesus calls us to trade our fragile kingdoms for His unshakable one. He is not a tyrant who takes joy in our loss. He is a king who offers something far greater than anything we try to hold onto. His kingdom is not about fear. It is about freedom, healing, and grace.
At the heart of Luke 9:1-11 is a contrast between two ways of living. The kingdom of good news, where Jesus reigns, and the kingdom of fear, where we struggle to maintain control. One leads to life, the other to death.
Jesus does not come to ruin and leave us. He comes to rescue us. He offers forgiveness, healing, and eternal security. The call is clear to all with ears to hear: let go of fear, trust in His grace, and step into the kingdom that will never fall.
This article is a recap of a sermon preached by Pastor Hunter Sipe at Good Shepherd Bible Church on Sunday, March 23, 2025 entitled A Tale of Two Kingdoms. This sermon continues our expositional series on Luke’s gospel entitled Luke: Good News for the Rest of Us. This sermon and others are available for listening on the Good Shepherd Bible Church Sermon Podcast.
Good Shepherd Bible Church is an Acts 29 church located in Pataskala, OH serving the eastern Columbus area.
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