Untitled Sermon

The Cost of Discipleship

Mark 6:6b-13

Introduction:

If you have your Bibles with you, please turn with me to Mark 6. Mark chapter 6.

You know, I grew up as the eldest of 5 kids in my household. And my parents always told me “Jesse, watch what you do, because little eyes are watching. And your little brother will follow your example before he follows ours. He looks up to you more than you know”. And I’d say “ya ya, okay mom, this is just one of your parenting tricks to make me obey you” and then I went about my day. But as I thought about it and watched my little brother, I started seeing how he mimicked me in my absence.

When I was a kid, I was a huge fan of StarWars. And as a result, I imagined that I had some pretty awesome lightsaber skills, and that I was adept at using the force. My friends and I would get together and shoot videos of us hitting each other with these glowing swords. We would take a handful of rolled-up socks and film ourselves throwing them in every which direction, so that when we reversed the video, it looked like we were pulling the socks to our hands with the force. And all the while, little eyes were watching – my little brother was observing and admiring what I was doing.

And so, on his own, my little brother started taking his friends aside and teaching them the ways of the force! He showed them how to properly hold a lightsaber, to defend and attack! He walked them through the process: first you start as a Padawan learner, and then eventually you graduate step by step until you become a Jedi master. And during one of his practise sessions with his friends, I heard screaming and walked into the hallway and my brother had his friend pinned down with his light saber, and the friend was begging for mercy, “please please!” My brother had disarmed his padewan and shown himself to be the superior Jedi Knight!

And at that moment, I realized. Wow, my love for StarWars drew him to pursue the ways of the force. My example inspired my brother to imitate me!

And like an older brother inspiring his younger brother to imitate him, in this text, we see Jesus CALLING the DISCIPLES to imitate his ministry. And Jesus isn’t just inspiring them like a brother – he is commanding them as their Lord. He sends the disciples out with his own authority, to cast out demons, to heal, and to preach the gospel of repentance.

In this text, we’re going to see the disciples imitate Jesus who is our perfect model of discipleship. Like Jesus, the earliest disciples 1) depended on God’s provision, 2) made disciples themselves, and 3) trusted in God’s power. That’s our model for discipleship, and that’s what this text is about, so let’s dig in together.

Hear now the Word of the Lord in Mark chapter 6, beginning in verse 6b.

This is God’s Holy, Inspired, and Inerrant Word.

Scripture:

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.

8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

In this text, we see that Jesus has made a new people for himself. These 12 disciples are the beginning of a NEW ISRAEL – like the 12 tribes in the Old Covenant. And this NEW ISRAEL is now defined by whether or not they IMITATE JESUS and HIS MINISTRY! And so Christ calls them to do – what he himself has been doing since the beginning of Mark. He calls them to go and push back the dominion of darkness with the kingdom of light. And AS DISCIPLES, there are 3 ways, in which Jesus calls them to do that. Jesus teaches us 3 things about OUR OWN discipleship.

First, we see that discipleship is about DEPENDENCE upon the Lord. Second, discipleship is about MAKING DISCIPLES. And third, it’s about the POWER OF GOD. Discipleship is about 1) DEPENDENCE, 2) MAKING DISCIPLES, and 3) THE POWER OF God.

That’s what this scripture is about, so let’s dig in together.

First, we see that discipleship is about

1) DEPENDENCE upon the Lord

As Jesus is teaching from village to village, he calls the Twelve over and sends them out two-by-two with HIS OWN AUTHORITY to push back the dominion of darkness – to cast out demons. And as Jesus commissions them, what is the first requirement our Lord gives to them?

Look with me at verses 8-9:

8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt.

Now at first glance, we wonder, what is going on here? Why does Jesus care about shirts and sandals, and not keeping money in your Fanny Pack? We’re not headed to the beach until September, and so how does that help you BE A DISCIPLE for the rest of the year? Well, in short, Jesus was teaching them a SPIRITUAL LESSON through these PHYSICAL signs. He was demonstrating for them – in a very tangible way – how to DEPEND upon the LORD! How to rely upon our Father in Heaven for everything that we need.

