Mark 6: 7-13 and 30-34.
There is only so much we can learn sitting in a classroom. At some point, we are going to have to get some real-life experience! For instance, if we want to be a teacher, we need to practice working with real kids! If we want to be a mechanic, we need to practice working on real cars. If we want to be a nurse, we need experience working with in a hospital with real sick people! Our education is not complete until we get out there and practice what we have learned!
The same thing is true with our Christian life. In the first 5 chapters of Mark, Jesus has taught his disciples how to do the work of God’s Kingdom. Now in Mark 6, Jesus believes they are ready for the next level. It is like if Jesus is saying, “you have heard me preach. You have seen me healing. You have observed me driving out demons. You have watched me love people that have never been loved before. You have seen me do the things that a servant of God would normally do. Now it is time for YOU to do it! I did not pick you as my disciples, so you could stand around and watch me do all the work! It’s time for YOU to get some experience!”
According to Mark, Jesus’ disciples left to fulfill their teacher’s command and even when Mark tells us they left almost with nothing, they left with Jesus’ example, and his role model to follow; they left with authority and with each other. This is what Mark says, “Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
According to Mark, the disciples left with a model for ministry. Verse six – which we did not read- says that “Jesus went around teaching from village to village.” First thing that catch my attention is that Jesus leads by example. Before sending his disciples to go out and do the work of the Kingdom, he was out doing it first! Jesus did not tell his disciples just what to do. He did it first and expected them to learn how to do it by looking at Him, by imitating Him.
I think there is a lesson here for today’s church. Jesus sent His disciples out to the villages. Many times, Christians talk a lot about getting people to come to church. But we do not talk about getting the church to go to the people. That is what Jesus is talking about here! He did not say to His disciples “Wait by the temple and pray for people to come in and fill the temple.” What He is saying to his disciples is, “I want the people in the temple to go out where those in need are!”
I can see in our reading today that most of the ministry God calls us to do is outside the church. This is a reminder to take God’s word to the people in our “own village”; to go and share the message of repentance; to go and teach all men and women to obey God’s commandments. How can we do it? We can do it around the dinner table sharing Bible stories with our family; we can do it sharing in Christian friendship with our coworkers, by sharing what God has done in our lives; we can do it by reaching out with the love of God beyond the walls of this building.
Besides the model for ministry, the disciples also left with companionship for ministry. Verse seven says “Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two.” It was a custom in both Jewish and Greek culture to send two messengers. That way, if something wrong happens, there would be two witnesses to testify on behalf of the sender. But the bottom line is that Jesus never intended for you and me to do the work of the ministry by ourselves. We need help! We need encouragement! We are church, we need each other to fulfill our ministry.
Look at the great apostle Paul, when the church sent him out on his first missionary journey in Acts 13, they did not send him out all alone. Barnabas went with him. The lesson for us today is: There is no way one person can do by his or herself, yes, one person can change or make the difference in this world, however, is better if we do it together. We need our brothers and sisters, we need each other. Jesus did not call lone rangers, He called pilgrims, He called a community to build His kingdom.
Mark continues saying that they left with authority to do their ministry. The second part of verse seven says that he “gave them authority over evil spirits.” Sometimes I hear, and I know you have too is people saying: “I can’t serve the Lord! I do not have what it takes to do his work, I can’t do it!” If you have said this, you are probably right! We, by ourselves are not strong enough! But Jesus is not asking us to do his work with our own strength. He is not asking us to minister in our own power. He is not asking us to battle the forces of evil and heal the sick all by ourselves. He is giving us, his power to fulfill his ministry! If we were in this ministry on our own, then I would probably have quitted long ago. But we are not alone! Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!”
Part of that power or authority was to know that God’s presence was with them, and God was going to provide for their needs. Verse eight says “These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.” In other words, take just what you need. Galilee was- and still is, I understand- a very hilly and rocky place. So, no traveler would be without his staff. The staff was a very useful stick. It helped them to steady themselves when they climbed up a rocky hill. And if a wild animal or a thief attacked them, they could use it as a weapon to defend themselves. Therefore, for a traveler, the staff was a vital item. And so, Jesus very graciously allowed the disciples to take one along, but, no money, or food and no extra cloth.
Jesus wanted his disciples and us as well, to know that when he sends us, he will provide for us. He wants us to know that when we step out on faith to serve Him, we will always have everything we need to live and fulfill his ministry, his call. Another reason why Jesus told the apostles to travel light was so that they would be totally committed to their mission, and not preoccupied with material things. In the 21st century, we live such comfortably lives that it is easy for us to forget that we are supposed to be here on a mission! That mission is to win people for Christ.! In the 21st century we live so independently that we tend to forget that we are not doing what we want, but what Jesus wants.
I will finish with what Verse 30 says: The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Luke’s version of this event gives us a short description of this report, chapter 10 verse 17 says, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” They had power to do what they were told.
It will be a day my brothers and sisters when we the disciples of the 21st t century will be able to share face to face with Jesus. And that day—like the Apostles did — we will be able to report him “all that we have done and all that we have taught.”
My sisters and brothers, what will our report be like? Jesus is looking for men and women to send out with his message. Women and men to make his kingdom near and visible to others, would you like to go?