Disciples Must Be Prepared for Rejection (2)
Notes
Transcript
Welcome back to our teaching series on the Gospel of Mark, Lessons in Discipleship. Last week, we entered a section of Mark’s Gospel that deals with rejection. And I realize this topic isn’t especially uplifting. In fact, I’d venture to say that rejection is one of mankind’s greatest fears. We as humans go to great lengths to avoid rejection, whether we realize it or not. Let me give you a couple of examples how we try to avoid rejection.
Withdrawing Emotionally
Rather than risk vulnerability, many men keep conversations surface-level. They may avoid sharing fears, doubts, or spiritual struggles—even with close friends or spouses—because honesty feels risky.
“If I don’t open up, I won’t be hurt.”
People-Pleasing
They say “yes” to everything—ministry requests, social obligations, even unhealthy relationships—because they fear disappointing others. Rejection avoidance masquerades as kindness.
“If I keep everyone happy, they won’t leave me.”
Avoiding Leadership or Initiative
Some men hesitate to lead, speak up, or take risks—especially in spiritual settings—because they fear criticism or failure. Better to stay quiet than be rejected.
“If I don’t try, I can’t be rejected.”
So, these are just a few examples of how we as fleshly creatures, try to avoid rejection. Now, I realize that spending two weeks on the topic of rejection isn’t exactly crowd-pleasing. But we’re not here for entertainment. We’re here for discipleship training. We’re here to prepare ourselves to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. And above all, we’re here to learn what God’s Word says.
Scripture is clear on this: faithful disciples of Jesus Christ will experience rejection. It’s not optional. It’s part of the path.
And guess who gives us the greatest example of being rejected? That’s right you got it. The Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah tells us He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows acquainted with grief. We learned last week that Jesus was rejected for most of His earthly life—by His hometown, by religious leaders, and even by His own family. So, rejection is something we need to prepared for.
**But that doesn’t mean we walk through life in fear, bracing for the worst. We don’t live with a constant sense of dread, waiting for the other shoe to drop. No—**we live with hope.
We know the Lord Jesus Christ could return at any moment. And whatever rejection or suffering we face in this life, Scripture calls it a light, momentary affliction—compared to the eternal weight of glory that awaits us.
This is a good way to put it: we hope for the best, but prepare ourselves for the worst.
Not with anxiety, but with confidence. Not with dread, but with faith.
When we study these passages—where Jesus and His faithful servants face rejection, tribulation, and suffering—it doesn’t discourage us. It strengthens us. It encourages us in our walk.
Why? Because when we face rejection and hatred from the world, it’s not a sign that we’ve failed. It’s confirmation that we’re walking the same path Jesus did.
And listen, Church: it is a privilege to suffer in the same way our Savior did, and to be counted worthy to share in His sufferings. It is a privilege to be shaped by the same road that shaped Him.
Let me give you a Biblical example. Some of the Apostles in Acts chapter 5 had been arrested for preaching Christ and His resurrection, and before they were released they were beaten and commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus. Look at their reaction.
41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
Peter says, Beloved do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you,
13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
Then he goes to say.
14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
The Greek word translated reproached there means to mock, revile, or heap insults upon someone as a way of shaming them. And Peter says if this happens to you for the name of Christ you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. Here is a catchy way to summarize this.
Obedience doesn’t always earn applause. Sometimes it earns a cross.
Obedience doesn’t always earn applause. Sometimes it earns a cross.
As we study the Bible and learn about the pathway Jesus took, we are preparing ourselves for any difficulties that may lay ahead. Look at what the author of Hebrews writes to Jewish Christians who were suffering. He says,
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
You see, we’re running our race with endurance, keeping our eyes on Jesus. In other words, we are looking at the example He set for us so when rejection comes, we don’t lose heart. We find strength in knowing that we’re walking the same path He walked.
All of this leads directly into today’s lesson, where we see Jesus sending out His twelve disciples, two by two. One of the key instructions He gives them is to expect rejection—just as He Himself was rejected in His hometown of Nazareth. That’s exactly what we explored last week. So before, we dive into today’s text, let’s take a moment to review what we covered last week. S
After performing a series of powerful miracles in and around the Sea of Galilee, including raising a young girl from the dead, Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth. And how do His own people respond? They reject Him. One of the verses we studied said: “They were offended at Him.” You see, the people of Nazareth couldn’t see past their familiarity with Jesus. To them He was just a plain old working class carpenter. He was the boy down the street who had been born out of wedlock. In their minds, it was impossible that a local blue collar Guy without a father could be he Messiah. In fact, let’s revisit verse 3 that describes their response to Jesus.
3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.
