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Jesus himself proclaimed the Kingdom of God was at hand and cured every disease (see Matthew 9:35). His motivation was one of compassion on the crowds who were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd (see Matthew 9:36). Knowing there were more like them, that the harvest was abundant, he encouraged his listeners to pray to the master of the harvest to send out laborers (see Matthew 9:38).
Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.
Sending out laborers was precisely his next move. He summoned the twelve and gave them an authority like his own to drive out unclean spirits and cure every disease and every illness. They were named and then sent out to the very "lost sheep" who moved the heart of Jesus with compassion. Their own mission was meant to be a mirror of the mission of Jesus himself, their compassion a mirror of his own compassion.
He summoned Twelve, for he was constituting around himself a new Israel with twelve patriarchs (see Genesis 35:22-26) and himself as a new Moses with twelve to assist him in leadership (see Numbers 1:1-16). The most immediate reference for the number twelve, given the proclamation of the Kingdom was that he was a new Son of David, a new Solomon with twelve officers over all of Israel (see First Kings 4:7). It was for this reason too that the restoration of the whole world began with Israel alone. It was to Israel that the promise was given. It was therefore no other kingdom but that of Solomon that would be restored, elevated, and transformed into a Kingdom which transcended race, nationality, or locale, and thus embrace the entire world. Jesus was by no means starting from scratch or introducing something entirely new. He was faithful to his promise, fulfilling the intentions that he had all along.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
The successors of the Twelve are the bishops of our own modern day. The Church is the representation of the Kingdom of God on earth, with Peter's successor bearing the keys of the authority of the royal steward (see Isaiah 22:22). None of the many archetypes for the Twelve make sense only for one point in time in the history of the ancient Church. They make sense only as a part of the long term plan of Jesus for bringing his Kingdom to those who are troubled and abandoned in every age.
Although there is a special way in which authority was given to them Twelve and their successors, still, there is a real way in which we all receive a portion of this authority by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. We are all anointed priests, prophets, and kings by virtue of our baptism, and strengthened in this calling at confirmation. We are empowered to ask for what we desire in the name of Jesus as the Holy Spirit leads (see John 14:13). All that is his is ours as well (see First Corinthians 3:21-23). And that means that the mission to the lost sheep is not just one for clergy or professional missionaries. It is for us as well. We all have a part to play in the Kingdom Jesus himself is building. It is when we recognize and respond to this mission that we begin to find fulfillment. The other option is not worth exploring, as the message of Hosea made clear.
If they would say,
“We have no king”—
Since they do not fear the LORD,
what can the king do for them?
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