From Bootcamp to the Battlefield-Mark 6:7-32

As we prepare to start this morning; would you turn with me in your copies of God’s Word to the Gospel According to Mark 6:7-13. We will read these verses shortly, so have your Bible opened and ready.

Last Sunday, in the message entitled Familiarity Breeds Contempt from Mark 6:1-6, we looked at the Biblical account of Jesus returning for one last time to His hometown of Nazareth. Jesus was there to Give His Hometown One Last Opportunity to Follow Him in Faith. Their response to His visit was less than favorable. The unparalleled wisdom He displayed should have led them to the conclusion that it was a God given wisdom, but they couldn’t get past the fact that His Education Was Their Education . They also struggled with His Unimpressive Profession as a carpenter. His Unnoteworthy Family. In the end they Turned Their Backs On this Last Opportunity To Follow Him In Faith. As a result of their faithlessness, The door was closed to the miraculous while He was there. And when all was said and done, Jesus Rejected Them and left to preach in other areas in Galilee that were more receptive to Him.

For the town of Nazareth, Familiarity Had Bread Contempt. We closed out out time in God’s Word with a strong challenge for us to not follow the lead of the town of Nazareth. Similar, in many ways, to the town of Nazareth, the church in America has become so familiar with the things of God that it does little, if anything, that is transformative in our lives. If we are not careful, we will become like the church of Laodicea which we read about in Revelation 3:14-22. A church that was so lukewarm that Jesus was on the outside looking in.

In this mornings passage, we will see a significant switch in how Jesus does ministry. Up to this point in time, all of His disciples have been spectators, for the most part. Jesus has done all of the teaching, all of the miracles, all of the preaching. But in this morning’s passage we seen Him send them out by two’s. Up to this point in time His calling for them has been; Come; Listen and watch, but now it moves to Go and Tell. They are moving from being spectators in training to participants that are moving to the front lines. In other words, they are Stepping From Bootcamp to the Battlefield.

Will you please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word? That Word that is living and active and sharper than any 2 edged sword. Next Slide

Mark 6:7–13 ESV

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.” 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.

May the Lord add His blessing to the reading of His Word. Please be seated.

On the backdrop of Jesus rejection in His own hometown, Jesus sends out the Twelve on their first missionary journey. As I have mentioned many times, their are no coincidences in how Jesus does things. He has a plan and purpose behind everything He does, and this includes His perfect timing. With this in mind, the first key we see in this mornings message is a:Next Slide

Preparation For Rejection. Mark 6:11; Matthew 10:16-25

Next Slide

1. Rejection in Their Own Hometowns. Matthew 10:21

While this may not be the case for all of the disciples, since at least 4 had been raised in the same town, chances are many first, or at least at some point, went to their own hometowns. That would be the natural thing for them to do. Generally, when an individual first puts their faith and trust in Jesus, and experience the total transformation that always accompanies truth faith, they can’t wait to tell their unbelieving friends and family members. Oftentimes they experience heart breaking rejection. Jesus trip to His hometown and the subsequent rejection He experienced there painted an important picture for the disciples that, like Jesus, they could pretty much count on experiencing rejection, including from their own families.

To add power to the visual lesson they watched in Nazareth, we see in Matthews recording of this Biblical account in chapter 10, starting in verse 21, Jesus declare: Next Slide

Matthew 10:21 ESV

21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,

I do want to add something here that matches, in many ways, what we saw in Old Testament prophecies. Frequently prophecies in the Old Testament contained 2-fold fulfillments. On a smaller scale, there was a near fulfillment, and on a larger scale there was a future fulfillment. This was likely the case here as well.

Much of what we read in Mt. 10:16-25 would be fulfilled after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, when the disciples were sent full-time. But there was certainly going to be a partial fulfillment on this short term missionary journey.

Not only would they experience rejection in their own hometowns, they would also experience: Next Slide

2. Rejection In Other Cities. Mark 6:11; Mt. 10:16-18; 10:14; Luke 9:5

In Mark 6:11, Jesus makes it very clear that there would be places that would completely ignore their message. We find out in Matthew 10:14 that in some cases the rejection would come from entire cities, but in other instances they would come from individual homes. But Jesus wanted them to be prepared for rejection.

This brings us to the next key from this morning’s passage: Next Slide

They Didn’t Go Alone. Mark 6:7

In this instance we see that Jesus sent them out in pairs. No one went alone. This is good news for us today as well. Because as a church, we don’t have to do ministry alone. We should be working as a team, just as they did. In the instance of the disciples, there are many reasons why Jesus sent them out in pairs, but one of them is cultural. You see in ancient Israel, to present a witness, it took 2 people to validate your claim. So, as Jesus sent them out into the cities, towns and villages of Israel, they needed to go in pairs to validate the message. But He also sent them out so they would have mutual support, encouragement, multiplied wisdom and ideas. The disciples were to come alongside one-another in every area of ministry as they traveled about the countryside. But I also believe there was another area of ministry they were to partner with one-another in, that is the area of prayer. From the very beginning the disciples saw in Jesus a man who was committed to approaching the throne of the Father. But He didn’t just pattern this for them from a distance, this is something they participated is as well. With this as a pattern, I believe that these men started and ended each day with a time of prayer. Seeking the face of God the Father. They were not on this mission alone. By the way, we see this taking place frequently in Scripture and throughout church history. On his missionary journeys, Paul is almost always seen traveling with a co-laborer. From Acts 13-the end of Acts 15. Pauls constant traveling and ministry companion is Barnabas. From the end of Acts 15 and forward, we see Paul and Silas travel and minister together. Looking at church history, we see Barnabas then travel with Mark. And later in church history, we see Peter traveling with Mark, which is likely where we got the Gospel According to Mark. As Peter and Mark traveled together, Peter filled Mark in on all the details of his time with Jesus.

