Read Luke 9:1-6
Context: There isn't any specific information about the location of Jesus when this event takes place, but our text occurs between the Sermon on the Mount and the Transfiguration.
Text:
1When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3He told them: "Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. 4Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them." 6So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
This story is covered in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In none of the accounts does Jesus ask His twelve apostles if they are ready for the task. Yet He knows them well and He knows what they are capable of. As long as they stay close to Him, they won't learn what they are really capable of. God is a master at developing character, leadership, and other capabilities that are needed in His kingdom. His isn't a 'sink or swim' strategy. Throughout scripture He works with individuals and groups to be sure they have the basic capabilities, sometimes teaching them side by side, and other times putting them into situations that call them to stretch.
I doubt that any of the twelve felt 'ready' to go out and preach the gospel. They probably all had a thousand questions about how things would go. But Jesus knew that the experience itself would teach them to lean upon Him in ways that were new, and he knew that they would ultimately be successful. God still calls us to step out in faith, and He is still there to empower us for success in His kingdom.
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