And how do I know that? Well, the disciples are commanded to take a BARE-MINIMUM of supplies, as they fulfill Jesus’ commission. They’re only to take a walking stick, sandals, and the clothes on their body. They’re not even permitted to take “2 undershirts” with them. One scholar says that,

“A tunic was a long, shirtlike undergarment that would be worn next to the skin.” (Strauss – 251).

They were even prohibited from bringing any food to eat, any bag to store belongings in, or any money for their “fanny packs” – their “belt-bags”. Jesus said, “take NOTHING EXTRA with you.” And why is that? Well, because he was teaching them a SPIRITUAL LESSON with this PHYSICAL SIGN. Jesus wanted them to RELY ON THE FATHER to provide all their needs. He wanted his disciples to DEPEND ON GOD ALONE, rather than their physical preparations.

Now does this mean that preparation or planning ahead is sinful, or carrying money in your fanny pack is sinful? Absolutely not – actually Jesus calls us to be shrewd stewards and wise investors in other texts. Rather Jesus is making a point here about looking to the Father with EYES OF FAITH to provide all their necessities.

One Bible Commentator named Mark Strauss says this:

“The central message is clear: they must travel light, unencumbered by the things of the world, trusting in God and depending on the hospitality of others…” (Strauss – 251)

And that’s what verse 10 says as well. It says:

10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town.

And so, although the disciples must rely upon GOD for their provisions, Jesus says, “listen, God’s going to provide for you THROUGH THE HOSPITALITY of those who receive your ministry.”

And that’s often how the early church ministered to one another – they would meet in their homes and provide for one another’s physical needs. God says, “listen, I’m going to provide for you THROUGH this human means of hospitality.” You know, often times when we pray, we feel that if God is going to answer, he needs to send us a miraculous provisions like he did for Elijah, when God sent ravens to bring him bread and meat in the morning and evenings. But according to this verse, God delights to provide for his people through REGULAR, ORDINARY, MEANS – through the hospitality of those who receive the gospel.

Because that’s always been God’s plan: He BLESSES people to be a blessing TO HIS PEOPLE.

Now, let’s pause there for a minute. If you’re a careful bible reader, you’re probably asking yourself right now, “how should we apply this text?” Does this scripture apply to EVERY CHRISTIAN in general? Does it apply to all PASTORS in general? Or to MISSIONARIES in specific? Or to PIONEER MISSIONARIES, who enter exceptional spiritual darkness that has never met the light of the gospel before? How should we apply this text? Who is this scripture FOR?

Well one of the rich features of the Word of God, is that this text DIRECTLY APPLIES to these disciples in THEIR SPECIFIC CONTEXT, and it GENERALLY APPLIES to ALL OF US in PRINCIPLE. Jesus told his followers in this SPECIFIC PIONEER MISSIONARY CIRCUMSTANCE to take nothing with them. And I believe that this was a 1-time physical sign to teach them to rely on God. Why do I think that? Well, because in John 12, Jesus allowed Judas to be the treasurer and to carry the money bag of the group, which was forbidden here. And so, this scenario was obviously not STANDARD or NORMATIVE PRACTICE. In Luke 16, Jesus calls us to be SHREWD STEWARDS – to prepare for the future. And in 1 Timothy 5, Paul calls the church to PAY some of their pastors, as they labor in the ministry.

And so how should we apply this command from Jesus in this UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCE to our own lives?

Well, the MAIN PRINCIPLE underlying Jesus’ command CONTINUES TO APPLY for EVERY CHRISTIAN. It’s to TRUST IN THE LORD – and to DEPEND UPON HIM ALONE – rather than the “extras” we have in this world. So often in our western culture, we become enamoured by the fleeting things that this world offers us. And we set our hearts and thoughts upon obtaining possessions and accruing “THINGS”. And these things which are GOOD in and of themselves – they even may be GIFTS from God –often become distractions from the MAIN THING. Which is what? INVESTING OUR LIVES in what counts for ETERNITY!