The point is that we, like the disciples in this morning’s passage and like the disciples in the Book of Acts and church history, are not in this alone. We are to come alongside one another in ministry and we are also to understand that God is with us as well.

That brings us to the next key in this mornings passage; Next Slide

They Were Sent Out in Power. Mark 6:7; Matthew 10:1 & 8; Luke 9:1&2; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 3:5-6

In Mark 6:7, Matthew 10:1 and Luke 9:2, we see the same areas listed: the power to heal and cast out demons, but in Matthew 10:8 we see even more significant power, we see them given the power to “cleanse the leper” and “raise the dead”. The power they received is pretty important to us as well, because we are to follow the lead of the disciples, and to be honest with you, that can be pretty intimidating to us! But if we look back at the men Jesus selected, to carry out His ministry when He ascended into heaven. They are less than impressive! Do you remember our discussion of the disciples in the 4 messages titled The Dirty Dozen? In those messages we found out, that there was nothing special about any of these men. Not only were they normal, in some instances they were less than normal. They were fishermen, probably some farmers, then we see the less than normal, Matthew was a hated tax collector and Simon (not Simon Peter but the other Simon) was a zealot-which by Roman standards was a criminal. The only one among them that may have had any pedigree to hang his hat on was Judas Iscariot! You remember Judas, don’t you?! Yet Jesus selected this motley crew as His “A” Team! If He can work through them, then there is hope for us! Especially when you move forward to Jesus’ message to His followers in Acts 1:8 right before He ascended into heaven, where we read: Next Slide

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Jesus powerful message to this small band of followers, fit real well with the key we looked at just a few moments ago, they would not go out alone. Not only did they, in most instances, have a companion doing ministry with them. Even more important, they had God Himself doing ministry with them, through the unmatched power of the Holy Spirit. I love what Warren Wiersbe writes on this topic, He writes; “God’s commandments always include His enablements..” The he references 2 Cor. 3:5&6 where we read; “5Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6Who has made us sufficient..” In other words, the same God that empowered and enabled them to obey His commands, empowers and enables us.

Just like the disciples that day, we can expect the power of God to accompany our obedience.

The next key for us to look at this morning is; Next Slide

They Were Sent Out To Proclaim His Message. Mark 6:12; Matthew 10:7; Luke 9:2

This is another area in where He empowers us. When we seek the face of God, and when we obediently proclaim His Word to others, we can then count on Him to give us the right words to speak. Now I do want to add one caveat here; Next Slide

His Word doesn’t just follow my obedience, it also follows my diligence.

In other words, if I put little or no effort in preparing myself to serve Him obediently;

Time in His Word

Time in prayer

Time serving alongside fellow Christ followers

I am not to expect that God will somehow overcome my chosen ignorance. More often than not, the words God gives to me, come through my own personal diligence. But there are also times I may be faced with a question or challenge that, even though I have been diligent in His Word, prayer and service, I wasn’t expecting and wasn’t prepared for. It is those times where God oftentimes will literally give me the words to speak. The times this has happened to me are to many to count, but they are glorious encounters where something comes out of my mouth that I know didn’t come from me! God gave me the words. But I can never expect these glorious exchanges to take place if I if I don’t boldly proclaim His Good News.

I have to be honest with you this morning, this is many times the area of greatest disobedience we see in the life of those who claim to be followers of Jesus. Most rarely, if ever, proclaim the Good News to others. For most, the closest thing they come to in proclaiming the Good News, is letting someone else know they’re a Christian. Then the next time they go to church, or small group, or at the family dinner table that night, they proudly state; “I shared my faith with someone today!” Did you now? In my eyes, telling someone your a Christian does not qualify as sharing your faith. 65% of adults in America call themselves Christian. Me telling someone that I am what 65% of what every other American adult claims to be, falls far short of proclaiming the Good News.

Like the disciples in this mornings passage, God has called us to obediently and boldly proclaim His message to others.

By the way, one of the reason it takes boldness to proclaim His message, is seen in Mark 6:12. Look at your copy of God’s Word, what do we see there that they were to proclaim? (Repentance). This has always been an unpopular message, and it seems it is even more unpopular in this day and age.

Wait, are you telling me that there is only one way to heaven?

In some ways that is part of the message of repentance. Those whom we share with frequently either don’t believe in God, or perhaps they follow the Coexist motto: Next Slide

As long as I am sincere in my belief in God, no matter what God that may be, God will honor my sincerity. If that is the case, then it was a waste of time for Jesus to die on the cross, actually it was more than a waste of time, it was stupid. I don’t know about you, but I am not about to call God stupid!

