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Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. 8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
In the first five chapters of Mark we have seen many miraculous signs and wonders done by Jesus.  He teaches with authority and demonstrates power over diseases, demons and even death.  Many followed him as a result of these signs, and his disciples also watched and participated in some of the miracles.  As Jesus reaches this part of his ministry, he makes a decision give the disciples more ownership in the mission the Father had given him.  
First of all, when he sends them out he gives them authority over "unclean spirits".  Yesterday in Mark 5, we read that Jesus cast out a "legion" of a demons from demon-possessed man.  Jesus realizes that as he sends out his disciple, the devil will confront the disciples like they did him.  Jesus sends them out two by two so they could have at least one partner in ministry to watch each other's backs.  Doing ministry in two's is a great model and useful for us today.  There are many advantages not the least of which is coverage in prayer.  
As Jesus sends them out, he does not load them up with a bunch of stuff.  His plan would be that they would travel "light" and be provided for by those who welcomed them into their homes.  If they were not welcomed, they were to "shake the dust off their sandals" as a sign that they were separating themselves from this household.  And what was the result of these first disciple led missions?  They drove out demons, anointed sick people, and healed them.  Not bad for rookies.  I can only imagine how they felt after their first day of ministry. I also imagine Jesus was quite proud of them.  
It is easy to read this text and say, "Well that was Jesus' day, ours is quite different!"  In some ways it is, but in others it is exactly the same.  There are still people resistant to the Christian message.  The devil still hates it when Christians start doing the things that Jesus commanded us and gave us the power to do.  The devil doesn't it mind it if Christians simply go to church and then mind their own business.  But he becomes very worried when Christians start living in the authority and power of Jesus' name.  
I believe Jesus is looking for a few disciples like the ones he trained 2,000 years ago.  He has given us the Holy Spirit.  The same Spirit though whom he did all of his miracles.  The same Spirit that raised him from the dead.  The same Spirit that lives in you and me.  The mission field is still wide out probably even right where you live.  As you are sent out into the mission field remember Jesus wants to use you where you live. He has given you everything you need to do the things he did.  I guess the disciples were just "dumb enough" to believe Jesus and go and do what he told them.  Maybe we should too!  

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