Mark 6:7-13
7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave
them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He
charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag,
no money in their belts— 9 but
to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And
he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from
there. 11 And if any
place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave,
shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and
proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And
they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed
them.
Jesus sends out his disciples two by two (everything should be confirmed by two or more witnesses). These are his chosen elite squad, and yet he tells them that some will not listen to you. They will enter villages and find welcome homes, but not every home will be welcoming. There will be those who reject the message. These will have dust testify against them.
The Twelve are sent out to do many things. They are to proclaim Christ first and for most, but the full message of Christ has not yet been accomplished. Jesus sends them out as appointed representatives of himself, so that when they cast out a demon then Christ cast out that demon. When one of the twelve heals a sick person, it is as if Christ himself healed that person.
This is done to point their actions to Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus will use these actions to proclaim himself as the Son of God. But Jesus did a great miracle. He died for the sins of the world. He was raised on the third day from the dead. This is the message that we get to proclaim. It is greater than casting out demons or healing the sick, it is the proclamation of eternal life for you.
It is our responsibility therefore to go out two by two. We stand in the stead and by the command of Christ Jesus for our neighbor to proclaim to them how God has designed us to live. But more importantly to proclaim to them the power, authority, and mission of Jesus Christ. He died for the forgiveness of your sins. He died to give you life. He casts out the devil from within you. He heals you of the sickness of sin.
The Twelve are sent out to do many things. They are to proclaim Christ first and for most, but the full message of Christ has not yet been accomplished. Jesus sends them out as appointed representatives of himself, so that when they cast out a demon then Christ cast out that demon. When one of the twelve heals a sick person, it is as if Christ himself healed that person.
This is done to point their actions to Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus will use these actions to proclaim himself as the Son of God. But Jesus did a great miracle. He died for the sins of the world. He was raised on the third day from the dead. This is the message that we get to proclaim. It is greater than casting out demons or healing the sick, it is the proclamation of eternal life for you.
It is our responsibility therefore to go out two by two. We stand in the stead and by the command of Christ Jesus for our neighbor to proclaim to them how God has designed us to live. But more importantly to proclaim to them the power, authority, and mission of Jesus Christ. He died for the forgiveness of your sins. He died to give you life. He casts out the devil from within you. He heals you of the sickness of sin.
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