Lesson 27


The Gospel According to Mark

World English Bible translation

 Today's Scripture

He went around the villages teaching. 6:7 He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 6:8 He charged them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse, 6:9 but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics. 6:10 He said to them, "Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there. 6:11 Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"


Today's Lesson 

Jesus had left the area of Capernaum because of the multitude there that was following Him around. He had told His disciples that He wanted to go around to all the cities of Galilee and teach. His first stop was Nazareth. Yesterday we read how Jesus said that a prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and his own home. In Today's Scripture we see Jesus setting out to send the Twelve to all of the cities of the area and the preparations that He took before sending the out.

 

Jesus sends out the Twelve apostles and He gives them instructions on what they are to do as they visit each city. They are to go out, two by two. In this way they are accountable to one another. He gave them authority over unclean spirits and tells them what they are to take with them on their journey. Basically, they are to take nothing but their own clothes: no money, no bread and no extra clothing. These instructions are meant to make the Twelve realize that God would provide for them while they were on their journey. They needed to bring nothing else with them because God would see to their provisioning.

 

He also gave them a stern warning. He told them that whoever rejected their message would face dire consequences. "Assuredly, I tell you it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!" This was in order to emphasis the importance of their mission to the apostles. They were being sent out on serious matters.

 

In the same way, Christ sends out His people even now. We have been given authority through the Holy Spirit to work and to act in the name of Christ. We need bring nothing with us on this journey that God has given us. Everything that we need, God will provide. And the consequences of our mission are just as dire as the one that the Twelve were sent on. The salvation of the world depends on how people respond to the followers of Jesus Christ. We are the only hope for a dying world.

 

You may not feel adequate to the task that God has assigned. In reality, there is no question that you are not adequate at all. On our own, we are wholly inadequate. But so were the Twelve when Jesus sent them out. God does not depend on the strength of His people. Instead, He tells us to depend solely on His power. We are sent out into the world with little more than the clothes on our backs. Yet, we are well provided for because God is on our side. God provisions us and strengthens us. God will not allow us to fail in His work.

 

Are you prepared to go forth in the name of the Lord? Are you ready to do what must be done? Do you expect the Lord to provide for you?

 

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