Mark 6:7-13, 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. [This is a logical extension of Jesus’ ministry. Note that he gave them authority over demons. It was not something natural they could do without his charge.] 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. [The point here is renunciation of goods and a deliberate turning to God’s provision. Believing in God’s provision is a theme that returns later in the chapter.] 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.” [They were to practice humble persistence but never force themselves on anyone. When a Jew traveled outside Israel into Gentile territory, it was the custom upon return, to shake the dust off one’s sandals, symbolically repudiating all things Gentile and not bring anything unholy back to Israel. What Jesus commands his disciples to do to those who reject them, intentionally reminds us of that practice. By rejecting Jesus, Jews are making themselves Gentiles!] 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil [an action symbolizing the presence of the Holy Spirit] many who were sick and healed them. [Having been rejected in Nazareth and having run into issues with the Pharisaical theological commission, Jesus took up a new tactic of sending out pairs of disciples in a quieter way, away from the larger towns and without all the crowds who were following him. We could call this village evangelism that demanded a scattering of the crowds, a wandering itinerary, and a simplicity of lifestyle that fully trusted in God. He equipped them to teach, preach, heal, and expel demons, which is exactly what he did in proclaiming the kingdom of God.]