We know that as disciples of Jesus we are to seek to advance the kingdom of God (Matt 6:9-10, 33). But how do we do that? So far in Mark, Jesus’ disciples have not had a lot of hands-on action. In today’s text, we see Jesus releasing his disciples for a time of ministry.
Last week, we saw Jesus rejected at Nazareth. The people of Nazareth took offense at Jesus, for they perceived him to be insignificant for God’s kingdom work. In today’s text, we see that Jesus’ disciples should expect rejection as well.
BIG IDEA: Even in the face of rejection or death, disciples of Jesus advance God’s kingdom through word and deed.
Sermon text: Mark 6:7-13
1. Disciples advance the kingdom under the authority of Jesus (v. 7)
7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
Jesus “gave them authority over the unclean spirits.” I’m going to talk about unclean spirits at the end, but for now I want to say that we go under the authority of Jesus (Matt 28:18). We are ambassadors for Jesus.
2 Cor 5:20
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Jesus was training these men for ministry and thus multiplying himself. In the same way that Jesus knew his earthly ministry would have an end, all our ministries will an end.
Knowing this, pastors should be raising up pastors (2 Tim 2:2). Mature men and women should be teaching the next generation how to live for Christ (Titus 2:1-10).
There are really four steps in discipling someone. For instance, consider Bible study.
- You study your Bible; your disciple observes and asks questions.
- You study your Bible; your disciple does as well.
- Your disciple studies his Bible; you study as well.
- Your disciple studies his Bible, you observe and give feedback.
2. Disciples advance the kingdom as a team (v. 7)
He sent out the twelve “two by two.”
Ministering as a pair was safer and wiser than going alone and it provided much needed fellowship.
Eccl 4:9-10
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
The law required two witnesses to verify a matter.
Deut 19:15
“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.
We need others in the church! God saves people to gather them.
3. Disciples advance the kingdom by committing to the mission (vv. 8-9)
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.
The disciples were to be totally committed to their mission, not tied down with worldly concerns. We’re told in the text what Jesus permitted them to bring and what he forbade them to bring.
They were to take a staff. A staff was used for protection against robbers and wild animals and for maintaining balance while walking on rough terrain.
They were not to bring a bag. They were not to ask for money. In New Testament times, some Gentile philosophers would live on the streets and beg for money. The approach of the disciples is in stark contrast to the prosperity preachers of our day who beg you to send them money and to send it often.
Jesus wanted the disciples to see that God would provide for them (Phil 4:19). There would be those who were receptive to the message who would give them a place to stay (v. 10).
The disciples were to only bring one tunic. In the ancient world, travelers would often sleep outside and the purpose of the second tunic was to protect them from the weather. Jesus was telling his apostles that the need not worry, for they would be sleeping indoors in receptive homes.[1]R.C. Sproul, Mark, 115.
This seems to be a direct application of Jesus’ teaching in Matt 6:25-34. The disciples were not to worry about what they would eat, drink, or wear, but to seek his kingdom first as they trust God to meet their needs (Matt 6:33).
In summary, the disciples were to travel as light as possible. The minimal provisions were meant to bring about maximum faith.[2]R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior, 135.
Interestingly, the four items Jesus told the 12 to take (belt, sandals, staff, tunic) are identical to what God told the Hebrews to take on their flight to Egypt (Exo 12:11).
Like the disciples, we are to travel lightly in this world. The more stuff we own, the more time we spend managing it. The more time we spend on our stuff the less time we have to advance the kingdom of God.
4. Disciples advance the kingdom despite rejection (10-11)
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.”
If you have ever sought to share the message of Jesus, you know that the gospel will be received by some and rejected by others. This is exactly what we see in vv. 10-11.
As they ministered from place to place, they would encounter both hospitality and hostility.
As we minister for Jesus, we will encounter both hospitality and hostility.
In v. 10, Jesus tells the disciples to accept the hospitality that was offered and to stay there until they departed from the area. By doing this, the disciples would not dishonor the home by accepting more comfortable provisions.
What does Jesus mean when he tells the disciples to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against those who reject the disciples (v. 11)?
In biblical times, proper hospitality included offering water for guests to wash their feet. Thus, the fact that the disciples have dust on their feet shows that they were rejected.
Additionally, sometimes pious Jews would shake the dust from their feet after passing through Gentile cities to show their separation from Gentile influences and practices. Basically, they were leaving the dirt behind as they entered a more holy place.
Jesus was telling his disciples that if they were faithful, there was no blood on their hands. Those who rejected the message made a choice to reject Jesus and the conscience of the disciple is clear. The removal of dust from the feet was an act that was meant to make those who rejected the message to reconsider their decision.
