Coming and Going
Mark 6:12-13
[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.
As we’ve walked through the Gospel of Mark the last few weeks you may not have noticed but we’ve had these contrasts. Chained or Changed, Rejected or Accepted and now we have Coming and Going. We will explore that today in our passage.
Mark 6:7-13
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
[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.” [Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.] [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.
What do we see here?
- Sent (the mission of the 12)
12 is significant. There’s 12 tribes of Israel and now Jesus has chosen 12 Apostles. Now we sometimes conflate disciples and apostles but really disciple means learner and Apostle means “sent one” or “sent out” That’s what’s going here. It’s really the first time we see them being sent out too. Note: he sends them in twos….OT law spoke to the witness of 2 or 3 vs 1 …plus we as believers get this help for one another…we aren’t alone.
- In the midst of their being sent we see this Pattern of coming and going.
I want us to look back at Mark 3 a second and there’s a lesson to learn. One for them and it stands for us too, and if we’re not careful we’ll only get caught up teaching and living out the one (coming for our healing) and not the other (being sent to others).
Mark 3:13-15
[13] And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. [14] And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach [15] and have authority to cast out demons.
Notice Jesus calls. That’s what we like, right? We want to be called by Him, we love this and we should. We want God to speak and us to hear and we want people to hear His call and come to Him. (Come to me all who are burdened and heavy laden and I will give you rest…right?) That’s all good. But that’s only the first part of what happens with our Christian walk. Look at verse 14…so they might be with him and he might send them out to preach! So, we all get the coming to him part, but the going out is harder. But that’s your job preacher! Yep. And it’s all of ours.
Two passages to help.
The Great Commission
Matthew 28:18-20
[18] And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Romans 10:14-17
[14] How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? [15] And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” [16] But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” [17] So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
So it’s very plain as to what we are to do. Look, I understand. It’s easy to enjoy one another here at church and be blessed by the Lord with wonderful fellowship and family, but how will we be fulfilling what we’ve been commanded to do unless we tell people?
How we do this is up to you and the Lord. Everyone isn’t going to go knock on doors, and we live in a society that’s a lot more backwards than it used to be. But we are seeing signs that even our younger generations are responding to good biblical teaching and true conversations about God, not just some moral babbling about be nice and maybe we can earn our way to heaven.
- Take nothing – depend on Him alone – absolute self-dedication
So we see here that earthly things aren’t what will fulfill. Again, I’m not against stuff and working and having nice things. I’m saying that scripture is telling us once again that our value is in Christ and what he provides. None of that other stuff will fit. There’s some overlap in the gospels here about what to take and what not to take. It may even look conflicting but it’s not. Jesus is saying take a staff (a walking stick, not a rod of protection). Depend upon him for your safety. Jesus is saying don’t take your money bag…he’s got this….. Jesus is saying don’t even take the extra tunic (which they slept under). He’s saying someone will take you in (depend on me to provide) and by the way if someone takes you in stay there and don’t take a better deal at a better fancier house….stay until you’re done. Again…..don’t worry about the worldly stuff. (Depend upon him)
NOTE: the passage says that He gave them authority over the demons…not just power, but the authority of God that goes with His power.
- What if they don’t want to hear it?
Shake the dust off
Jews were to shake the dust off of Gentile territory when they entered their homeland. They understood this. They didn’t want to bring the idolatry and pagan practices back to their homeland.
Preach Repentance and do the work of God, exactly as Jesus was doing – healing and casting out demons. God provides.
- What does this look like today?
We live in an independent individualized society. Our national holiday is Independence Day. We’re Americans. I can do this myself. It’s not wrong to work and to owe nothing to anyone. Thessalonians teaches us to work quietly and depend upon no one…..but what we’re learning here is dependency upon God for our every worry, concern, care, need. We’re learning he is sovereign and that in reality we can’t control much of anything let alone everything. Christian freedom is found in understanding this and doing what He commands.
Here are normal human obstacles. (Two things)
- Do we water things down? (Smooth talk…tell me what I want to hear)
Don’t ride me pastor. Just tell me I’m forgiven and going to heaven.
2 Timothy 4:3-5
[3] For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. [5] As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Paul tells Timothy not to do this. But instead to do this.
2 Timothy 4:2
[2] preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
- Or do we self-loathe and want to be beat up? Guilt
The other option is we walk around feeling guilty all the time for not doing what we should. That’s unproductive as well. Look everyone isn’t gifted in every area. Let’s find where we should serve and do it. It may be teaching VBS or a Sunday School class (and if you’re called to that do it). Or it may be sending a card, or cooking or visiting a neighbor (and if you’re called to that, do it).
Here’s what we see scripture teaching us. We don’t water things down, nor do we wallow in guilt.
From our passage.
Mark 6:12
[12] So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.
Repentance (feels like guilt…but that’s not what this is…it’s conviction by the Holy Spirit that we should change)…..does guilt or conviction weigh in…yes I think so, but we are not to wallow in it….nor should we delay because he says it will be worse than for those in Sodom and Gammorah….
2 Peter 3:9
[9] The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
God is patient, but don’t wait. Repent…..Come to Him…then Go and tell and show.