So Jesus’ hometown rejects Him and because of their unbelief He doesn’t perform many miracles, nor does he stay there very long. Read verse 6 with me.
6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.
This verse says Jesus “marveled because of their unbelief”. Simply put, He was shocked by their unbelief, and so He leaves there and teaches in the surrounding areas. And tragically there is no record of Jesus ever returning to Nazareth after this. The opportunity they had to recognize their Messiah was gone, and this sets the stage for Jesus sending out His disciples. You see, they too were going to face rejection.
Ok, before we dive into today’s Scripture let’s pray and ask for God to give us understanding.
Let’s begin with verses 7 & 8.
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—
The first thing I want us to see in verse 7 is the natural progression of discipleship. The Twelve have learned from their Master, and now they will do His work. Church, this is what discipleship involves, and we talk about this almost every week. First, we must learn from the Lord, and then we take that knowledge out into the world around us. You see, by sending His disciples out two by two, Jesus is multiplying His ministry. That is what discipleship involves. All of our Christian work is an extension of the work of the Lord, and it is a privilege for any believer to be a part of it (Yates, LID pg. 211). Especially if it means facing rejection and insults when we do.
Now here is something else I want to point out. This mission is unique to the twelve disciples, and it was short lived. You see, Jesus was sending these men out do the nation of Israel to proclaim the kingdom of God had drawn near. This mission was time sensitive because Jesus knew His time on earth was short, and His disciples are His chosen delegates to preach this message to the nation of Israel. Notice verse 7 says, he sent them out two by two, “an gave them power over unclean spirits”. The word power used here is the same word Mark has used earlier to describe the authority of Jesus Himself. In other words, Jesus sends these men out to the nation of Israel with the same message He was preaching and with the same authority He carried. Matthews Gospel gives us a few more details. Jesus directly tells the disciples not to go to the gentiles and then He says,
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Now pay careful attention to what He says next.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Now this is where people often get confused. A lot of charismatic denominations teach that this verse applies directly to believers today—but it doesn’t. I hate to break it to you, but we’re not going to be out there raising the dead or cleansing lepers.
These were specific miracles Jesus was performing to announce that the Kingdom of God had come. And during this time, He gave that same authority to His disciples—not as a permanent gift to all believers, but as a temporary sign to confirm the message they were preaching. These miraculous signs were meant to prove that the disciple’s message was truly from God. And these men are offering the kingdom to the nation of Israel. This verses aren’t about the Church.
So while these verses don’t apply directly to the church today, they still contain discipleship truths we can apply to our lives. Here’s the first one:
The Lord Equips Disciples to Complete the Work He calls Them To Do.
The Lord Equips Disciples to Complete the Work He calls Them To Do.
Every believer has been given a spiritual gift by the Lord Jesus Christ. He designed each of us with a unique purpose and works to complete. In other words, He equips us to accomplish the work in front of us. And these spiritual gifts aren’t meant to serve ourselves—they’re meant to build up the body of Christ. They are meant for the benefit of our brothers and sisters.
We may not be healing lepers or raising the dead, but we are absolutely called to serve, teach, encourage, help, give, lead, and show hospitality. These are just some of the areas where believers are gifted today. The same God who gives us the work is faithful to equip us for the work.
And we see this principle clearly at work in the original twelve. As Jesus sends them out to proclaim the coming Kingdom, He equips them with exactly what they need to fulfill their mission. Their calling came with power, purpose, and provision—just as ours does. The Lord Jesus Christ provided these men with everything they needed to complete there mission, and He does the same for faithful disciples today.
Ok, let’s get back to our passage in Mark picking up at verse 8.
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.
Here we see another set of specific instructions that don’t apply directly to the church today. Notice Jesus commanded the disciples to take nothing with them—no bag, no bread, no money. Just a staff, sandals, and the clothes on their backs. In other words, Jesus was saying, “Go now—with nothing but what you’re wearing.”
What I want us to realize is these details were given for a particular mission at a particular moment. And later, after the nation had rejected the message, Jesus gave His disciples a completely different set of instructions. Let’s look quickly at Luke 22:35–36
35 And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.” 36 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.
So these verses clearly show that the original command wasn’t meant to be a permanent model for ministry. It was a temporary strategy for a specific mission. Again, we shouldn’t take every detail in these verses as instructions for how the church should operate today. Missionaries today don’t travel under these conditions—and they’re not supposed to.
So the real question is: Why? Why would the Lord send these men out with nothing but the clothes on their backs? I mean they weren’t even allowed to take a second tunic which would be used to keep warm at night. Talk about taking a leap of faith. Well, the scriptures don’t say the exact reason, but let me give you one possibility.
