Winning a Kingdom (Mark 6:7–13)

When the Lord originally called the 12 Apostles, His purpose was to teach and train them so that they might assist Him and eventually be able to take His place when He returned to the Father. Before sending them out, He reaffirmed their authority to heal and to cast out demons; and He gave them some pointed instructions. Jesus had now called the apostles for the purpose of preaching, and the time for them to do this had now come. He sent them out in teams of two. The reason may be that in Israel, the law demanded two witnesses for any testimony.

7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. 8 He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts—9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. 10 Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. 11 And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” 12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.

I. Jesus gave the apostles specific instructions

A. They were dependent on God for their provisions and success.

Jesus gave the disciples authority over evil spirits. They did not go under their own authority but the power and authority of Jesus. They were to take no bread, no bag, or no money so they would be dependent upon the hospitality of those to whom they went.

The tunic would normally be worn as a cloak during the day and as a blanket at night. They were not to take an extra tunic to remain warm. They were not to take supplies or money to purchase supplies. They needed to depend on God and the hospitality of others for their housing and food.

B. As they ministered from place to place, they would encounter both hospitality and hostility, both friends and enemies.

He cautioned them to stay at one house in each community and not to “pick and choose” when it came to their food and accommodations. After all, they were there to be profitable servants, not pampered guests. The spreading of the gospel has the priority over personal likes and dislikes.

If a house or a village did not receive them, they had His permission to declare God’s judgment on those people. It was customary for the Jews to shake the dust off their feet whenever they left Gentile territory, but for Jews to do this to their fellow Jews would be something new. The action was not to be performed in a vindictive spirit, but with a view to its moral effect; either it would lead to reflection and possibly repentance, or at least it would justify God’s future judgment.

II. Sharing of power.

A. The gospels differ slightly in describing what the apostles were to wear and to take with them, but that is not important.

All agree that they were to ‘travel light’. Those engaged in the work of evangelism must not be fussy about food or accommodation; they must realize that their mission is one of life and death for their hearers.

The word translated “send” is apostello in the Greek and gives us our English word apostle. It means “to send someone with a special commission to represent another and to accomplish his work.” Jesus gave these twelve men both the apostolic authority and the divine ability to do the job He sent them to do. They were not “on their own”; they represented Him in all that they did and said.

B. The men went out and did what Jesus told them to do.

It is remarkable that a band of ordinary men could go out in this way to represent Almighty God, and that they could demonstrate their authority by performing miracles.

God’s commandments always include His enablements. They proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom, called on sinners to repent, and healed many who were sick.

III. The apostles took healing of spirit and body to the neighboring cities.

A. They carried out the command of Jesus.

They brought first a message of repentance, forgiveness of sins, and the need for the people to turn to God. The second message they brought was that of physical healing. God cares for the total person—body and spirit.

God frees his people from sin that leads to death, and he frees them from the physical infirmities and demons that haunt their bodies and souls. Physical infirmities, poverty, and starvation are part of Satan’s dominion. Therefore, we do well to fight against Satan by taking care of people’s physical needs as well as their spiritual needs.

B. The expulsion of demons is clearly distinguishable from ordinary healings.

Oil was often used in biblical times as a medicine, but here the anointing probably serves as a symbol of the presence, grace, and power of God.

Oil can also be seen as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Kings were anointed with oil as a sign that they were chosen by God.