Mark 6:6b-13
6 And He was amazed at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages, teaching.
7 And He *summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits;
8 and He instructed them that they were to take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt—
9 but to wear sandals; and He added, “Do not wear two tunics.”
10 And He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave town.
11 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 as a testimony against them.”
12 And they went out and preached that people are to repent.
13 And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.
Sending Out the Twelve Disciples
Jesus’ evangelism strategy
From today’s passage, let’s learn Jesus’ evangelism strategy. (1) Jesus sent out the twelve disciples in pairs. Sending them out in pairs was a practical wisdom. It allows mutual assistance between the two and overcoming challenges together. We too should learn from this strategy. (2) They were given the authority to cast out unclean spirits. The essential point here is that this authority was delegated by Christ; it was not something the disciples had possessed. They were called to exercise this authority in alignment with God’s will. Similarly, we are entrusted with Christ’s authority also. Jesus promised, “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:14). (3) The disciples were commanded to go on their missionary journey without any preparations. Jesus said, “Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics” (Luke 9:3). This command was given to instill a sense of urgency in the disciples and to train them to rely completely on God. (4) If they found a welcoming house, they were instructed to stay there until leaving the town. This instruction ensured that they would not stay too long in the same town. (5) When leaving a town that did not accept the gospel, they were instructed to shake the dust off their feet. This was a practice among the devout Jews of that time. They shook the dust off their feet when returning to Palestine from Gentile land, so that they will not bring impurity back with them. The disciples performed this act to signify that those Israelites who rejected the gospel were unworthy of God’s kingdom.
What will you learn from all of this? Are you exercising the authority entrusted to you? Are you serving the kingdom of God with a sense of urgency? Let’s take a moment to meditate on the current time. The disciples who obeyed Christ’s command preached repentance, cast out demons, and healed many sick people. Let’s also exercise the authority entrusted to us.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, today, You are working to fulfill Your plan for salvation through the church. Please allow me to use the authority that you have entrusted me, according to Your will. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.