WWUTT 2163 Jesus Sends Out the Twelve (Mark 6:7-13)

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve as a Trial Run for Mission

Jesus sent out his disciples into the area villages to preach the word of God and to perform miracles, authenticating that the word that they spoke was not from man but from God. When we understand the text.

This is when we understand the.

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Here once again is Pastor Gabe.

Thank you Becky. In our study of the Gospel of Mark we've been in chapter 6 and the section we're looking at today really goes with yesterday but we had so much to cover in just those six verses I couldn't fit it all into one lesson.

So it's kind of like we continue with yesterday's lesson moving into verses 7 to 13 out of the Legacy Standard Bible. Mark 6, 7 to 13, hear the word of the Lord. And Jesus summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs and was giving them authority over the unclean spirits and he instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey except a staff only.

No bread, no bag, no money for their belt but to wear sandals and he added do not put on two tunics. And he was saying to them wherever you enter a house stay there until you leave town and any place that does not receive you or listen to you as you go out from there shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.

And they went out and preached that men should repent and they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them. So if you'll remember back to yesterday as we look through those first six verses Jesus went to his hometown of Nazareth he preached in the synagogue there and the people did not receive him.

They were amazed at what it was that he taught they were they were awed by the miracles that he performed but they said this guy's the son of Mary we know him he grew up here used to play right over there.

We know his brothers we know his sisters and Jesus could not do any miracle there in any sort of way that would be convincing to the people he did do miracles for it says that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them back in verse 5 but he was marveling at their unbelief and he was going around the villages teaching.

So we go from that where Jesus says that a prophet is not welcome in his own town or among his own relatives and in his own household. We go from that into this section where Jesus is sending out the disciples.

Now it says the 12. We know this from other places Jesus sending out the 72 but Mark is just focusing on the 12 disciples here and the mission that Jesus is preparing them for so the fact that he pairs them up and he sends them out and we read about that here in Mark 6 this is preparing them for what it is that they're gonna do after Jesus is gone.

So he dies on the cross he rises again from the grave he ascends into heaven 40 days later. And of course the disciples will be sent out to the world as we have in Acts chapter 1 the commission that's given there is you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

So before they get there this is kind of the trial run. Jesus is showing them what they are in for giving them a little experience here and even the instructions that he gives them here where it will carry on later.

Also beginning in verse 7 again he summoned the 12 and me and he began to send them out in pairs and was giving them authority over the unclean spirits. Now that statement bookends this particular section because he sends them out they have authority over unclean spirits.

That's verse 7. Then in verse 13 they were casting out many demons anointing with oil many sick people in healing them. So that's the that's the beginning of the end of this of this block of text here he summoned the 12 began to send them out in pairs was giving them authority over unclean spirits.

That's the mission. It's not a very long section of course just seven verses. But what we have chronicled here is the mission that Jesus sends them on and even the mission that they will continue doing after Jesus is gone.

Verse 8 he instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey except a staff only no bread no bag no money in their belt. So he's wanting them to travel light. He doesn't want to obligate them or weigh them down with anything.

And he's also teaching them that they are they're gonna be cared for by the people that they go in minister to. So in verse 9 just wear sandals he added do not put on two tunics. Now why not. Why is that even necessary to mention.

You might think well you know it's kind of heavy it's kind of hot. You take off one of those tunics and then you're obligated to carry it. But really wearing two tunics that you would be warm at night.

Jesus is not intending for them to sleep out in the in the cold open air. He wants them to stay in people's homes. And so if they have two tunics they might be tempted to stay outside. But with one tunic they're gonna sleep in in the home of a host somebody who will welcome them in and want to host them because of the gospel they proclaim because the work that they're doing is of the Lord.

And this person is gonna show that they receive the work of the Lord when they receive these disciples or Apostles into their own homes. Hence why Jesus says don't put on two tunics. Because you are going to.

You're gonna receive the hospitality of people. You're gonna give them the opportunity to show their commitment to God when they receive the messenger of God that has been sent out. If you'll remember to Matthew 25 it's there when Jesus is talking about the great white throne of judgment when the nations are going to be gathered before his glorious throne.

