URC Daily Devotion 8 December 2025
St Matthew 10: 1 – 8
Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
Reflection – Judas the healer?
As incredible as they are, sometimes when we see these ancient texts, we need to look at the more supernatural stuff, like driving out impure spirits and healing every single disease and sickness, with a pinch of salt. I’m not necessarily doubting that Jesus could perform miracles, but we have to understand that today’s reading talks of the mission of Jesus sending out his twelve disciples, which is from a very different time.
This is the first time in the book of Matthew where the twelve are mentioned, and they are a mixed bunch – fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, doubters and betrayers. What is remarkable here, not just that Jesus sends out his followers to perform miracles to the lost sheep of Israel, is that Matthew doesn’t leave anyone out. Judas Iscariot, the traitor who betrays, performs miracles.
The fact that Judas shared in the ministry should challenge us all. God’s love is not limited by human weakness, hypocrisy or even treachery – Judas was a vessel of grace too. So who is “fit” for ministry? I’m not sure we should be drawing hard and fast lines on that question to be honest. If someone like Judas was sent, then no one is disqualified as an instrument of God’s compassion.
The passage ends with Jesus’ reminder: “Freely you have received; freely give.” The authority of the call is not a possession that we earn or own, but gifts that are freely given to everyone. We as disciples of Christ are called to be generous, not to control. We might be as flawed as Jesus, as uncertain as Thomas, as impetuous as Peter, but Christ sends us out to embody the Kingdom through word and deed.
Prayer
Jesus,
you gave power even to Judas,
showing that your Kingdom breaks every boundary we draw.
Send us out with the same reckless grace,
to heal, to disturb, to set captives free.
Use us, despite our failures,
to make your dangerous love visible in the world.
Amen.