Mark 6:7-13

Jesus Gives Instructions to the Twelve Disciples

8 and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff--no bread, no bag, no money in their belt--

9 but to wear sandals; and He added, "Do not put on two tunics."

10 And He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave town.

11 "Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them."

12 They went out and preached that men should repent.

13 And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.

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This is the Word of the Lord ... It is meant to change the way that we think, and the way that we live.

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Commentary by Bob Pardue

The Disciples Start a Ministry

I remember way back when I worked in an outside sales job. Much of the time I had to work alone but from time to time we would pair up and two people would go out together.

This made the job a bit easier because we could talk in between calls, encourage each other when we failed which allowed us more tolerance for rejection.

Jesus knew this so He divided the disciples into pairs for strength and courage. Although these things come from God, He gives us each other to lean on when needed.

I have Christian friends that I can count on whenever I need help or just to share anything happening in my life. I also like to think I can be a friend to them when they need me. This is Christ's plan for us; not only to share His offer with others in the world but to be there for each other.

Faith

Jesus instructed the disciples to take nothing with them on their journey. He knew they would be provided for. This put them totally dependent upon God for their needs.

Shaking the Dust

The instruction of shaking off the dust is related to a tradition of the Jewish people separating themselves from those who rejected the message of Christ.

All the disciples could do was present the good news about Jesus to the people. The 12 did not have power to force the listeners to believe it. The response was totally up to the people as to how they received the words.

Christian Witness

The same is true of us. When we share the story of Christ with other people, they can do one of two things. They can either consider what we tell them or they can reject the message all together.

We can present the message (and Christ) to others but we cannot make them accept it. God can do anything but He does not force people to believe or receive, some won't.

This is when we have to "shake the dust off the soles" of our shoes and move on. Our job is to tell people about Jesus and what He has done for us. We can't save anyone. Only God can do that.

Love in Christ

- Bob

Mark 4:30-34 - Jesus Tells the Parable of the Mustard Seed