And he's going to separate them one from another like the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And the sheep of course go on his right hand and the goats go on his left. And he will say to those who are on his right come you who are blessed of my father inherit the kingdom which has been prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.

Then the righteous will answer him saying Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you something to drink. And when did we see you a stranger and invite you in or naked and clothed you.

And when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you. And the king will answer and say to them truly I say to you to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine even the least of them you did it to me.

It wasn't that long ago we were in that section. It was earlier this year we were reading that out of Matthew chapter 25. But remember what I said about that particular passage. If you were with me then I said that when Jesus refers to the least of these he's talking about fellow believers.

Oftentimes that phrase the least of these is used to refer to all of the marginalized or the outcast in society. Now Jesus doesn't say that at all. He says that which you do to the least of these brothers of mine even the least of them you did it to me.

And as we read earlier in Matthew chapter 12 and it was even said here in Mark 3 whoever does the will of my father in heaven he is my brother and sister and mother. That was in Mark 335. We read that a few weeks ago.

So those who do the will of the father are those whom Jesus considers his brothers. And so saying here that what you did to one of these brothers of mine even to the least of them those that that would otherwise be ostracized or cast out that would you have done to the least of them you have done also unto me.

So those who care for fellow Christians are caring for brothers of Christ. And those who care for even the least of those Christians those who end up in prison those who are poor and are cast out and otherwise those who are persecuted for sharing the gospel that would that what you have done for the least of these you've done also unto me Jesus says.

And that's really the exercise here with sending out the disciples. He wants the people to have that opportunity to do unto the brothers of Christ. And what you have done to even the least of them you've done also to me.

Those who receive Christ's messengers it will be the same as if they receive Christ. But those who reject Christ messengers who ostracize them who won't listen to them at all Jesus says. Shake the dust off the soles of your feet as a testimony against them.

If they don't receive you they don't receive me. So let me read verse 10. And he was saying to them wherever you enter a house stay there until you leave town. And again that comes right after the statement do not put on two tunics.

Wherever you enter a house stay there until you leave town. You're not gonna sleep outside. You're gonna sleep in a person's home. But if you go to a place that does not receive you or listen to you then as you go out from there shake the dust off the soles of your feet as a testimony against them kicking the dust off your feet.

I'm not even taking your dust with me your dirt your judgment will will lie with you. In Acts chapter 18 the Apostle Paul went to Corinth and he found a Jew there named Akilah a native of Pontus and his wife Priscilla who recently came from Italy because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome.

That was the the expulsion of the Jews from Rome. Claudius was trying to stop the proselytizing the converting to Christianity which he thought was happening by Jews. Of course they were the first to receive the gospel the first likely to take the gospel to Rome and spread it.

So Claudius thought it was the Jews. Therefore if I get rid of the Jews I'll stop this proselytizing these people converting to worshiping this Jesus of Nazareth. But he targeted the wrong people. Even Gentiles had been believing in Jesus Christ and continued to spread the gospel even after Claudius had expelled the Jews.

So you have Akilah and Priscilla who had come from Italy because the Jews had been expelled from Rome and because he was of the same trade. Acts 18 3 says Paul was staying with them and they were working as as tent makers.

That was what they did together. That was that was the job the bivocational job that Paul had in addition to the missionary work that he did. And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to sway both Jews and Greeks.

Remember this is in Corinth that Paul is doing this a very populous city a port city. So you have it right there actually on the isthmus of Corinth and the Acro Corinth was the name of the mountain that was right there where sailors who were coming up on Corinth would see the mountain before they saw anything else.

And there was even a temple at the top of that mountain and a lot of pagan worship that went on there as well there there was all kinds of paganism in Corinth. There tended to be more of a flood of it in port cities than anywhere else because you just had so many different people from different areas and nationalities that would come to this place.

So Paul is there in the synagogue he's attempting to persuade Jews and Greeks. But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia Paul began devoting himself completely to the word solemnly bearing witness to the that Jesus is the Christ.

