Sermon Notes: Mark 6:7-13
Mark’s Big Idea: Jesus is the divine Son of God and the suffering servant Messiah who inaugurates the kingdom of God, who atones for sin through his death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus calls his people to a costly discipleship of self-denial and suffering with purpose and joy.
The Big Idea of Mark 6:7-13: Jesus begins the sending of his church and he focuses at this point on HOW he sends his people more than what they are to do because they have already been taught what to do.
Author: John Mark
Audience: Gentiles who are being told the good news of the kingdom of Jesus.
Followers of Jesus who are growing up into maturity in Christ and learning how to live under the rule of his increasing kingdom on earth as in heaven.
Occasion: Mark, as Peter’s missionary helper, is writing a gospel “tract” for use on the field as they preach the good news to Gentiles.
Genre: Overall, historical biography.
Key words/phrases:
“Called” (middle voice – reciprocal middle – capturing the interaction between Jesus and the twelve)
“Began to send (apostle)” (present infinitive. Infinitive is a verbal noun – captures how the action is accomplished). There are two verbs connected grammatically here. The whole construction of two verbs in the infinitive functions as the main verb and thus the main point. This is the opening operation that will culminate in the sending of the whole church in the GC. Thus, we can learn something of HOW we are to get after the GC.
“two by two”
“gave them authority”
“charged” (announced) – the announcement is about what to take and not to take: take a staff, belt, the cloak they are wearing, and sandals. Don’t take food, bag for supplies, or money.
“went” / “proclaimed” / “cast out” / “anointed-healed” /
Lists:
Take: staff, belt, cloak they are wearing, sandals (shoes)
Don’t take: bread (food), bag (extra clothing), money. This operation was a short-term operation.
NOTE: Jesus will amend their supply list as they approach the GC. Luke records this evolution in the mission in Luke 22:35-36: Luke 22:35-36 (ESV) 35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” 36 He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.
Contrasts/Comparisons:
Contrast – This trip contrasted with previous trips: Jesus is not with them this time.
Comparison – This trip compared to previous trips: They are to do the same thing that Jesus has done, and they have observed him doing. Remember Mark 3:14-15: Mark 3:14-15 (ESV) 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons.
Expressions of time:
“Began” v. 7 This is part of the main verb and indicates the time has come for “apostle’ing”. Apostle is not just a cool title they get to have on their website. Apostle is a function of gospel advance.
“Whenever” v. 10 In regard to the timeline of receiving hospitality. They would not know what it was like for Jesus to put it into someone’s heart to partner with them if they did not go first. So, whenever they go, they get to see Jesus provide. If they don’t go, they won’t see that kind of provision.
“When” v. 11 In regard to what to do upon being rejected. Gospel rejection only happens after the good news is communicated. If it is never communicated there is no “when” of being rejected.
Terms of conclusion/Purpose clauses:
“So” v. 12 Is the result of Jesus calling and beginning to send the sent ones. They were called and sent, so they went.
This is totally logical and makes sense to the point if feels a little foolish to have to say it. YET, we must not miss it or assume it.
If we are in Christ Jesus, we have been called and sent. So, are we going in the way Jesus instructed?
What does the text say?
The time has come and Jesus has called together the twelve “sent ones” who are to be the model for the mission he is building his church to accomplish with his help by the Spirit.
Jesus initiates the work. Jesus begins the keeping of the promise made long ago as he is preparing to go to the cross, be killed, be buried, pay for sin, rise, and ascend to send a whole body of Abraham’s descendants by faith modeled after Genesis 12:1-3 to the work of seeing all nations freed from the grip of the kingdom of darkness to repent and believe the good news.
Jesus gives the twelve his authority for the work and he charges them about how to go do the work. He tells them what to take and what not to take. Jesus gives them instructions on how to reside when provided hospitality in partnership. Jesus gives instructions on what to do when a place will not receive and listen to them.
Having been called together and charged, the twelve go and do exactly what Jesus has been modeling for them to do as they proclaim the good news, cast out demons, and anoint / heal those who are sick.
Interpretation: What does the text mean?
NOTE: John Mark’s precise account of Jesus’ calling and sending the twelve apostles before his triumph on the cross (death, burial, resurrection, and ascension) should serve as a demonstration of the surety of the mission God has designed for us to partner with him in.
The mission is not a bet on a 50/50 chance Jesus overcomes in this fight.
Father, Son, and Spirit designed the work of the good news according to the laws of his kingdom, created a world for us to live and thrive in that operates on those laws, called us to inhabit his world for our joy and his glory, took the blow of the rebellion, and enacted his good news plan from Genesis 3 on, and calls us to join him in that work.
We should be confident in the certainty of the good news and in our calling to preach it as Jesus instructed, because we do so with his authority.
This pre-cross mission should build our confidence.
NOTE: Jesus did not ask them to get creative here. They didn’t need a brainstorming session on best strategies to do the work of the kingdom. Jesus tells them HOW to do the work.
He modeled for them what to do (Mark 3:14-15), and his point to them in the text today is HOW they are to do the work he has been modeling.
We have abundant texts ahead on what they did and what we are to do in preaching the gospel, dealing with demons, and healing.
Let’s let the emphasis of the text be our emphasis today.
How are the apostles supposed to be on mission?
1. They are to travel and work two by two.
Jesus prescribes that his work to be done in fellowship. Jesus does not want his people working in isolation.
Father, Son, Spirit never operate in isolation. God in his person is not separated. He is One.
