Mark 6:7-13 sermon

Sermon for November 14 on Mark 6:7-13

7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

Possible illustration to begin where I pick someone out in the church and tell him, “I give you authority now over the government of Romania. I want the president’s car. Go get it for me. Don’t worry—you can’t get in trouble for doing this—I have given you authority to do it.”

To illustrate the fact that of course, I can’t give anyone authority over the government.

We can’t take or give authority over unclean spirits, either.

But it tells us Jesus, who has proved He has authority over them, now also gave that authority to others.

That proves again that He is God. Because He not only has power over demons, but can give it to someone else. As a father, if I leave the house, I can tell Briana, as the oldest child there, that she has authority over the younger kids there. Jesus is so complete He could actually tell people, “You have authority now over unclean spirits,” and it was true.

From that we learn that even though our spiritual enemy is stronger than we are, we don’t have to worry, because He is stronger than all of them put together, and if we are serving Him, He will defeat them—He will never lose.

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.

Basically He let them have the clothes they were wearing and a staff—no food, no extra supplies, and no money to buy supplies with. Just go with the staff (because it helps you get where I’m sending you, and nothing else.) When you get there, I will provide for you whatever you need through the people you serve in ministry.

Two reasons Jesus probably did this:

One- to teach the disciples to depend on the Lord and trust Him to provide for their needs. If they packed everything they were going to need on the trip, they wouldn’t learn that lesson, because they would already have what they needed. God is our provider, and He wants us to know it. That’s why it’s a good idea to pray and give thanks before we eat. We know we have what we have because He gave it to us.

Two- they were being sent out on a mission to preach to the region, and God wanted a response of faith from the people He sent them to. They would preach, and those who believed would receive them on God’s behalf and share what they had so that the needs were met. God didn’t want the people to listen without making a decision one way or another. He was calling people to receive the message and join in God’s plan, or to reject it and be left out. Those who believed would show they were with God by taking in the disciples. Those who didn’t would show they were rejecting God, and would be rejected by Him.

Does this mean everyone who goes out on mission should go without preparations or supplies from home? Definitely not. Later on, in Luke 22, on the night before He was crucified, Jesus would ask them about this situation. He would say, “Did you lack anything when I sent you out without anything?” They answered, “No.” So they had learned that lesson. But then, He would tell them, “Now, if you have money, weapons, clothes and supplies, take them with you.” Because Jesus was about to be condemned and crucified. He was telling the disciples, from now on, the nation as a whole was going to reject Him, and them, for the rest of their lives. They would still depend on God for His provision, but they wouldn’t be able to depend on people they preached to in Israel, because most of them would reject. He would be treated that night like a criminal, and if they were willing to identify with Him from now on, they would also face treatment like that from the world.

At this moment, though, in Mark 6, many would believe, and join God in His work.

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.”

Those who believed, would receive the apostles, and have fellowship with them. Jesus told them not to abandon any such people. Someone who believed and took them in would get to have the apostles’ attention for the rest of their time in that town, even if someone with a better house made them an offer—they were to stay with whoever signed up for supporting God’s work first.

Those who didn’t receive them, Jesus said, they should shake the dust off their feet to send them a message as they left. And what a harsh message it was Jesus wanted them to give those Jews who weren’t believing the Messiah Jesus. You see, shaking the dust off the feet is what Jews were supposed to do if they were in a land of evil pagans who worshiped false gods and offended the true and living God who made us. They were to see the dust of such lands as unclean because of the rebellion against our holy God that was taking place in the land. And they were to shake it off so that they would realize, “I need to be not influenced by this place of darkness where they seek the favor of unclean spirits that they worship as gods. So I shake the dust off me as a way of saying to myself before the Lord, that He alone is my God and I want only Him. All other gods are worthless and I want nothing to to with them.”

Now, Jesus tells the apostles that they should shake the dust off when leaving a town that rejects Him among the Jews. Shake it off not as a way to remind yourself to follow only the true God, but shake it off this time, “as a testimony against” those Jews who didn’t receive them. They were to shake off the dust publicly, telling those people, “You think you are righteous Jews. But I tell you, you are just like the pagan gentiles we have been told to avoid. You are rejecting God’s Anointed, the Son of Man, Jesus. You may have been born with Jewish lineage, but you are as lost as the nations who foolishly worship unclean spirits.”

