by Dan Bender
Mark 6:7-13 (ESV)
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
PRE QUESTION EXERCISE
- Read this passage in several different translations. (NIV, NASB, ESV, NRSV, etc.)
- Write down any significant words that are used that might be different in the translations, and reflect on how that might broaden your understanding of what is being said.
REFELCTION QUESTIONS
- Why do you think that at this point in Jesus’ ministry that he sent out the disciples “two by two”? Do you believe that there is any significance of them going that way?
- Do you think that their sole purpose in going out was to do acts and wonders? Or, was that to be a part of a bigger reason for them to go?
- If you were charged to go out like these disciples had been in that day, would you be comfortable with not being allowed to take anything with you? (Supplies…)
- Do you think that verse 10 and 11 are talking about the same thing or do you think that Jesus is talking about two different things with respect to “place” and “house”?
- What is a modern day comparison to “shaking off the dust of your feet”?
- Given that it does not say for how long that they went out and did these things, is there any indication elsewhere in scripture that would give us an idea of how long this all lasted?
PRAYER
This week, I would like you to reflect on when perhaps God has placed something in your path where you needed to go, without much notice, and follow his leading.
Ask God for the kind of mission that would show Him to be our provider and that it would solely rely on His providence for it to happen in your life.