But listen to this this is verse 6. When they resisted and blasphemed he shook out his garments and said to them your blood be on your own heads. I am clean from now on I will go to the Gentiles. Then he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius justice a God fearer whose house was next to the synagogue.

But there's Paul reasoning in the synagogue. He's attempting to persuade Jews that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus is the fulfillment of all of those prophecies that have been made in the Old Testament. You're not looking for a future Messiah.

The Messiah has come he is Christ. And he has accomplished by his death on the cross by his resurrection from the grave salvation for his people and unification of both Jews and Gentiles into one body through Christ.

So Paul is trying to show these things reveal them from the scriptures. Of course the scriptures would have been right there in the synagogue but the Jews won't listen to him. And so as they continue to resist the word and deny that Jesus is the Christ.

Finally it comes to a point where Paul shakes out his garments. They resisted and blasphemed it said. And so Paul shook out his garments and said to them your blood be on your own heads. I am clean from now on.

I will go to the Gentiles later on in Acts 20. So a couple of chapters later Paul will be speaking to the elders of Ephesus whom he summons to come and meet him. And he says to them that he had taught them the full counsel of God.

Now these are men whom he loves and these are men who have been taught by him. They are not rejecting the word at all but Paul simply reminds them that I've I've given you the full counsel of God. So in other words you have no excuse not to know the things that you have been taught.

Paul held nothing back. He taught them everything they are equipped for the work that needs to be done the work of ministry either in the church or going out and spreading the gospel whatever it might happen to be.

So there's an example of somebody who had received the complete word here in Acts 18 is an example of those who had rejected the complete word. Even here in Corinth Paul would have taught the full counsel of God concealing nothing so much to the point that whatever rejection that these Jews would make would be blasphemy against God because they've been told everything and yet they continue to deny that Jesus is the Christ.

That's blasphemy. So Paul shakes out his garments as though to shake himself free of them. That's kind of what that symbolizes I am I am free of you. Your blood is on your own heads. Which is a statement back to Ezekiel 33 incidentally where the watchman raises the alarm but the people don't heed the watchman's alarm.

Well they're gonna be responsible for the death that comes at them when the sword comes against them. And that's what Paul is saying here when judgment comes to you. Well it's it's on you it's not on me because I warned you and you did not listen.

So he shakes his garments free of them symbolically as though to shake himself free of them. And that's kind of the the image that Jesus is presenting here with the disciples kicking the dust off their feet don't even take the dust of their town with you.

You leave them to themselves and the judgment of God will pour out upon them later. Remember that Paul says in Romans 12. Don't take vengeance into your own hands. Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord. Instead if your enemy is hungry feed him.

If he is thirsty give him something to drink. For by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. You want to bring judgment on your enemy then that's the way to do it by showing him kindness and love not by trying to take matters into your own hands.

God is the one who will deal with him at the proper time. And God is the one who knows his heart that he won't ever repent no matter how long he's given. So Jesus says here kick the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.

Repentance, Miracles, and the Authority of Christ's Messengers

And then verse 12 they went out and preached that men should repent. They were preaching the gospel turn from your sin to God and live obey his commands. Now they preach the gospel in so far as they pointed to the Messiah even though Jesus had not yet died and risen again.

But everything in the Old Testament as far as gospel goes is looking forward to the Messiah whereas everything after Jesus ascends into heaven is looking back on what it was that he did and accomplished.

So here if they're preaching the gospel then they're preaching something that is about to take place not something that has already taken place but even so confirming the message that they preached by the miracles that they performed.

What they preached came from God. So verse 13 they were casting out many demons and anointing with oil and many sick people anointing with oil many sick people and healing them. They were even given the authority to perform these many miracles and this was the first mission that Jesus gives to them sending them out in pairs.

Now you might be familiar with the the Mormon mission that that the the Mormons or the Latter-day Saints like to do where a good majority of their young people in the Mormon Church for lack of a better term.

But you know that's what it is Mormon Church the majority of the young people under the age of 25 and they're serving in missions throughout the world and they will go to different major cities in the United States or they'll go overseas.

