As we see throughout all Scripture, this was done to glorify God and show the people that the Kingdom of God was real, true and powerful. This served to clarify that God was the one, true and living God.
Sometimes we might think all things apply to us. I don't read that story and automatically think because I am a follower of Christ, I also have been given those gifts.
Jesus told them to take nothing with them and by doing so, He asked them to believe they would be cared for. He gave them instructions how to live while there. One thing He did not do. He did not tell them to settle in, become comfortable and stop their work of telling the people about the Kingdom of God. He did say if a town did not welcome them, they should leave them to their own fate. Such towns have a choice just as we as individuals do. They could welcome the disciples and learn of the Kingdom of God or they could not welcome them. Their fate was in their own hands as is ours.
After a time, the 12 disciples returned and told Jesus they had done everything they were sent out to do. Together they slipped away to Bethsaida but the crowds followed them Jesus welcomed them and taught them of the Kingdom of God. This is when He miraculously fed 5,000 men (not counting women and children) with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. When the crowd had finished eating all they could eat, the disciples gathered leftovers. The left overs totaled 12 baskets which is an example of the abundant giving of God. He gives more than we could ever need. One might say, well I wanted this but didn't get it. Note this. He gives more than we need...not more than our greed yearns for. I have an acquaintance who puts it this way, "He meets our needs not our greeds." How true is that? If you think about it, it is what He said. He meets our "need" with abundance. In truth, how much do we really "need"? If we think about it with an open mind, we can only come away agreeing that our God is truly a God of abundance.
A few months ago, I had some physical distress. My appetite changed during that time and I only ate 3 very small meals a day with absolutely nothing in between. I was happy, filled and wanted nothing more. Surprisingly, I was content and I lost 10 pounds in the process. It is the same with God's provision. We get what we need and even more than we need. In a couple weeks I gained those 10 pounds back. (Smile) I guess having an abundance, doesn't necessarily mean I shod eat it!! HA.
Jesus asked His disciples who people thought He was. Some thought Jesus was John the Baptist, Elijah or other ancients prophets back from the dead. Jesus asked who they thought He was. Peter said Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus warned them to not tell anyone who He really was. Jesus continued by telling the disciples of His coming suffering, death and resurrection.
He then addressed the crowd telling them three things they needed to do if they wanted to be counted as one of His followers. Anyone who wants to be a follower of Christ must turn from their selfish ways, take up their cross daily and follow Him.It is a rather short list but one that covers so much. Any greed, anger, lust, hoarding of money, being concerned only with one's own wellbeing and so on comes from a selfish attitude. I wrote in depth a while ago regarding taking up your cross. The thing I hang onto regarding that topic is the meaning behind it in Roman times. The Romans made a condemned person pick up his cross and drag it through the streets acknowledging he had done wrong and showing his repentance and submission to the authority of Rome. If we, as condemned people, applied the point the Romans were making, we would daily pick up our cross in repentance to Christ and thereby showing our submission to Christ and His authority. Then we would follow Him wherever He led, setting aside our own desires, even unto death.
We read of Jesus healing of a demon possessed boy. The demon would keep seizing the boy, make him scream, throw him into convulsions, cause him to foam at the mouth and would batter him relentlessly. The boy's father said he asked the disciples to cast it out but they could not. Jesus responded, "You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you and put up with you?" He then asked the boy be brought to Him and healed him.
Jesus words could be taken two ways. Were the "faithless and corrupt people" the disciples or the man? If the disciples could not heal the boy then they must have not believed they could. On the other hand it could have been the father whose lack of faith prevented the healing. I believe the father was the one with the lack f faith. I believe he only believed Jesus could heal his son thus preventing the disciples from healing his son.
I see the next excerpt as also having two ways to be viewed. The disciples were arguing about who of them was the greatest. Jesus knew what they were thinking so He brought a little child to His side. He said, "Anyone who welcomes a child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest."
The words I believe can be taken two ways are, "like this". Jesus could be speaking of a child such as the one He welcomed but I believe Jesus was talking about the way in which He had welcomed the child. Jesus reached out to the child and invited Him in. He brought him to His side giving him a sense of protection, belonging and maybe even love. In those days, children were not the treasures they are today. In my opinion, Jesus instructions were for them to welcome children in a similar manner as He had done. Reach out to the lowly. Make them feel a part of the family. Protect and love them such as Jesus would do.
This chapter ends with Jesus again speaking about what it is to be a follower of His. Someone in the crowd walking with them told Jesus he wanted to follow Him wherever He went. Jesus replied that the animals have dens, nests and places to live but life with Him was to not even have a place to lay one's head. A few verses later another person told Jesus he would follow Him after he went back and said good bye to his family. Jesus responded by saying, "Anyone who puts a hand tot he plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God." Jesus doesn't want a follower who commits to following Him yet finds things they feel are so important they interrupt or delay the person's walk with the Lord.