Friends, there are no U-HAULS behind HURSES. You can’t bring your STUFF with you, when you die. In the words of my wife Bethany, “There is NOTHING IN THIS WORLD you can take with you into heaven, except HUMAN SOULS!”

Friends, what are the SHINY THINGS in your life that cause you to LOOSE FOCUS on eternity? What are the pursuits of your heart that are ORIENTED towards the things of this world, rather than to God’s kingdom purposes of WINNING SOULS and DISCIPLING them to present them as a pure and blameless bride before Jesus on the last day? We are called to depend upon GOD alone, which means treasuring the same things that GOD’S HEART TREASURE.

You know over the last 2 weeks, I told Bethany, “Man, it would be really nice to get a new electric guitar. And I think I may have been inspired by a couple of my fellow musicians in this room – who’ve gotten new instruments lately (which are awesome). I have this old heavy-metal-looking guitar, which my previous pastor used to tell me ‘tongue-in-cheek’ it was my ‘Satan Guitar.’” I got it when I was 16, and I thought it was super cool. And so, 2 weeks ago, I thought man – it’d be nice to update my instrument. And so, what did I do? At night, I started pulling up guitar center on my phone and flipping through all the possible options that I could choose from. I gazed at an ARRAY of shiny guitars, and I’m like “Bethany, check this out, this one looks awesome!” And before I knew it, I had spent multiple HOURS gazing at guitars. And for a couple nights in a row, I’d keep pulling up guitar center on my phone, and I’m like, “wow look at all these shiny instruments!” And before I knew it, I had WASTED READING TIME for SPIRITUAL GROWTH at night, because I was enamoured by these guitars! The shiny and GOOD things of this world DREW MY GAZE AWAY from eternal things.

And when I read this text, this week, I felt like the Lord hit me between the eyes. I have been TOO FOCUSED on GUITARS at night, and I need to get RE-FOCUSED on the growth Jesus has for me as a CHRISTIAN.Because before I’m anything else – before I’m a pastor or an elder or a husband or a Father – I’m a child of God, and I need to spend time with my heavenly Father, and growing with the tools he’s given me. And so, I’ve had to strip “guitar center” out of my nightly routine – because it’s become a DISTRACTION.

And so, I don’t know if you are enamoured by shiny guitars like I am, or if it’s sports, or there is some other shiny thing in your life. I don’t know what GRABS YOUR GAZE in this world – and takes up your time. But whatever it is – like the disciples – would you resolve to STRIP THOSE DISTRACTIONS out of your life? So that you can focus, UNDISTRACTED on eternal things?

Let’s not be POSSESSED by our POSSESSIONS, but let’s make our possessions SERVE the mission and ministry Christ gave us. Let’s engineer our lifestyles to SERVE an ETERNAL FOCUS – so that everything bends towards that singular priority! So that on the last day, when we stand before God, he will look at how our INVESTMENT of TIME, TALENT, and TREASURE, and say, “well done, good and faithful servant.” Your life has SERVED ME during your SHORT, VAPOUR’S BREATH of a life, on earth.

And so, do you need to CUT SOME THINGS OUT of your life, to train yourself to depend on God and focus on God, rather than on your resources. Do you need to cultivate a simpler lifestyle?

For others of us, does that mean,: when the Lord blesses you, you don’t increase your STANDARD OF LIVING; rather you increase your standard of GIVING?

For others of us, does that mean cutting some things out of your schedule, to make time for eternal things? For welcoming your brothers and sisters in Christ, into your home and to praying for them and speaking God’s word to them.

Because, first, we learn that discipleship is about DEPENDENCE upon God. It’s about FOCUSING ON HIM for what we need.

