Christ Jesus' mission was one of ever-widening dominion—never withdrawal. He knew that God, the Father, is Spirit, in whom there is no darkness at all. To have turned aside from the challenges he encountered would have been to admit there is some power other than God. True, he went up into the mountain to pray, but his very seeking a clearer perception of his spiritual identity led him back to the multitudes. He came to them with a renewed sense of the all-power and all-presence of his Father, God, that compassed the healing of every ill and difficulty confronting him.
In the synagogues, in the streets, in the fields—it mattered not where—Jesus welcomed his fellowmen to the spiritual kingdom, which he knew to be their eternal heritage then and there. He continued his course, even though the challenges became more and more rigorous. He continued until he had revealed the infinitude of the spiritual kingdom by overcoming the final challenge of human belief and hate—that of death itself.
Of his followers it is related: "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: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give."Matt. 10:5-8; While Jesus guided their steps, with practical wisdom, to where the message would be most readily received, he made it plain that theirs were no cloistered virtues, they were no sect apart. Their way too was among the people, doing the works that he himself had accomplished.
