Daily Bread Mark 6
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Disciples
Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people. 7 And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil[c] spirits. 8 He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money.[d] 9 He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes.
10 “Wherever you go,” he said, “stay in the same house until you leave town. 11 But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.”
12 So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. 13 And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.
Observation:
The first five chapters of Mark was the disciples’ seminary program, now its time for their internship. Importantly Jesus sent them out “two by two”, he didn’t want any of them to be alone. It is always a good idea when you are ministering to someone to have a backup, especially when praying for healing.
Jesus was less concerned about them reaching every single person, as he was that every person had a chance to encounter God’s kingdom (the Good News) through the disciple’s ministry in the name and authority of Jesus. In fact, Jesus tells them when there is no receptivity to shake off the dust from their feet, and move on. Some might see that is cold, but I think Jesus is being strategic, because he knows his time is limited.
And finally in verses 12-13, we see the disciples having much of the same success that Jesus had in his ministry as they preached, cast out demons, and healed with oil.
When the disciples were done, they came back to Jesus to report to him all they had done and taught. Jesus suggests a retreat, but the crowd has a different plan, and all of sudden they are surrounded by people who are all hungry from their journey to see Jesus.
The disciples are tired and ask Jesus what he is going to do about it, to which he replies, “You give them something to eat!” That is one of my favorite lines in the gospels.
Application:
I had four years of seminary training to become a pastor. I learned a lot of valuable things and it was good preparation to be a minister. But I think often times seminarians are over-trained with head or book knowledge, and don’t have any experience on the mission/ministry field.
Of course, there are required internships that help with that. And I did one in Youth Ministry. As they say, “Youth Ministry qualifies you for nothing, but prepares you for everything” And they were right!
But the best way to learn anything is by doing. Jesus gives the disciples instructions to go from home to home and if the people are open, to minister to them. Some are open, and some are not. Surprise, surprise! But the bottom line is that as they start being a part of the kingdom coming, some repent and some are healed emotionally, physically and spiritually. I can only imagine the look on their faces when they realized they got to do the stuff Jesus did!
This is the training program that Jesus administered/initiated for his would-be followers. I bet you it would work pretty well today. I wonder what would happen if our New Member’s class was not only teaching about the mission of our church, but teaching them how to minister in Jesus’ name. Wow! What a concept!
Prayer:
God help us to follow your lead and find one other person that we might be sent out with to minister in your name. Give us boldness to go where others have not gone, to bring your light and love to places that have not yet had a chance to encounter your love and grace in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people. 7 And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil[c] spirits. 8 He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money.[d] 9 He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes.
10 “Wherever you go,” he said, “stay in the same house until you leave town. 11 But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.”
12 So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. 13 And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.
Observation:
The first five chapters of Mark was the disciples’ seminary program, now its time for their internship. Importantly Jesus sent them out “two by two”, he didn’t want any of them to be alone. It is always a good idea when you are ministering to someone to have a backup, especially when praying for healing.
Jesus was less concerned about them reaching every single person, as he was that every person had a chance to encounter God’s kingdom (the Good News) through the disciple’s ministry in the name and authority of Jesus. In fact, Jesus tells them when there is no receptivity to shake off the dust from their feet, and move on. Some might see that is cold, but I think Jesus is being strategic, because he knows his time is limited.
And finally in verses 12-13, we see the disciples having much of the same success that Jesus had in his ministry as they preached, cast out demons, and healed with oil.
When the disciples were done, they came back to Jesus to report to him all they had done and taught. Jesus suggests a retreat, but the crowd has a different plan, and all of sudden they are surrounded by people who are all hungry from their journey to see Jesus.
The disciples are tired and ask Jesus what he is going to do about it, to which he replies, “You give them something to eat!” That is one of my favorite lines in the gospels.
Application:
I had four years of seminary training to become a pastor. I learned a lot of valuable things and it was good preparation to be a minister. But I think often times seminarians are over-trained with head or book knowledge, and don’t have any experience on the mission/ministry field.
Of course, there are required internships that help with that. And I did one in Youth Ministry. As they say, “Youth Ministry qualifies you for nothing, but prepares you for everything” And they were right!
But the best way to learn anything is by doing. Jesus gives the disciples instructions to go from home to home and if the people are open, to minister to them. Some are open, and some are not. Surprise, surprise! But the bottom line is that as they start being a part of the kingdom coming, some repent and some are healed emotionally, physically and spiritually. I can only imagine the look on their faces when they realized they got to do the stuff Jesus did!
This is the training program that Jesus administered/initiated for his would-be followers. I bet you it would work pretty well today. I wonder what would happen if our New Member’s class was not only teaching about the mission of our church, but teaching them how to minister in Jesus’ name. Wow! What a concept!
Prayer:
God help us to follow your lead and find one other person that we might be sent out with to minister in your name. Give us boldness to go where others have not gone, to bring your light and love to places that have not yet had a chance to encounter your love and grace in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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