If I am going somewhere, whether on a trip for several days, or just several hours, I like to plan well, and be prepared for anything that could happen. Take a sweater in case I might get chilly. Bring a book in case I might have to wait for a while somewhere. If the trip is more than one day, I make sure that there is clothing appropriate for any event that might occur. I like to know exactly where I will be staying, and have the route carefully planned out. I am not one who likes to be caught by surprise with anything. In our reading today from the Gospel of Mark, we read of Jesus sending His apostles out for several weeks to bring His message. His instructions to them are quite different from how I like to plan. Let’s read what Jesus says.
As Mark records his Gospel, Jesus called His twelve apostles together to send them out on short mission trips to villages throughout the country. Jesus has some instructions He wanted them to follow, which He told them before they left. First, Jesus sent the apostles out in pairs (vs. 7). He did this because going in pairs would give each of them mutual help and encouragement. If there was a problem, one would be there to help the other. No one would be alone. Also, this would meet the legal requirement for an authentic testimony, as the Law stated, there always needed to be two or more witnesses.
Jesus’s next instructions were for what the disciples were to take with them, and for what not to take (vs. 8-9). Jesus said they could take with them a staff, or walking stick, to wear sandals, but no bag, no food, no extra clothing or extra money. The walking stick was allowed, as the countryside was very rocky and hilly. A walking stick would help them in being better able to get around. This, though, indicated that they were to go on foot, not go on donkey, horse, camel, cart, or wagon.
Another instruction was to not take a bag, such as a travel bag for extra clothes or extra items. No extra sweater or book, such as I like to have. No games, nothing to weigh them down or distract them from their mission. Jesus also didn’t want them to bring along a food sack or carry extra money with them. They were to depend on others' generosity, and especially to depend on and trust in God for Him to provide for their needs. Jesus instructed them to wear sandals, but not take two tunics. In Biblical times, only wealthy or more affluent people wore actual shoes. The common people wore sandals. A tunic was an outer garment. Wealthier people’s tunics might be more elaborate, and sometimes they would wear two at one time, just to show their wealth. Jesus said for them to only bring one. He wanted them to identify with the common people, and only bring the minimum.
Jesus gave further instruction for when they entered a village (vs. 10). The disciples were to carefully select where they would stay. However, once they were invited and agreed to stay in a home, they were to remain there, even if a better, more comfortable place became available. Even if they found out that the place down the road served much better dinners! They were to be content with their accommodations. The sole focus of this trip was to be on ministry, not a vacation.
Jesus’s final words of instruction to the disciples before they were sent off was on how to react when their message might not be well-received (vs. 11). He told them that if the people of the village would not listen to the Gospel message they were bringing, if the people rejected it and rejected them, they were to “shake off the dust” from their feet. This was a practice from the ancient Middle East, and showed a complete renunciation of further fellowship with those who rejected them. The people who were rejecting them, were in reality rejecting Jesus, the Son of God. The fate of rejecting Jesus is that He would reject them. It also shows that those who have been given the Gospel message will be held responsible for what they do with it.
As our Scripture passage closes, Mark shares that the disciples went out and preached that people should repent of their sins (vs. 12). They didn’t go out and tell them that everything was fine with them just the way they are, or that God wanted them to be rich if they gave them a donation. The message was to repent, turn from their sins, and follow God’s Word. That is the same message that people need to hear today, but not one that is well received at all. Yet this is what Jesus sent His disciples out to do. Are we ready and willing to go out and bring God’s message to a needy world? And are we trusting Him to provide for us as we do that?
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