This command of Jesus should remind us as disciples to not be overly discouraged by rejection. We know that we will be rejected by the world (John 15:18).
John 15:18
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
Our job is not to convert people, but to be faithful to Jesus and what he has called us to do, which is to share the gospel with the lost and to baptize and disciple the saved.
When Jesus told the disciples to shake the dust off their feet, he was making it clear that the listeners were responsible for how they responded to the gospel.
Those that reject us, and our message of the gospel have really rejected Jesus.
5. Disciples advance the kingdom by preaching repentance (12)
12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.
When Jesus called the disciples, he told them that they would become fishers of men (Mark 1:17). In v. 12, Jesus told them to “proclaim that people should repent.”
That is what we are called to do as well. We are to proclaim the gospel, the message of the kingdom. We are to call people to repent of their sin—to repent from living their lives for self and apart from God’s authority. We call them to repent of trusting in their own righteousness and to embrace the righteousness of Christ. We call them to trust in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
If you’re here this morning and you have not trusted in Christ, then repent of your sinful way of living and embrace the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Our message is not simply “come to church” or “live your best life now.” Our message is the gospel of Jesus Christ!
6. Disciples advance the kingdom by meeting physical needs (13)
13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
In other words, we care about the whole person. We don’t just want to see someone saved. We want them to be made whole.
We want them to know Jesus and then we disciple them to follow Jesus. We have to disciple them in all of life so that they can be useful to Jesus. It is hard to advance the kingdom of God when you are worried about paying your bills. So, we may need to help people get their material, physical, and relational lives in order that they may spiritually advance the kingdom of God.
We see in v. 13 that the disciples “cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.”
Oil (usually olive oil) was often used in biblical times as a medicine (cf. Luke 10:34), but here the anointing probably serves as a symbol of the presence, grace, and power of God. Anointing the sick is elsewhere prescribed only in Jam 5:14.
Do we as modern-day disciples of Jesus have power to cast out demons and heal the sick? There is a lot of debate on this topic. There are people on both sides of the debate but the main question that is tossed around is this: are miraculous spiritual gifts (tongues, healing, prophecy) still active today?
I for one, as your pastor have never cast out a demon or healed anyone. Nor do I know anyone personally that has claimed to have performed exorcisms or healings.
Of course, charismatics (those in Pentecostals and Assembly of God churches) would argue yes. Most Baptists would say that the miraculous gifts of tongues, prophecy, and healing have ceased. I would put myself in this camp. I still believe that God can and does perform miracles, but I do not believe that anyone has the gift of tongues, prophecy, or healing and can summon them on command.
I don’t have time to exhaust the argument today, but the short version is that the primary purpose of signs and wonders was to give credibility to Jesus and his apostles (John 3:2). As you read Scripture, you’ll see that miracles are clustered at key points redemptive history (the Exodus, Jesus’ ministry, Pentecost). Now that the church has God’s authoritative words in the Scriptures (2 Tim 3:16-17), signs and wonders are no longer needed to build up the church.
Thus, there is no longer a need for apostles and prophets today since we have the apostles’ teaching written in God’s Word. Therefore, since there are no modern-day apostles or prophets, there are no people alive today who have God-given authority to perform miraculous gifts on command.[3]For more, see Spiritual Gifts: What They Are and Why They Matter by Thomas R. Schreiner.
I would argue that miracles are possible, but not normative. Remember, the primary reason that Jesus came was to preach the gospel (Mark 1:15, 38).
We want to see lives changed for eternity. We should be serving nonbelievers and sharing the gospel with them. Like these disciples, if we are ministering in the name of Jesus then we will see God at work.
If we as a church rarely see anyone come to faith to Christ, perhaps it is that we are not sowing broadly the seed of the gospel.
Friends, let’s follow Jesus’ instructions for advancing the kingdom of God!
- Go in the authority of Jesus.
- Minister with others.
- Commit to the mission and trust him to provide for your needs.
- Expect rejection but keep going.
- Preach the gospel and call people to faith in Christ!
- Care for the whole person.
Friends, the church is not a place to sit and learn about Jesus but a people who serve Jesus. As a church, we must raise up disciples who will advance the kingdom for the glory of King Jesus.
When a church loses this focus, and men quit leading, the church is on its way to death. I saw it in my last church and I am seeing it at my current church.
My church (and many others) have plenty of pew sitters and every once in a whilers. But what we really need is disciples who will advance the kingdom of God.
Who is going to help me to win this town for Christ? Who will lead their families?
Who are you this morning?
Are you like Jesus and pray and seek for God’s kingdom to come here on earth?
Are you a disciple who is advancing the kingdom or a religious person checking a religious box?
There is no one emptier than a Christian who is living for him or herself instead of Christ.