Ambassadors of Heaven
1. And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Matthew 10:1
Jesus had chosen twelve of His disciples to become His ambassadors ("sent ones" or "apostles"), not long after He arrived in Capernaum (see Luke 6:13). But up until this time they had been in training. Now they would be sent out on their own. For this they needed divine power, and Jesus gave it to them. How? He probably laid hands on them and prayed with them, for that was the standard form of ordination in His day.
2. Jesus had carefully selected these men through prayer.
Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles. Luke 6:12-13
note: It was Jesus' custom to pray all night long before making big decisions.
3. Naming men to be apostles is a big thing! An apostle is a "sent one" or an ambassador. He does not represent himself. He is instead the representative of heaven. Just like any ambassador from another country, he represents His king. An apostle is an ambassador from God representing all that God is, and all that God stands for.
4. Naming men to be ambassadors of God is a big thing! They would have to be incorruptible! Fired by a holy vision much larger than themselves, they would go into all the world with the good news of the gospel, and gladly die for what they knew. What makes mere men into such apostles of heaven? Jesus does. He had called them through prayer, and now He would anoint them with His Spirit. The same Spirit that gave them power over unclean spirits, and disease, would also guide them, comfort them, teach them, put God's love in them, and fire them with energy and zeal. Jesus gave them His (incorruptible) Spirit!
5. With His Spirit Jesus gave the disciples His authority, and in so doing, He also revealed His own deity - for only God could give such power to men!