First, their mission was an urgent one, and they could not afford to be weighed down with unnecessary things. You see, the nation needed to respond during the Lord’s short earthly ministry. So Jesus sent out His twelve as chosen delegates to proclaim that the Kingdom of God had come. And they were given the same power and authority that Jesus had. They were to preach the same message and work the same miracles. They were to proclaim that the Messiah had come, and that the Nation of Israel needed to repent and believe in Jesus in order to receive the kingdom.
You see, for that generation of Jews to receive the kingdom two things need to happen. The nation of Israel as a whole needed to repent of her sins, and they needed to believe in Jesus as their Messiah. Now, don’t get confused here. Any individual Jewish person who believed in Jesus for eternal life would be saved. But for the Kingdom to come to that generation, two things had to happen: the nation of Israel as a whole needed to repent of her sins, and they needed to believe in Jesus as the promised Messiah. Remember this is about the kingdom being offered to Israel. This is not the evangelistic message the church gives today. If you haven’t noticed I’m a pretty big faith alone guy.
Ok, so Jesus has commanded that the twelve take noting with them. No extra money, no extra tunic to keep warm, just a staff, the sandals on their feet, and the clothes on their back. Now he give them additional instructions.
10 Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.
Now believe it or not there are a few discipleship lessons tucked into this verse that we can apply to our lives today. Do you know what the success of these men’s mission hinged upon? What was needed to sustain these men during their journey. Hospitality. Look who provided for these men who had nothing but the clothes they were wearing. We might say it was other disciples who provided for these disciples, and their giving played a crucial role in God’s plan. You see, there were only twelve called to preach the coming of the kingdom, but God called on others to provide for their needs. Church, there is a powerful message here for us. Most of us, won’t be preaching on Sunday mornings, but all of us can participate is God’s plan by providing for the Church. I want to see us as a church practice giving the way the New Testament commands us. Paul says, God loves a cheerful giver. This is what He wrote the in 2 Corinthians,
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
We as faithful disciples should be excited about what God is doing in the life of our church, and our giving should reflect that. Giving isn’t just a financial transaction; it’s a partnership. It enables ministers to preach God’s Word, care for the flock, and advance the mission of the church.
Let me be clear: the church cannot support its pastors or ministries without the faithful generosity of its people. This is one way every single one of us can actively participate in God’s work. We don’t give because we’re pressured to—we give because we’re eager to see how God will use it. And we give because we know that generosity is an eternal investment. Remember the words of our Lord.
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
You see money is one area where we tend to get extremely short sighted. We spend the majority of our lives storing up treausres on earth so we can finally retire. But interestingly, Jesus tells us not to worry about doing that—because it has a way of stealing our hearts.. In other words, if you’re successful at accumulating worldly wealth, there’s a real danger that it will capture your heart. You’ll begin to make your life about material. Your decisions, your priorities, even your sense of identity can start revolving around what you own rather than who you serve.
So I encourage you—and your spouse—to prayerfully decide what you want to give. As Paul says, “Let each one give as he purposes in his heart.” That means the decision is yours. It’s not about pressure or obligation, but about joyful, willing generosity—because God loves a cheerful giver.
You see, giving is one of the ways we lay up treasure in heaven. It’s an act of faith that shifts our focus from this temporary life to the eternal one that’s coming. When we give, we’re not just supporting ministry—we’re investing in God’s eternal plan. We’re saying, “I believe in what God is doing, and I want to be part of it.” And we see this demonstrated clearly by the people who housed the disciples as they we out proclaiming the Messiah had come.
Ok, let’s get back to our text. So, verse 10 says,
10 Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.
There’s another discipleship lesson tucked into this verse that’s worth highlighting. Notice how the Lord instructs His disciples not to move from house to house. This was different from the common practice of religious teachers in the ancient world. Many would go door to door, often in search of more comfortable accommodations—and, most likely seeking financial support to sustain them. The Lord doesn’t want His disciples to do that. He wanted them to be content with what He has provided. The temptation to upgrade their lodging—especially if a more comfortable offer came along—could easily lead to greed. Worse, it could offend the original hosts and make them feel used. Not to mention, it could raise suspicions about the disciples’ motives. People might begin to wonder: Are they here to minister, or to take advantage of us?
This is a lesson that applies to every disciple: be content with what the Lord has provided for you. This life is not meant to be a pursuit of endless worldly gain. Paul reminds us, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” That means if our basic needs are met, we should be satisfied—not constantly striving for more.
