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| Jesus Sends The Twelve |
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| Written by Doung Craven | |
| Wednesday, 08 July 2009 | |
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“Jesus Sends the Twelve” These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. Mark 6:8-9 (NIV) It is summer; it’s the time of year when many people are going on vacation, with kids out of school etc. Many will be traveling for their vacations. For most of us preparing for our trip takes a lot of preparation, before we can say that we are ready to go. You may need to get someone to bring in your newspaper and, stop your mail while you are gone. If you have a dog or a cat, someone has to take care of your pet. Probably the most important thing you have to do when you go on a trip is pack your suitcase. I traveled a lot in my previous career and you always were aware that you needed to pack certain essentials and then you could add in a few extras. Let’s imagine that we are going on a trip and we begin a list all of the things we will need to pack in our suitcase. If you’re a man like me, you realize that you will need socks, underwear, jeans, shirts, shorts, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, comb or brush, and a swim suit if you are going to a place with water. If you are a woman your list would have some of the same things and some that are different. Have I forgotten anything? Don’t we always remember that there is something that we wish we had brought along but, left behind? When he was on the earth, Jesus traveled around from village to village teaching, healing people, and casting out demons. One day, he called his twelve disciples to him and said, “I want you to go out two by two. I am giving you all of the authority you need to cast out evil spirits.” The training had begun, and Jesus was both testing and preparing the disciples. He was expecting the disciples to travel from town to town just as Jesus had been doing. I imagine the disciples thought to themselves, “what will I need for this road trip?” But then Jesus gave them further instructions. “Take nothing for your journey except a staff or what we might call here in Kentucky “a walking stick.” And then he tells them take “no food, no traveler’s bag, and no money.” Jesus also told them “You can wear sandals, but no extra clothing.” It was tougher than living on Gilligan’s Island.” No food, no money, no extra clothes and certainly no luxuries, how could the disciples possibly make this journey? They were expected to find people who would welcome them and, also allow them to stay with them in their homes. The disciples did find people who did feed them and gave them everything they needed for the journey. The Bible tells us that the disciples went out telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. They also cast out many evil spirits and they healed many sick people. In other words, they did exactly what Jesus told them to do and he gave them the power to do it. Jesus also charges us to go and make disciples. I wonder if sometimes we delay following his command because we think we aren’t ready. Shouldn’t we go, like the Twelve did and act out of faith, knowing he will give us the ability to share with others? Isn’t it time to forget the suitcases and start walking? Prayer: Lord God, we know people need to hear the Good News. Jesus has told us to go and make disciples. Help us to be willing to go. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. .....Doug Craven |
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