Second, we learn that discipleship is about:

2) MAKING DISCIPLES

Look with me at verse 12. It says:

12 They went out and preached that people should repent.

So, the 12 disciples DECLARED a message to these local villages. And that message centered around REPENTANCE. They proclaimed the same message that John the Baptist and Jesus preached at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, who cried out, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Often we talk about the gospel, and we rightly call people to BELIEVE UPON JESUS CHRIST, to be saved. We rightly call people to trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. But here we see the flip side of belief, like the flip side of a coin; we see that BELIEF IN CHRIST, always implies REPENTANCE. That is, turning away from your sins. Turning your back on the ways in which you’re rebelling against God and transgressing his word. It means getting broken about breaking God’s law, it means grieving over your sin. Jesus told us in Matthew 5, “blessed are the POOR IN SPIRIT, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven.” Why is that? Because being POOR IN SPIRIT is the heart of repentance. It’s realizing your spiritual bankruptcy before God; that you have NO RIGHTEOUSNESS in your bank account – no goodness in yourself that can commend you to God. That you are SPIRITUALLY NEEDY, in your sin.

And that’s the opposite of easy-believism, isn’t it? There’s a movement called “free grace” theology (which should really be called “cheap grace” in Bonhoeffer’s words). And they will tell you that salvation comes APART FROM REPENTANCE! They say that the bible calls us to BELIEVE upon Jesus to be saved, but REPENTANCE IS NOT REQUIRED. They say that “Jesus can be YOUR SAVIOR without also being YOUR LORD”. But of course, that directly contradicts Jesus, John the Baptist, and now Jesus’ own disciples (and the rest of the Bible for that matter). Look with me at verse 12. What is the first thing that comes out of these disciples’ mouths when they preach the gospel? Verse 12 says,

“they… preached that people should [what?...] repent!”

Why? Because the true gospel always includes repentance.

We remember Peter’s famous sermon in Acts 2, through which God saved 3000 people. Peter cried out, “

Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.

And so, church, the gospel has ALWAYS BEEN about repentance. It’s always been about turning from your sin, and following Jesus on a new path. That is true on the first day of walking with Jesus, and that is true EVERY DAY AFTER THAT. REPENTANCE is a 24/7, 365 days-a-year kind of thing. After we enter the narrow gate of repentance and faith, we’re called to now walk a narrow path of repentance and faith. We’re called to put our hands to the plow and not look back to embrace our former worldliness. And we’re called to put to death the deeds of the flesh – which is our remaining sinful nature. Jesus said in Matthew 16:24:

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his crossand follow me.

You see, that is a daily act of self-denial; to take up our crosses on our backs to CRUCIFY our SINFUL DESIRES and to choose– by God’s grace – to follow Jesus’ commands.

We’re reminded of Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the Tax collector in Luke 18. The pharisee was praying LOUD AND PROUD and PUBLICALLY. He’s like, “God I thank you that I am not like other people – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” Essentially he says, “I am SCRUPULOUS in following your law. Thank you God for how RIGHTEOUS and AWESOME I am!” And then the tax collector is so humbled and grieved by his sin, that he cannot even lift his eyes to heaven. And so the tax collector beat his breast and said, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” And who did Jesus say went home justified that day? It was the REPENTANT MAN.

Friends, that’s what REAL repentance looks like. It’s not just an outward recognition that you’ve sinned, it’s an inward grief that YOU ARE A SINNER! That you are the SOURCE of YOUR SIN. This man didn’t say, “be merciful to me, a good man, who sinned once.” No, he said “be merciful TO ME, A SINNER.” He knew that his heart was the wellspring of the sin in his life. He rightly saw HIMSELF as the problem. And like David he knew that his sin was ultimately against God alone. In Psalm 51, David said, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.” He saw that HIS SIN was ultimately against the God who’s law he broke

Beloved, do you want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? Then you need to have THAT KIND of repentance in your life. That call to repentance is right at the HEART of Gospel of Jesus Christ. If the gospel doesn’t produce REPENTANCE in your life, then you haven’t truly received the GOSPEL. Because when the gospel seed is sown, the roots sink deep down and always produce the FRUITS of repentance. Your SAVIOR Jesus Christ is now your LORD whom you obey – you are no longer a slave to sin, but a slave to righteousness (you have a better master). And so, let’s make war on remaining sin in our lives.

