Limiting Ourselves and God: Daily Thoughts from Mark (Mark 6:7-13)

Jesus had just experienced unbelief in his hometown.  Those who were most familiar with him, or so they thought, could not accept that he was being used by God in amazing ways.  The corollary of that kind of thinking is to also doubt that we normal people can carry on the same work Jesus was doing.  Only super people can be heroes, not us.  Jesus challenges and disproves that kind of thinking.

And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 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.” So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them. (Mark 6:7-13, ESV)

Jesus’ disciples, specifically the twelve whom he designated as apostles, are sent out in pairs, not as loners, to do just what Jesus has been doing.  He gives them His authority to cast out demons and heal, and they are to preach the message of repentance in light of the kingdom’s coming.  Instead of provisioning themselves for the journey they are to rely on the provision of God through those people who do repent.  When they find such people who are open to the message and who offer them hospitality, they are to stay at their house and not move around from place to place.  Jesus may be discouraging them from falling prey to those who want to influence them.  The ones who initially received them are more likely sincere.  If no one wants to receive them they are to symbolize the danger that community is in by shaking the dust off their feet.

In Mark Jesus is represented as saying that they should take nothing but a staff (a walking stick) with them but in Matthew and Luke he is represented as saying they should not take a staff.  The ESV Study Bible note says, “Various explanations have been proposed to reconcile these words with Matt. 10:9–10 and Luke 9:3. The best solution is probably that in Matthew and Luke Jesus tells the disciples not to acquire a new staff or sandals for their journey, but in Mark he adds that they can take the sandals and staff they already have (see note on Matt. 10:9–10). Some interpreters have proposed that the disciples were permitted to take a walking staff while the staff prohibited in Matt. 10:10 and Luke 9:3 was for self-defense.”

What is extraordinarily wonderful about this passage is that Jesus is not intending to keep his work and power to himself, but is training his followers to do what he is doing.  He is taking the message of the kingdom to all people and his followers are being commissioned to do likewise.  And yes, we are not Jesus, but just like Jesus we are able to depend on the Holy Spirit to do what he did.  Jesus told his disciples elsewhere, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).

Are you limiting yourself unnecessarily?  Are you limiting God?