There was a young man that I was witnessing to in Junction City when I lived there and and unfortunately my witnessing to him with the gospel never never took but he he left and went down to South America and that's where he did his mission and I want to say was there for two years because I think that's how long a lot of those missions will turn out being they might be gone for a couple of years and then they come back and but anyway that's a common mission for young people in the Mormon Church now on the one hand I like that and not not that it's in Mormonism they're spreading a false gospel.

I would like to see that in the church more often that we would send young people out to do something like that. So there's something about that that seems appealing to me. I don't think enough emphasis is put on missions in the in evangelicalism in the Protestant Church you'll see Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses putting a lot on missions but you don't see that as much in evangelicalism.

They'll talk about it. They'll go out and do mercy missions but you don't see a lot of encouraging these young people to know the word and go out and share it to lead people to the gospel. So on the one hand I like it but on the other hand this is also something that you really need to train somebody up and prepare them to do.

Now the disciples were trained by Christ so they got no better training than that. But we can't just automatically think because a person's young and you know we want to give them experience in life then we're gonna send them out on mission.

They've got to be prepared for it. So we have to fill them up with lots of good teaching and sound doctrine and then through the testing of their faith being able to see and recognize that this man or even a woman.

Because remember going back to to Acts 18 in in Corinth Paul was with Aquila and Priscilla and we know that Aquila and Priscilla led Apollos to the truth as well. So even women can do this having men and women that will go out and do evangelism.

But we need to we need to be preparing them for that can't just say hey because the young person has nothing better to do that. We're gonna send them out on mission. Now they need to have good training.

There needs to be solid training in the word and understanding of how to do this. My daughter has done it at the age of 16 well 15 when she went out and did and did it witness to Muslims a Muslim community in Houston Texas and and that was great experience for her.

But she had training in that she went out with me and handed out tracks and would share the gospel with people. And then there was also sort of training things that they did even before they went to Houston and she had to get experience on even how to minister to this group.

So she was never left by herself or or fit with other people that had never had any experience doing this. She was with other people that knew the community and knew how to relate to this particular group of people.

So that's a great experience. That's something that I think that there should be more experience in doing. Especially when you see that Mormons are out there doing it Jehovah's Witnesses are out there doing it and spreading their lies their false gospel.

Well evangelicals need to be more passionate about being out there and sharing the word. Even if you've got a Saturday or two to give over the course of the year find a group with your local church that might be out there sharing the gospel with others and join them get some experience doing that.

Even if you're just tagging along and you're watching them do it. At least get some exposure to that. So you understand even the responsibility that is upon every one of us to be out there sharing the gospel.

Now you won't do like these disciples did here by going out and and casting out unclean spirits they are definitely demonstrating the power of God that they have been granted and the mission that they are doing as mouthpieces of Christ.

We're not going to do miracles like that. But you still may have a responsibility to be that kind of mouthpiece to share the gospel with those who otherwise would never have heard it if it was not for you understanding that it is only by this word that we can be saved that we can be forgiven our sins and given everlasting life.

Prayer for Boldness in Gospel Witness

So out of love for people out of love for lost souls that are headed to hell without the gospel. Considering what ways you might be a missionary to save them from death. Heavenly Father I thank you for what it is that we have read here and we know according to even what is said here what Jesus experienced what he told his disciples.

We know that a lot of the world is going to reject the message that we have to share Jesus also later saying remember that when they hate you they hated me first. But out of love for God and out of love for people.

May we have hearts that are willing to go out and share the gospel with others. Give us those opportunities give us courage to do. So yes we're going to be hated for it. But how else can a person be saved unless they hear the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ and repent and believe.

So give us boldness in these days and help us to want to have the courage to share the gospel with others. The life-saving message of Jesus Christ. It's in his name that we pray. Amen. You've been listening to when we.

Understand the text of Pastor Gabe Hughes. Monday Tuesday and Wednesday Gabe will be going through a New Testament study. Then on Thursday we look at an Old Testament book. On Friday we take questions from the listeners and viewers.

Tomorrow will pick up on an Old Testament study when we understand the text.