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.

Verse 12 they told all the people that they should repent. So that was their message that was either being received by faith, or rejected, leading to God rejecting them and His apostles shaking the dust of their land off of them as a testimony. More on what that message was in a moment. But first let’s look at our last verse, verse 13.

What Jesus told them was true. They had received authority over demons, and they were able to use it. They were able to cast them out of people at will, in Jesus’ Name. God’s power is available for the work of those who are serving Him. It matters not if He sends you into situations that quickly bring about the work of the enemy (Satan). Because He is stronger, and if we are trusting Him, walking with Him, and serving by doing what He sent us to do and say, He gives the victory over evil spirits. In Jesus’ Name, there is authority over demons.

Does a demon torment you with depression, worry or fear? Take charge in Jesus’ Name, and banish him. He will leave. He has to. I can tell you both from the word of God and from my own life experience, that this works. Does a demon tempt you nonstop to commit sins you wish to break free from? Take charge in Jesus’ Name and banish him. He will leave. He has to. Christ’s authority over him is absolute.

Also, healings were being done in the power of Jesus’ Name.

So, the people were without excuse to follow the way of the pagans by not seeking salvation through Jesus and not accepting the message the apostles proclaimed. They had seen the power over demons and over sickness that Jesus has. So they should have been willing to listen and believe the message the apostles brought in Jesus’ Name.

Back to verse 12 to see what that message is. And it is important, because it is the same message God has for everyone on earth today, the same message those of us who know Him are called to preach in Jesus’ Name. And just like it was in Mark 6, as one preaching God’s word, I must tell you, that either you will believe this message and be made a part of God’s plan for eternity, or you will reject it, forcing God Himself to reject you, if you finish this life on earth still not having received Christ by faith.

They preached, according to verse 12 that all people should repent. Repent means change your mind. Change your mind about religion, about God, about sin, about your own righteousness. And believe what God says.

You first need to realize that the reason you need repentance, a change of mind, is because you are lost and without God until you have had this change by faith.

A little child was having fun in the park one summer day. Playing on slides. Running, jumping, swinging on swings. Playing in the sandbox. There were so many things he wanted to do and enjoyed doing. So many that he didn’t even notice something. His mother had left. And he was lost in the park. As soon as he realized she was gone, he started to panic. The slides didn’t look fun anymore. He forgot the sandbox was there. He didn’t want to go back to the swings. He needed to find his way home, and he was lost.

The only thing that could save him now was for someone to take him home where he belonged.

Most people in the world are living life like that child. Chasing after anything that seems fun and enjoyable. Trying to make themselves feel good with anything that will do that. But not realizing they have a terrible problem. They are lost. They are without God. And they are without hope.

If you today, are having your eyes opened about these things, realizing that you need to be saved, I’ve got good news for you.

Even though your sin separates you from a holy God, and earns His eternal punishment, God loves you and wants you to be His child and spend eternity with Him in heaven. He loves you so much that He suffered the consequences of your sin against His holiness. Christ lived a sinless life in your place, to earn eternal life and joy in heaven in your place. Then He took your sin upon Himself, taking the guilt and shame you earned in your place. He sacrificed Himself on the cross, being punished instead of you. He paid the price in full, taking all of the penalty of your sins for you. He died in your place. Because you sinned, He suffered. That’s how much God loves you in spite of your sin. On the third day, He rose from the dead, promising eternal life, forgiveness, joy, heaven, and eternal adoption as a child of God to everyone who believes on Him and receives this gift by faith in Christ. If you believe these sure truths from God, He will save you forever, even right at this moment, as you trust in Him. Change your mind about whatever you were putting your hope in to escape hell and get to heaven. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Receive His message, and He will receive you.

But if you don’t believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you will remain lost. And you need to understand that this is the worst mistake you could ever make. Because God wants me to tell you that His word makes it clear that rejecting His Son and His gospel message that I’ve just shared with you—rejecting that for the rest of your life, will result in Him rejecting you in eternity.

And you don’t know how many days you have left to decide. This might even be your last chance right now.

Don’t enter eternity with your sins unforgiven and face eternal punishment.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let Him make you His child.

Then join Him in sharing that message with others for the rest of your time on this earth.