A little later in Jesus’ ministry the ‘Twelve’ were commissioned to preach the gospel and went out to all Israel. Judas would be among them, with power and authority to preach the Gospel and heal the sick and possessed. (Luke 9.1‑6). How could he ever fall so low after that – or how could Peter deny His Lord. Still later seventy disciples were sent out and the instructions they were given and the report they made afterwards are worthy of study.

A year or so later Peter, with some of the ‘Eleven’, was again by Galilee looking at the heap of fish, the result of another dramatic catch, directed by Jesus. This was one of Jesus’ appearances to the ‘Eleven’ as evidence that He had risen form the dead. The Master commissioned Simon Peter afresh, this time as a pastor of the flock – one who was to feed and care for God’s people.

Many have seen this as three questions to balance the three denials at Jesus’ Jewish trial, but Peter had been specially interviewed privately before this and Jesus had said all He wanted to about that matter without other ‘ears’ present. By the lakeside again, Peter was given this very special privilege to lead the Church in feeding and caring for the Sheep and Lambs of Jesus’ fold. He was also to be the one who would officiate at the formal introduction of Gentiles to the Church. His responsibilities were without title or investiture. He was to be the simple and humble leader of Church and was to do it in the manner of His Master without fuss or adulation. Note the way He introduced himself to Cornelius (Acts 10.26). He would allow no one to bow down to him for like the centurion he was but a man. O that we could understand and emulate the deep of humility of Jesus who was the exact image of the Heavenly Father. We still have much to learn about the Father of the Prodigal Son.

There is another lesson from Jesus second ‘interview’ with Peter at the lakeside venue. Peter asked Jesus a question, "What shall this man do?" referring to John. What was Peter’s motive for asking that question? Was it idle curiosity? Was it because Peter and John were such unusually great friends? Or was it because there was still a lingering doubt about ‘who was the greatest’? Peter was still learning and on that occasion Jesus seems to tell him that he had enough to do without worrying about colleagues’ business. John like Peter, and afterwards Paul, had one Master – they, like many more to come, were responsible directly to their Lord. It is a lesson for us all. However a Christian community is organized, and the Word does not lay down hard and fast rules for the whole Church, ultimately we are each responsible to Jesus for our commission. And each disciple has a commission. We do not all do the same job and do not all have the same gifts to do what we have been give to do.

A dear lady who had served her Master for more than sixty years and who had often ‘refreshed the saints’, gave thanks at a meal time and ended "bless us in your service". When questioned about the fact that she was no longer physically able to serve the brethren she simply said "I can still pray". We all have a commission in that respect. Let us not miss our opportunities to pray. Those prayers will be answered sooner or perhaps later.

There were few with a greater commission than Saul of Tarsus and it began at Damascus (Acts 9.10-19). What he had to do was not revealed all at once but he was soon preaching the Gospel and demonstrating "that Jesus was the Christ". As the days lengthened into months and years Paul knew what he had to do and he did it with the enthusiasm and skill which that wonderful man had received by various means from God.

Yet like his fellow apostles, he always remained humble and ready to learn. God’s instructions sometimes came through the human means and at others through direct visions. Paul must often have talked to ‘headquarters’ as he strode along the Roman roads or patiently stood on the deck of a ship.

Whatever our natural gifts, inherited from forbears as Paul’s had been, they need shaping and polishing for the Master’s use – alongside those gifts which are given through the Holy Spirit; and above everything else we all need the gift of love, in order to fulfill our privileges of service. There is such a danger for some gifted folk believing that they have all the answers and are directors of operations. There is also the danger of the quiet souls feeling useless in the Christian community. Paul’s own words should correct that mistake (Rom 12.3-8; 1 Cor.12. particularly vv 14-26). Let none who love the Lord and who have given their lives to Him, think they do not have a commission. Every part of the Body of Christ is important to Him.