Spreading the Gospel

⁷ And He (Jesus) called His Twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil (unclean, impure) spirits. ⁸ He told them to take nothing for their journey, except a walking stick — no food, no traveler’s bag, no money. ⁹ He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes. ¹⁰ “Wherever you go,” He said, “stay in the same house until you leave town. ¹¹ But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” ¹² So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. ¹³ And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil. Mark 6:7-13 (NLT)

After leaving His hometown of Nazareth, Jesus once again went from village to village teaching the people about God (Mark 6:6; see also Matthew 9:35; Mark 1:14, 38-39; Luke 13:22). In this new preaching tour, Jesus begins to shift responsibility to His disciples (faithfully followers or believers). Jesus had no intention of being a solo artist in God the Father’s work. Rather from the outset of His public ministry, Jesus called a select group of faithful disciples as His representatives to continue His ministry (see Mark 1:16-20; Mark 3:13-19; Mark 4:10-12).

Jesus called His Twelve disciples together and commissioned (sent) them out on a mission two by two (in pairs) (Mark 6:7; see also Luke 10:1). The practice of sending out disciples two by two was recommended in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 19:15; Ecclesiastes 4:9-10) and continued by the early church (e.g., see Acts 13:2; Acts 15:27, 39-40; Acts 17:14; Acts 19:22). “Two are better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9). Jesus sent His disciples out in pairs (twosomes) because pairs are always easier and safer for servants to travel and work together.

This mission marked the beginning of the disciples’ “solo” mission in Jesus’ Name and a new phase in Jesus’ ministry. The Twelve had been ordained by Jesus some months before (see also Mark 3:14-15; Luke 6:13-16) and had been traveling with Jesus as His helpers. Now, Jesus was going to send the Twelve out in pairs (Mark 6:7) to have their ministry and to put into practice what they had learned. Essentially, the disciples’ mission was a continuation of Jesus’ ministry (mission) of healing, preaching, teaching, and casting out demons (e.g., see Matthew 4:17, 23-25; Matthew 9:35; Mark 1:32-34; Mark 3:10-12; Mark 5:8; Luke 4:40-41, 43; see also Matthew 10:7-8; Mark 6:12-13; Luke 9:6). Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God and His disciples (faithful followers) were to continue the same good and compassionate ministry of Jesus after He returned to God the Father (see Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:46-49; John 20:21-23; Acts 1:8).

In the disciples’ first assignment, Jesus gave His disciples power and authority to cast out demons – evil, unclean and impure spirits (Mark 6:7). The Gospels of Matthew and Luke also state that Jesus gave the Twelve power and authority not only to cast out evil (unclean and impure) spirits but also authority and power to heal every kind of disease and illness (Matthew 10:1, 8; Luke 9:1-2). The power and authority over evil spirits and disease clearly signaled the in-breaking of God’s Kingdom on earth. Also, the disciples’ ability to heal every kind of disease and illness and cast out demons were special signs, wonders, and miracles that authenticated their ministry (see also Mark 16:20; Romans 15:18-19; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:1-4). Nonetheless, miracles alone are not proof that a person is truly sent of God, for Satan can empower his false and dishonest ministers to do these amazing signs, wonders, and miracles (e.g., see Matthew 24:24; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).

But the most important mission Jesus gave His disciples was that of preaching or proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God (Mark 6:12; Luke 9:6). The Kingdom of God means God’s rule and reign. The disciples preached the Good News of God’s Kingdom, called on sinners to repent of their sins and turn to God, and healed many who were sick (see Mark 6:12-13; Luke 9:6). The Kingdom of God and repentance was also Jesus’ main point of teaching (e.g., see Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:4, 14-15; Luke 9:11). In His first public sermon, Jesus proclaimed, “The time promised by God has come at last . . . .  The Kingdom of God is near (arrived)! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” (Mark 1:14-15 NLT). Jesus’ teaching and preaching focused on the Kingdom of God, the need for repentance, and belief (trust) in the Gospel of God (Mark 1:14-15). With the arrival of Jesus, the Kingdom of God had come (Mark 1:15). The only response to the arrival of God’s Kingdom was to repent and trust (believe) in the glorious Good News (Gospel) of the Kingdom of God. Like the Old Testament prophets and John the Baptist, God’s unique Son Jesus also preached the necessity of repentance (Matthew 3:2, 8, 11; Matthew 4:17; see also e.g., Hosea 3:4-5; Joel 2:12-17; Amos 5:4-6, 14-15). Repentance mean wholeheartedly turning our hearts and minds away from sins and genuinely seeking God. Now, the Kingdom of God and repentance would be preached by Jesus’ disciples. Turning from sin and exchanging confidence in human systems of rules to trust and dependence on God is the entrance requirement into God's Kingdom. We must turn from our sin to salvation!