Instead of pouring our energy into accumulating wealth or chasing comfort, we’re called to invest our lives in serving the Lord. Contentment frees us from greed. It anchors us in gratitude and allows our hearts to stay focused on the mission. When we trust that God has provided enough, we can give ourselves fully to what truly matters—His kingdom, His people, and His purpose.
But as Jesus is about to teach His disciples, not every place they went was going to be hospitable. Let read verse 11.
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!”
This is where the theme of rejection surfaces again. If the disciples assumed they’d always be warmly welcomed, Jesus quickly corrects that expectation. He’s not sending them out with the promise of open arms in every town—He’s preparing them for the reality that some will outright reject them.
Listen to His words: “Whoever will not receive you nor hear you.” The Lord makes it unmistakably clear—not every town, not every house, and not every heart will embrace the message of the Kingdom. Some will reject it outright. Some won’t even give it a hearing.
And this isn’t just true for the twelve—it’s true for every disciple today. Tragically, many people won’t listen when we speak of the Lord Jesus. Some will scoff. Some will ridicule. Some will reject us entirely. They may respond just as Nazareth did to Jesus, and just like many places where He sent the twelve.
But rejection doesn’t mean failure. We read these accounts to be reminded—and encouraged—that faithfulness matters more than acceptance. It’s not a question of if rejection will come, but when. Jesus prepares His disciples, and us, to expect it. Our calling is not to be accepted everywhere. But it is to be faithful witnesses everywhere. Here is one more point to want away with this morning.
A lack of rejection doesn’t define success in our ministry work. Obedience does.
A lack of rejection doesn’t define success in our ministry work. Obedience does.
Just because people respond positively doesn’t necessarily mean we have succeeded and just because they reject us doesn’t mean we’ve failed. The measure of success isn’t found in applause or acceptance, but in walking in faithful obedience to complete the work the Lord has given us. And again Jesus Himself has provided us with the perfect example. He took on the form of a servant and was obedient to the point of death. Even the death of the cross. Jesus never promised His disciples an easy path. He never promised them universal acceptance. Instead we provided everything they needed to complete the work, and called them to obey. Jesus is doing the exact same thing for His disciples today.
Let’s read our last couple of verses and then I will work to close.
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.
Again, I don’t want us to get overfocused on the miraculous signs these men were performing. These were the signs that the Kingdom of God had drawn near. These men were given the same authority that Jesus had. They were preaching that the Messiah had come, and they were confirming their message by performing same miracles that Jesus did. These men were preaching not to the church, but to the nation of Israel, and they were commanding them to repent so that they could receive the kingdom.
So as we work to close, let’s review what we learned.
First, we learned that God equips us for the mission He’s called us to. As believers, we’re not sent out empty-handed—we have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, and each one of us has been given spiritual gifts to use as we serve the Lord.
Then we learned that Jesus meets the needs of this disciples. Jesus also gives us a powerful promise: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” That doesn’t mean we’ll be driving brand-new trucks or living in mansions. It means that as we make serving the Lord the central purpose of our lives, He will take care of our needs. We won’t go hungry, and He will provide for our basic necessities.
Just as the twelve had to depend on the Lord to meet their material needs on their, so can we. When we seek Him first, we can trust that He will provide—not always with luxury, but always with enough.
We also learned that God used other people in this story, not just the twelve. God used other faithful disciples to provide for the twelve. The mission wasn’t carried out in isolation. Behind the scenes, others were providing, giving, and sustaining the twelve as they went where God had sent them. That’s a powerful reminder for us today. Giving to the church isn’t just a financial transaction—it’s participation in the work of God. It’s how each of us takes part in advancing God’s purposes, even if we’re not the ones preaching or traveling. When we give, we’re standing alongside those on the front lines. We’re helping carry the gospel forward, one act of generosity at a time.
Finally, let this account encourage and strengthen us as we serve the Lord. If we’re going to be faithful disciples, it will involve sacrifice. It will involve hardship. And yes—it will involve rejection. As I mentioned at the beginning of this lesson, our flesh tries to avoid rejection at all cost. Fewer things in life strike more fear in our hearts than rejection. This is why it is crucial to be rooted in the Word, to study these accounts, and learn learn from the rejection Jesus and His followers faced. When we do, we’re better prepared for the rejection we might face ourselves.
Let us always remember the pathway that Jesus walked. Let us remember the rejection He faced. And let us remember that when we suffer rejection or worse for the name of Christ we are blessed. We are blessed because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon us. So let us walk this pathway of discipleship with joy, with courage, and with hope, as we await the return of our King. And let us never forget:
Obedience doesn’t always earn applause. Sometimes it earns a cross.
Obedience doesn’t always earn applause. Sometimes it earns a cross.
Let’s pray.
