"The Nature of Apostolic Ministry" pt. 2 Mark 6:10-13

Last Sunday we looked at the Apostolic Dispatch. This is where Jesus sent out the 12 disciples to do the ministry of the Kingdom themselves. And they were to do this in full dependence on God for their provisions.

But this dispatch had both things spoken associated with it as well as things unspoken associated with it. But both were aspects of their mission were declarations none-the-less.

This morning we will look at the implications of the “Unspoken Declaration” first in verses 10-11 as we seek to be better informed about what Kingdom Ministry actually looks like, not just for them, but for us. Look back at your text to verses 10-11:

I. The Apostolic Declaration (10-13).

The Unspoken Declaration (10-11).

This is something His disciples would do in their actions that depicted something negative.

You see Jesus instructed His disciples to take nothing for their journey. But they instead were to rely on those who they would encounter on their journey.

There is a dependence upon divine provision that His disciples are to rely on. And that provision would be met through people by God’s design.

But there would be those that they would encounter that would not receive them nor would they hear the message of the Kingdom.

And Jesus instructs His disciples to shake off the dust from their feet as a testimony against them. This act is closely related to the Old Testament teaching of shaking out your garments as a way to represent God’s rejection from Nehemiah 5:13.

It is also reflective of Rabbinacle tradition of removing something that is defiling from that which is considered Holy by God. So in this context in Mark 6 it would indicate condemnation on the house for rejecting the message instead of the blessings of grace for embracing the message.

This would identify the house as being godless in practice because they are rejecting the message of the Kingdom.

And you may see this and think how could Jesus be so heartless and promote the idea of a judgmental attitude among His disciples towards those who reject the Kingdom of God and His messiah King.

It is because the message of the Bible is that there is only one way for sinners to be reconciled to God. And it is not by the law observance of Judaism and nor is it through a pluralistic or polytheist approach of embracing the Grecco-Roman pantheon.

These ancient systems and ideologies have never gone away, they simply just take on a modern twist. The world and the system that it promotes is always ready to pronounce condemnation on the exclusive claims of Christianity.

But we need to understand something Christian it is not the subjective opinions and judgments of the world that matter in the end. They are temporal and are short-sighted when it comes to eternity.

They measure things by temporal implications and what appears to matter at the moment to achieve the perceived benefit. This perceived benefit is usually derived from the consensus of the whole.

Christian the Kingdom of God does not operate in the same way. King Jesus rules with an iron scepter and all who oppose His rule and reign are under His condemnation. The only consensus is with the Father, Son and Holy Ghost and they have never been in conflict in their judgments.

If Christianity is true then it is exclusive and all other moral and religious claims are null and void and false. Rejecting the gospel of the Kingdom is not something that anyone should do lightly because the condemning affects have eternal implications. The Jesus of the Bible is intolerant of false religion because they are all in conflict with the Kingdom of God.

I can’t tell you how many people who I have encountered through the years who believe that God is inclusive of other worldviews. Because in their minds it makes Him more moral and lovingly accepting. Such a god is a better fit for what is considered by the consensus of the day as a suitable god for the current age.

This has always been the problem with fallen man. He molds a god for himself to fit with his own pagan ideas. Truth is, God is intolerant of “idolatry” and He always has been and always will be.

The shaking off of the dust of His disciples feet demonstrates this as an unspoken declaration. But there was a spoken declaration as well. Look back at your text to verses 12-13:

The Spoken Declaration (12-13).

First they declared that people should repent (11).

This was something that was a hallmark of the inauguration of the Kingdom of God. But this is not a new idea that only came along with the Kingdom. God gave the law and if we only took the 10 Commandments and if we only took the first of the 10 Commandments we find that God is a jealous God who is intolerant of idolatry.

Not to mention the other 9 Commandments and the rest of the law of Moses. The people were commanded by God to obey His law. But they always struggled with idolatry because the nature of man drives man to order concepts like good and evil in such a way that align with subjective idea of what they are.

Then he fashions god to fit in compliance with his false worldview of morality. How do we know what moral good is? How do we know what moral evil is? We do not learn it from the consensus of the whole of the masses. This is why many perceive that repentance is out dated in the modern day.

If the consensus view is correct then we will tend to measure ourselves and others as to how well they fit with the group.

The idea of repentance was preached by John the Baptist in preparation of the Kingdom of God. And it was preached by the disciples of Jesus here in Mark 6:12. And it was preached by Peter at Pentecost in Acts 2:38. They were to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.

The term repent does not mean to be sad for your sin or to be sorry for your sin. Both may happen in keeping with repentance but repentance means to turn and go the other way. To turn from pursuing a life of sin and pursue a life of righteousness in keeping with a life that has been transformed by Kingdom power.

But how could anyone know that the gospel of the Kingdom has transforming power associated with it?

Because the disciples declared the ministry of the Kingdom through the supernatural power displays that broke the bondage of darkness and set the captives free (12).

Just like Jesus did and remember that they are ministering in His authority. And remember that this is before the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Temporal miracles in Mark 6:13 but the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead as the focal point with its eternal implications in connection to gospel ministry.

Christian have you ever wondered why the sacraments focus us back to the absolute reality of the work of Christ made effectual by the Holy Spirit as the focal point of God’s plan of redemption? If God were inclusive the sacraments would be too, but they aren’t.

The sacraments are just for the people under the covenant grace of God through Jesus Christ. And there is an emphasis on repentance and self-examination for believers who are to come to the table.

Conclusion:

We come as one body in unity in agreement with God about our need for His grace to us in Christ and we come, turning from our sin to Him in reliance of His provision to us in Christ.

Unbeliever you need the gospel. And it is the Holy Spirit that must open your eyes to this reality. Do not harden your heart but come in faith to Christ for your salvation. Believe the gospel! Come to Him and receive of His grace to you.

Christian in preparation let us come before His throne of grace and confess our sin in full assurance that He is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us of all of our unrighteousness. Let’s Pray!