God’s Kingdom is the Good News (Gospel)! It was good news to the Jews because they had been awaiting the promised Messiah ever since the Babylonian captivity. Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah (Christ), and He embodied the Kingdom of God. Moreover, the Kingdom of God was good news for Gentiles (non-Jews) also because God’s Kingdom means forgiveness of their sins and eternal life in Jesus (John 3:16; John 10:10). God’s Kingdom is here and now because the Holy Spirit lives in the hearts of every believer of Jesus (Luke 17:20-21). The Kingdom of God is also in the future because God’s Kingdom will finally be completed at Jesus’ Second Coming in His glory. At Jesus’ Second Coming, God’s Kingdom will be finalized. Then evil will be destroyed, and all people will live in peace with one another.

Jesus sent the Twelve with instructions to take nothing with them except their walking sticks — no food, no knapsack (beggar’s bag or traveler’s bag), no money, not even an extra pair of shoes or a change of clothes (Mark 6:8-9; see also Matthew 10:9-10; Luke 9:3-5). Jesus wanted His disciples to be adequately supplied, but not to the point of ceasing to live by faith. Essentially, Jesus’ commands made His disciples totally dependent on God to open up homes for their hospitality. Jesus forced His disciples to rely and trust God's power and not their provision. The disciples were to trust in God’s care and goodness and the hospitality of others rather than in their own resources (Matthew 10:10; see also Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 1:8). Even more, the disciples were not to beg for either food or money. Instead, Jesus equipped His disciples for the journey and provided all their funds and necessities during their mission trip. Jesus promised to be with His disciples (see also Matthew 18:20; Matthew 28:20; John 14:26; Acts 18:10). Ironically, the four items required of the Twelve – staff, belt, sandals, and one tunic – are in fact identical to the belongings that God instructed the Israelites to take on their flight from Egypt (see Exodus 12:11). The Twelve disciples and the ancient Israelites were to be wholly DEPENDENT UPON GOD (see Matthew 6:25-34).

Then, Jesus instructed the Twelve to “stay at one home in each village — do not shift around from house to house while you are there” (Mark 6:10, The Living Bible). Also, Jesus told His disciples “whenever a village will not accept you or listen to you, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave; it is a sign that you have abandoned it to its fate” (Mark 6:11, The Living Bible). Thus, Jesus’ disciples ministered from place to place as they encountered both hospitality and hostility, both friends and enemies. Jesus cautioned His disciples to stay at one house in each community and not to “pick and choose.” After all, Jesus’ disciples were there to be profitable servants living with contentment, not pampered guests during their journey (Mark 6:10; see also Matthew 10:11-15; Luke 9:3-4). Jesus’ disciples willingly obeyed Jesus. Jesus made it clear that the listeners were responsible for what they did with the Gospel (Good News) (Mark 6:11). If a house or a village did not receive them, Jesus’ disciples had His permission to declare God's judgment on those people. Jesus’ disciples were not to blame if the message was rejected, as long as they had faithfully and obediently presented the Gospel message.

The Twelve casted out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil (Mark 6:13). Casting out demons and healing the sick were similar works of Jesus’ ministry that now Jesus’ disciples were continuing (Mark 1:34). Olive oil was sometimes used medicinally, and in the Old Testament it was often associated with divine commissioning. Thus, olive oil was a useful symbol in prayer for healing (James 5:14-16).

³⁰ The apostles gathered around Jesus and told Him about all the things they had done and taught. ³¹ Crowds of people were coming and going so that Jesus and His followers did not even have time to eat. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves, and we will go to a lonely place to get some rest.” Mark 6:30-31 (NCV)

After Jesus’ apostles had returned from their preaching and healing mission trip, they told Jesus about all they had done and taught (Mark 6:30). The disciples obeyed Jesus’ calling, and He blessed their ministry as He had promised. The Gospel of Mark uses the word “apostles” at Mark 6:30-31 and also at Mark 3:14. Apostle means “one sent” as a messenger, authorized agent, or missionary. Jesus’ Twelve disciples officially became known as apostle after His death, resurrection, and ascension (Acts 1:25-26; Ephesians 2:20). Jesus instructed the apostles to go off by themselves to a quiet place and rest awhile (Mark 6:31). Jesus said this because so many people were coming and going that Jesus and His apostles did not even have time to eat (Mark 6:31). The apostles’ mission of preaching and healing had been demanding, and they all needed time alone for physical and spiritual renewal and rest.

¹⁸ He (Jesus) told His disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and earth. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you; and be sure of this — that I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” Matthew 28:18-20 (TLB)

References

Disciple's Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible, 1988).

King James Version Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1988).

KJV Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1994).

Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Edwards, James R. The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2002).

Loyd, Melton, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament. Due West Campus: Erskine Theological Seminary, 2015.

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary (Victor Books, 1989).