Trust God

Mark 6:7-13

"7 And He called unto Him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:

9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

10 And He said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them."

In today’s verses Jesus summons the Twelve and sends them out in pairs as His representatives. He grants them authority over unclean spirits and instructs them to travel lightly, relying on God’s provision through hospitality. This marks their shift from learners to active missionaries proclaiming the Kingdom.

Key Elements:

Minimalist Mission: Take only a staff and sandals; no bag, bread, or extra money, to emphasize dependence on God and local support.

Hospitality Protocol: Stay in one house per village; shake the dust off their feet as a solemn testimony against those who reject them (a warning more severe than Sodom’s judgment).

Mission Results: They preached repentance, cast out many demons, and healed the sick with oil, confirming God’s power at work through them.

The instructions highlight trust in God’s care and the seriousness of rejecting the Gospel. While some see these as specific to this mission, others view them as enduring principles of ministerial humility and the church’s duty to support those who proclaim Christ. The apostles’ authority and success came from God, not themselves, authenticating the message of the Kingdom of God.