Challenging His Evangelists: Mark 6:7-13

Part way through Jesus’ ministry, we learn that He sends His disciples out in pairs to tell others about what God was doing in their midst. While we don’t know any specific events that happened during the disciples’ mission trips, we do know that their outreach was a success – but more important than the success of their trips are things we can learn when we look closely at what Jesus tells them as He sends them out to witness for Him.

Our passage for this event is found in the gospel of Mark, chapter 6, and we will be reading it from the New International Reader’s Version of the Bible. Starting in verse 7:

⁷ [Jesus] called the 12 disciples to him. Then he began to send them out two by two. He gave them authority to drive out evil spirits.

⁸ Here is what he told them to do. “Take only a walking stick for your trip. Do not take bread or a bag. Take no money in your belts. ⁹ Wear sandals. But do not take extra clothes. ¹⁰ When you are invited into a house, stay there until you leave town. ¹¹ Some places may not welcome you or listen to you. If they don’t, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet. That will be a witness against the people living there.”

¹² They went out. And they preached that people should turn away from their sins. ¹³ They drove out many demons. They poured olive oil on many sick people and healed them.

From these few verses, we can learn quite a bit. First, it is interesting that Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs. This is significant because it is easy for one person to feel fear and chicken out of a task when they are alone. However, even if both people are scared and would chicken out if solo, when paired up with someone else, they both are more likely to follow through because they are not alone.

We can learn that if you have been living a spiritual live outside of a community and isolated from others, or if your only spiritual connections are online, you are limiting your growth potential. We are created to live in community with others and while I don’t know your exact circumstances or situation, finding at least one person you can spiritually grow with is important.

While common logic would suggest that each of the 12 disciples could have covered more area if they traveled solo, I remember reading that research has shown that their outreach wouldn’t have been nearly as successful or as effective.

Perhaps Jesus knew this characteristic of humanity, but it is also possible that Jesus wanted to emphasize another subtle truth we learn elsewhere in the gospels. This other truth Jesus promises the disciples is that where two or three are gathered in His name, He is there with them. By sending the disciples out in pairs, Jesus knows that the Holy Spirit will travel with each team of evangelist-disciples.

The next thing we learn in this passage is that Jesus gave the disciples the authority to drive out evil spirits. This is interesting to me because when we compare this authority to what the disciples come back and share, they not only drove out demons, but they also anointed people and healed them of a variety of diseases.

From this contrast, I see God being willing to bless those who represent Him with more than they realize and when we let God use us for His purposes, we will be amazed at what God wants to do through us!

Next, Jesus tells the disciples what He wants them to do and not do. In verses 8 and 9, Jesus told them, “Take only a walking stick for your trip. Do not take bread or a bag. Take no money in your belts. Wear sandals. But do not take extra clothes.” I find this first set of instructions interesting because we also don’t know how long the disciples would be away. Was Jesus sending the disciples out for a one week trip, or for a trip that would last a month or even longer?

While Jesus’ instructions themselves are powerful, because they challenge each of His followers to be 100% trusting in God, I wonder if the culture of that day was different enough from today that the literal advice is not as applicable as the theme of the challenge. The theme in these first two verses of instruction pushes us to live lives of ministry in a way where we are dependent on God. I wonder if we lived more dependent on God, if we would see more miracles in our lives. Applying this challenge in my own life is difficult, but the difficulty emphasizes this challenge’s importance. In everything I do, I am challenged to 100% trust God regarding the outcome, and with everything that happens in my life, I must also trust that God has a plan or purpose for it – even if I don’t understand what God’s plan or purpose is in the moment.

The last thing we read in Jesus’ instruction is in verses 10 and 11. Jesus continues by instructing His followers, “When you are invited into a house, stay there until you leave town. Some places may not welcome you or listen to you. If they don’t, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet. That will be a witness against the people living there.”

In the first century nation of Israel, while Jesus was walking and talking with people, we discover that there were people and towns that were not open to hearing Him or His message. While we don’t know of any examples of towns by name, I don’t think Jesus would have shared this last portion of His instructions if there wasn’t going to be some opposition to the disciples.

However, regardless of whether the disciples faced rejection while Jesus was alive on earth, I imagine most of us can relate to the idea that not everyone in our lives is pleased with our relationship with God. Even in my own situation, where I am surrounded by people who share my faith, not everyone believes everything identically, and when spiritual topics come up, it is very easy to be defensive.

This context is important because nowhere in Jesus’ instructions does He tell us to debate with others or with those who don’t welcome us. Instead, we are called to challenge people to do what the disciples did, and in verse 12, we read that the disciples challenged those they met to “turn away from their sins”.

While we all might not have the Holy Spirit’s power to heal others or to cast out demons, we all can challenge others that sin is not beneficial to their lives. When we live for God and focus on Jesus first, we will naturally move away from sin. However, some sins are tricky, so we must also be willing to let God lead us towards His truth for our lives. Only with God do our lives have purpose and only because of what Jesus did for each of us do our lives have meaning.

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

Always seek God first and place your faith, hope, belief, and trust in Him regardless of what happens. While we live in a sinful world and not everything goes our way, we can know that in the end, Jesus will stand up victorious and we will be with Him because we placed our faith and trust in Him.

Also, be sure to always pray and study the Bible for yourself and let the Holy Spirit lead you into the truth that God wants to share with you. While a pastor or podcaster can point you to some passages or promises they have found in the scripture, only God can lead you directly to the truth for your life within the pages of His Word. In my own experience, while I have learned from others, I have learned so much more from my personal study – and I believe God will do the same for you when you seek Him in His Word!

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or give up on where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!