That was the call to repentance the Jesus proclaimed, his followers proclaimed, and that call to repentance should be part of the GOSPEL CONTENT YOU ARE SHARING when you share the gospel with your unbelieving friends and coworkers.

But if you are faithful to share the gospel, you will quickly find that the call to REPENTANCE is deeply offensive.

Repentance tells you, you don’t measure up. It tells you that you are unworthy. It tells you that you need grace, and that you are not good in and of yourself. You are not commendable to God. It tells you that you are coated in the ugliness of your sin. But gloriously, that gospel doesn’t leave you there. That gospel has the power to wash you over that sin, clothe you in the righteousness of Christ, who DOES measure up to God. To cloth you in the worthiness of Christ, and to fill you with the grace to walk in the obedience which is impossible for you to do on your own.

And when we strive to make disciples – through sharing our faith – often times we will be rejected like Jesus was rejected. Jesus was ultimately abandoned by all the crowds – even abandoned by his own disciples when he was betrayed by Judas to be crucified – even denied 3 times by his lead disciple Peter. Rejection is a BIG PART of evangelism – it was for Jesus, and it was for his 12 disciples.

And so when the disciples entered a new region to share the gospel, Jesus gave them some instructions for when that gospel was WHOLESALE REJECTED by all the people. He said:

11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

Shaking dust off of your feet was an ancient custom of the Jewish people. When the jews would travel among pagan lands, as they were crossing over into their Holy Land, they would shake the dust off of their sandals. They would shake off the dust of the UNCLEAN PAGAN LANDS as they entered into their HOLY LAND

And likewise, Jesus now applies this common practice to the Kingdom of God. When an entire people reject the Holy Gospel of God, the disciples must shake the dust off their feet towards them, as a testimony of judgement against those people. A testimony that these people remain in their uncleanness as pagans who have rejected the one true and living God.

Beloved, Jesus sent out the disciples with the EXPECTATION that some people were going to reject them – in fact that entire regions would reject them. But he still called them to faithfully share the gospel. That is a difficult and often DISCOURAGING reality in evangelism. That was actually the ENTIRE MINISTRY of Jeremiah. God promised Jeremiah in Jeremiah 7, that he would prophecy to Israel, and NO ONE WOULD LISTEN TO HIM. But God called him to be faithful to share the Word of the Lord anyway.

Because that’s what true disciples do. They MAKE DISCIPLES. And so what disciples are you making in your own life? How is God using you to teach men or women who are YOUNGER in the faith. Are you sharing the gospel and seeking to strengthen other brothers with the word? Because real disciples MAKE DISCIPLES.

And moreover, that REPENTANCE should be right at the HEART of the GOSPEL PREACHING you sit under. If you’re listening to preaching or preachers who make you feel warm and fuzzy all the time, and who blow sunshine at you, and never highlight how you need to REPENT OF YOUR SINS, and get HOLY before your Holy GOD, then – let me say this in the most loving way possible – you are listening to CHARLATAN who is peddling a FALSE GOSPEL. The Gospel here in Mark 6 is a gospel of REPENTANCE, not a gospel of HEALTH AND WEALTH and PROSPERITY, and EAR-TICKLING. This Gospel didn’t promise it’s hearers, “your best life now” or “every day a Friday,” or “a private Jet,” or “sow a seed into my ministry and reap an abundance in your life.” No, this ministry promised its followers a CROSS, and a CRUCIFIED SAVIOR to follow.

One of the best investments any Christian can ever make is to find a SOLID CHURCH – that teaches the TRUE GOSPEL – that CALLS OUT SIN – that MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE at times – and to INVEST 100% in that community. And to place your family under that kind of teaching. Because if you want the gospel to transform you – and perhaps by God’s grace – even your family, then you need to sit under God’s TRANSFORMATIVE WORD. The Word of God does the Work of God. Whatever messenger is up here – whatever monkey gets in the pulpit – make sure that you are sitting under BIBLE-SATURATED, EXPOSITIONAL PREACHING. Expositional comes from the word “expose,” and so expositional means “EXPOSING THE MEANING OF THE TEXT.” Typically, that should be done VERSE-by-VERSE, PARAGRAPH by PARAGRAPH, CHAPTER BY CHAPTER and BOOK BY BOOK through the bible. And sometimes that can be done TOPICALLY – although topical preaching when done (when done right) – is actually harder that verse-by-verse preaching, because you need to expose not just one text, but many texts all over the bible, all within their respective contexts.