Here is what we need to understand for many in the world today, the view of the true believer is to narrow for their thinking and when we share with them that Jesus is the only way, that means we are calling them to repentance. Telling them they are headed the wrong way, the opposite way that they need to head. It takes boldness to share this message.

Of course repentance covers many other areas as well, but for this morning we will stop with this area.

The next key we see in this mornings passage is: Next Slide

They Were Sent Out to Learn Complete Dependance On God. Mark 6:8-9; Matthew 8:9-10; Luke 9:3

Talk about traveling light! Obviously these guys were not operating in Canady mode! When we go on a trip, we leave nothing behind, including the kitchen! Look at verses 8-9 at what they took! Clothes (but not two sets!), a staff, 1 and only 1 tunic (kinda like a light jacket). and 1 pair of sandals. That’s it, not even a little snack pack for the journey! They had to trust in God for absolutely everything!

Can I share with you an important lesson Pam and I have learned in our life of service to Jesus? Next Slide

Sometimes you have to say “Yes” to Jesus, before you learn how everything is going to happen.

We have learned this many times over the years, but one of the most significant was in 1995 when we knew God was leading us to a new location for me to serve as a Youth Pastor. Honestly, the only clear direction we had was we were to head west. So, we loaded up all of our possessions in a moving van, which included Me, Pam, Steven and our 2 dogs! And headed west! That was in April, about the beginning of June God clearly made His will known and we moved to Coos Bay OR and Hauser Community Church. And guess what, He took care of our every need for that 2 months. Meals, gas, cost of moving, a place to store our furniture, place to live....God took care of everything. You know what that experience taught Pam and me? We never have to worry when we are committed to serving Him and living for Him, NEVER. So, when it came time for us to commit to serving in Village Missions and we had to sign on the dotted line that we would be willing to go to any US field, we were able to do so without any worries. God had proved Himself faithful. In God’s graciousness, He sent us to Liberty Chapel.

Long before Pam and I learned this lesson, the disciples did, and as a result, in Acts 8 when the church was scattered by the persecution led by Saul of Tarsus, they knew they were in good hands, or better put, the were in God’s Hands.

The next key in this mornings passage we see in verses 14-29, when: Next Slide

Jesus Prepared Them For Suffering. Mark 6:14-29

While we already talked about Jesus preparing them for rejection, what we see in these verses goes well beyond rejection. I will not read this portion in its entirety right now. But let me take a couple minutes and sum it up for you.

The Herod in these verses is Herod Antipas. His father was Herod the Great, the one who had all the baby boys killed in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus birth. Herod Antipas was a regional monarch for that area Jesus and His disciples were in. Herod had many brothers, one of whom was named Philip. Herod ends up seducing his brother Philipps wife, she leaves Phillip to marry Herod. John the Baptist finds out about it and calls Herod on the carpet. Not exactly the best career move! Herod ends up throwing John in prison, but there was still something about John he really liked, so he didn’t put him to death. Fast forward a year of so and Herod throws a huge birthday bash for.......well for himself! At this birthday bash he has his 16 year old step daughter perform an erotic dance for he and his drunken buddies. She did so well that Herod told her; “Ask anything you want, up to half my kingdom, and I will give it to you.” The girl didn’t even know what to ask for so she goes to her mother, you know, the one who left her husband for his brother Herod. She sends her daughter back to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. This was the last thing Herod expected, and frankly, one of the last things he wanted to do. But to save face in front of his buddies, he complied.

Right now, your’e probably thinking, what does that have to do with the story of Jesus sending out the 12? And I understand that question. Yet here it is, smack dab in the middle of the story. Because right after this account of the death of John the Baptist, Mark goes back to the completion of our current story. And one thing we have learned about God through our time in His Word is, there is an important purpose behind everything He does. This account is here for a reason. In this instance, I believe the reason was to prepare His disciples for what they would experience after His ascension into heaven. You see, we learn in church history that every Apostle, except the Apostle John, died the death of a martyr. And the only reason John didn’t was because God miraculously preserved him. Tradition tells us that John was lowered into a boiling churn of oil, and didn’t so much as come out with a blister or even the smell of oil. Since they couldn’t kill him, he was sent to the Island of Patmos to live in isolation. It was there he penned the book of Revelation.

What we are seeing Jesus do here is prepare His disciples for their coming suffering.

This is good preparations for modern day believers as well. While this type of suffering may not be something we western Christians have to worry about, more people are dying because of their faith in Jesus in our day and age than at any point in history. Jesus wanted them and us to know, that He is always with us, even in the midst of suffering.

As we close out this morning passage, we find Jesus and the returning disciples hopping in a boat to sail off to a desolate place to rest and and talk about all they had done.

So, what are the application points for us this morning?

First, when we commit to obediently serving the Lord we can:

1. Expect rejection and even suffering.

2. If we are able, we should partner with someone else in serving the Lord, not trying to do it all alone.

3. God will never call us to do anything He will not enable us to do. We can always depend on Him.