“Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. … And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; . . . they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
(Mark 16:15, 17, 18, New Revised Standard Version)
Those were Jesus’ instructions to his disciples right before his ascension. Quite an assignment! Despite their efforts and, in most cases, martyrdom, they aren’t always given credit for what they did to spread and preserve the Master’s teachings.
Jesus’ teaching and healing works in his three-year ministry fill us with wonder and gratitude. In contrast, the disciples seem to come up short, to miss the mark. They doubted Jesus’ mission, made mistakes, didn’t always understand his teachings. And yet, when we look more closely, we can have only respect and gratitude for them as well.