Therefore, he sends his image-bearing co-regents to work in a way that fits with their triune nature.
2. They are given authority over unclean spirits.
Jesus decrees they have his authority, and they have it, and they put that authority to us.
Just like Jesus gave it by decreeing it, they would speak to the demons as Jesus’ representatives using his name, and that authority caused them to be able to overcome the demons and their evil work.
3. They are to wear the clothes they have one, take a staff, a belt, and their shoes.
The items required of the twelve here are identical to the items that the LORD instructs the Israelites to take on their exodus from Egypt: cloak, belt, sandals, and staff in hand (Exodus 12:11). These items should make us think about the haste, readiness, and expectation of the Exodus. These items Jesus lists suggest that the mission of the twelve says something as foundational and revelatory as the Exodus from Egypt, and that the disciples must be as free from encumbrances as were the Israelites, to serve the Lord.[1]
In other words, Jesus expects them to be adaptable. They must be as able to adapt, improvise, and overcome as Israel was in the Exodus.
4. They are not to take extra food, extra clothing, and extra funds.
They are to be dependent on the Lord to supply.
In this instance, the Lord does not want them to take these things. As noted earlier, the time is coming when he will instruct them to take some extra supplies.
Here, in this short-term instance, their level of trust in the Lord is to match the short-term nature of the work.
Later, that same trust in the Lord does not change. That trust’s application shifts to account for the longer-term nature of the mission. It is still trust, and it is a different application of that internal work of faith.
Trust in the Lord is not counter to the work and the nature of the task he has given us.
Misapplication of this can lead to foolishness.
The old story of the man who was on his roof escaping a flood and rejected two boats and a helicopter in favor of the Lord’s rescue. He drowns. He sees the Lord and asks why he didn’t rescue, and the Lord told him he sent two boats and a helicopter.
We have to follow Jesus’ instructions to know the mission, apply deep trust, and make provision for what we must and then roll.
What might that look like?
Illustration: March India trip. (Watch YouTube for the story.)
5. They are to receive what is supplied and stay put in the supplied hospitality.
Entering a home that is offered by someone was both and expected cultural hospitality and the Lord’s provision through his authority.
And they were to stay there recognizing the Lord’s supply and their commitment to the work.
6. They are to give testimony against those who reject them.
Luke 10:16 (ESV) 16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
When the twelve go in the name of Jesus and are rejected, they are rejecting Jesus not the twelve.
So, they were to give testimony to that rejection.
The gesture of shaking dust from one’s feet serves as a symbolic act of separation from and judgment against those who reject the gospel message. When disciples encounter rejection, they are instructed to shake off the dust from their feet “as a testimony against them.”
To understand this, we have to recognize the cultural roots. Pious Jews customarily shook dust from their feet and clothing upon returning from foreign lands. This action that dissociated them from the pollution of pagan places and the judgment coming upon them.[2]
By applying this gesture to fellow Jews who rejected the gospel, the disciples were treating their own people like pagans.[3] This application to their own people that once was only for pagans carries profound weight. What was once reserved for genuinely foreign lands now applies to all people that have rejected the kingdom of God.
This action conveys multiple layers of meaning. Culturally, shaking dust from one’s feet signified that the “unclean” state of the town was no longer attached to the good news worker.[4] This action signifies divine judgment, indicating that human disdain of God’s servants has brought about God’s righteous anger.[5]
The gesture signified that the disciples had no further connection with the inhabitants. They would retain nothing from that place, not even dust clinging to their sandals.[6]
NOTE: This was a radically gracious warning to those who rejected the kingdom rather than a hostile act. It was a merciful prophetic act designed to make people think deeply about their spiritual condition.[7]
The action served as a visible, memorable warning that rejection of the gospel carries eternal consequences.
Application
1. Local church mission is always in covenant in fellowship together and NEVER done alone.
Gospel preaching.
Casting out demons.
Healing.
These things are done in covenant fellowship.
2. Jesus gave his authority to the apostles, and now he has freely given it to the church upon his resurrection and ascension.
GOSPEL CONNECTION: Jesus has been crucified. Buried. Risen. Ascended. He has sent Holy Spirit to fill his church. Having been filled with the Spirit, we have his authority.
We don’t earn Jesus’ authority with a degree or with a program.
We have this authority upon repentance and faith and the gift of the Spirit who comes with that faith.
Get after preaching, discerning evil and rebuking it, and putting right and restoring what the curse has broken.
3. Following Jesus’ instructions on how to do the work of preaching, binding demons, and healing requires faith that Jesus’ hometown lacked.
1. Two by Two.
2. Application of Jesus’ authority over spiritual forces.
3. Adaptable.
4. Dependent on Jesus to supply. Refusing to make up for faith by supplying through our superior scrounging and marketing skills is a counter-intuitive thing.
5. Recognize the Lord’s provision in the work and staying committed to the work.
6. Willing to pronounce God’s gracious anger at rejection so people might reconsider as we are willing to walk away and leave to judgment.
[1] James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Mark, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2002), 180.
[2] R. Kent Hughes, Luke: That You May Know the Truth, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1998), 325.
[3] Dean B. Deppe, All Roads Lead to the Text: Eight Methods of Inquiry into the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2011), 163–164.
[4] David Turner and Darrell L. Bock, Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 11: Matthew and Mark (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2005), 449.
[5] IBID. Deppe.
[6] Joseph S. Exell, The Biblical Illustrator: St. Luke (London: James Nisbet & Co., n.d.), 2:217.
[7] IBID. Hughes.