Friends, true disciples MAKE DISCIPLES. Are you making disciples in your life?

And lastly, we see that discipleship is about:

3) The Power of God

We can see, in this text, that Mark highlights Jesus’ initial command to cast out demons. When Mark recollects what Jesus commanded his disciples, he only mentions exorcising demons at the outset, even though – later on – the disciples are sharing the gospel and healing sick people.

Why does Mark do that? Why does Mark emphasize the disciples’ ministry of POWER, whereby they exorcise demons?

Well because Mark wants us to see – God wants us to see – that the disciples’ ministry is FULL OF the power of God and the LIGHT OF GOD which pressed back the forces of darkness in the world. Jesus’ ministry is OVERCOMING the sway of the devil over the world. Jesus’ kingdom is already arriving in the gospel and in the new gospel community he is establishing. Through both Jesus’ ministry – and now the ministry of the disciples – the forces of darkness are overwhelmed and overpowered – they are CAST OUT.

Jesus is the STRONGER MAN who binds the STRONG MAN and overcomes him the power of the Holy Spirit. And now Jesus has passed on this authority to his disciples, so that when they preach, the same Holy Spirit of God empowers them to likewise drive out demons.

And just as Jesus granted his authority to the 12 disciples, and then to the 72 disciples (in Luke 10), to proclaim his word, we should likewise realize that Jesus empowers US NOW to proclaim his Word to ONE ANOTHER, and to those who do not yet know Jesus. And those SAME GOSPEL WORDS possess the SAME life-transforming power that they always have, because they stem from a powerful God. The same Holy Spirit who filled Jesus without measure, now fills us in measure.

Beloved, is your confidence in the power of Gospel? Do you still believe that the WORD OF GOD does the WORK OF GOD in the lives of those who hear it? Because Romans 1:16 says,

“16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

And so, beloved, don’t fear calling people to repent! Christ is with you! Like these disciples, there is not one instance where you share the gospel, where his entire authority is not behind it. Believe that! You are sharing HIS Word, not your own.

A friend once gave me some wise advice, he said,

“We can proclaim the gospel because we have been delegated authority, by the one who has all authority. We can call people to obedience because we have been commissioned by the one, who commands all obedience.”

Believe that, friends! Know that! See and savor – know and treasure – that truth, that your savior will not leave you on your own. He does not leave any of his soldiers behind on the battlefield. He’s a good general; he’s a good savior, and he is a powerful ally who sticks even closer than a brother. He will EMPOWER YOU as you DEPEND UPON GOD and MAKE DISCIPLES.

And ultimately we can take confidence in Christ, because – even where we have failed to be faithful disciples – Jesus succeeded on our behalf. And he was not just the MODEL DISCIPLE who stands as a perfect standard to CRUSH US, rather he was the model disciple IN OUR PLACE. He obeyed the Father perfectly, FOR US, on OUR BEHALF. He followed the Father’s commands right down to the dot of the I and the cross of the t. So that when the Father looks at us, he now sees us clothed in the righteous robes of his Son, and he proclaims over us, “my son, in whom I am WELL-PLEASED.”

And then after living a perfectly obedient life of reliance upon the Father, he died a perfectly obedient death on the cross. He perfectly depended upon the Father for everything he needed and he perfectly made disciples. And even to this day, from heaven Son of Man empowers his church to push back the darkness with the light of the kingdom, and he still empowers his disciples. Because Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth. And he promised us that the gates of hell will not prevail against his church.

Because Jesus’ obedience was not FOR HIM; it was FOR US (for his children). Because Jesus is our EMPOWERMENT for discipleship. And Jesus is HIMSELF the Gospel.

Let’s pray.