In looking abroad over the various fields where he had labored, Jesus was filled with compassion for those scattered ones who had accepted him as their Saviour, and looked to him for the bread of life. They seemed to him like sheep to be left without a shepherd, when he should ascend to Heaven. Before his sufferings and death, it was necessary that he should commission his disciples to go forth as his representatives, that the believers might look to them as divinely appointed teachers, so that in the approaching time of darkness and discouragement they would not be left without counselors. Calling the twelve about him, he said to them; “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.” As yet the disciples had little experience in preaching the practical truths received from their Lord; but they had been his companions for several months, and he had occasionally sent them forth to labor by themselves for a short time, to prepare them for their future mission when he should no longer be with them. But he now separated them in pairs, and sent them away from him in different directions. He delegated to them the power of working miracles, but they were in no case to employ this power for their own exaltation or advantage. They were to be gone but a few days, and they were not sent among strangers on this first tour, but among their brethren who were to prepare their way that they might have access to the people, many of whom earnestly desired to know more of the doctrines of Christ. {2SP 255.2}

Idet Jesus så ud over de forskellige stæder og egne hvor han havde arbejdet, fyldtes hans hjerte af medlidenhed for de adspredte sjæle, der havde antaget ham som sin frelser og kom til ham for at få livets brød. De syntes for ham ligesom får, der blev uden hyrde, når han skulle forlade dem og (256) opfare til himlen. Før Kristi lidelse og død var det nødvendigt, at han måtte give sine disciple myndighed til at gå ud som hans repræsentanter, så at de troende kunne se op til dem som lærere, udvalgte af Gud, at de ikke skulle være uden vejledere i den mørke og farefulde tid, som nærmede sig. Han kaldte de tolv til sig og sagde til dem: "Høsten er stor, men arbejderne er få; bed derfor høstens Herre om at sende arbejdere ude til sin høst." (Matt 9,37-38) Disciplene havde endnu blot en lille erfaring i at forkynde de vigtige sandheder, som de havde fået fra deres Herre. Men de havde ledsaget ham i flere måneder, og de kunne virke en kort tid alene, så at de kunne beredes for værket i fremtiden, da han ikke længere kunne være med dem. Han adskilte dem nu to og to og udsendte dem i forskellige retninger. Han gav dem kraft til at gøre mirakler; men de havde ikke tilladelse til under nogen omstændighed at benytte denne kraft til sin egen fordel og ophøjelse. De skulle blot være borte nogle få dage, og han sendte dem ikke ud blandt fremmede på denne første tur, men blandt deres brødre, som skulle berede deres vej, så at de kunne få adgang blandt folket; thi mange ønskede inderlig at blive bedre bekendte med Kristi lære.