The Strategy Of Jesus Series

Jesus had a three-year ministry. He accomplished everything he set out to accomplish. His entire ministry was done according to his strategic plan. Nothing was left to chance. He prayed all night before he chose his disciples.

These disciples were the ones he was preparing for three years to take the leadership after his own death, burial and resurrection and ascension. His final instructions to his disciples was to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit before taking the good news to the ends of the earth to all peoples.

Our passage of scripture is looking at a crucial point in the earthly ministry of Jesus. It is when after modeling going and preaching the kingdom of heaven, he sends his disciples out to do the same. Now Jesus is giving authority to his disciples. He is sending them out two by two, to do personal evangelism and preach repentance from town to town. Jesus had purpose in all he was doing. Jesus is the expert mission strategist.

Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. 8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. (Mark 6:7-13)

In this passage Jesus has chosen his disciples and spent time with them, and he has taught them. They have observed his ministry and witnessed their teacher having spiritual authority over demons, sickness, death, nature and sin.

We see the Father’s work through Jesus. The redemption of man was destined to spread. Jesus chose his disciples and trained them. They had observed him and now he is sending them out to do the work. It is a work that will be carried on after Jesus leaves. It will be a work that will be fully carried out when the Holy Spirit comes. It is a work that is to continue by us until Jesus comes again.

Jesus’ strategy is: Abiding, Entry, Evangelism, Discipleship, Leadership development and Church planting and exit. The church was not born until the Holy Spirit came fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead. But it was part of Jesus strategy from the beginning. Not everything had yet unfolded at the time of our passage, but this passage is crucial to the full strategy of Jesus that comes more fully into focus after he ascends to heaven.

Go Trusting God

Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. 8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. (Mark 6:7-8)

When Jesus sent out his disciples, he gave them spiritual authority. When he sent out the twelve two by two, they went out totally dependent on God. They were to take nothing for the journey. They must look to God for their every need.

Jesus still uses human agents. He is using us. His disciples were imperfect people who he gives authority to and empowers to carry on the work of redemption. He uses us today and the Gospel is working its way through 8 billion people like yeast works through dough. The purpose of God is to spread and saturate the world with the Gospel.

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. 10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious. (Isaiah 11:9-10)

Jesus calls his disciples together and sends them out. They have learned from Jesus, gotten to know him. He is ready to send them out on their mission.

Those who go must first be with Christ. If you are going to lead other people to Christ you must be very sure you know Him yourself. There must be daily renewal. Without that renewal your witness will have a hollow emptiness to it without power. D. L. Moody said, I am a leaky vessel. I must stay under the tap.

Take no unnecessary baggage. Trust and depend on God. They went out and preached that people should repent. Man is utterly hopeless, destined to hell without Christ. Man’s problem is a spiritual disease called sin. They preached repentance. We are to preach repentance. Our condition is hopeless without Christ. A man is lost away from God until he accepts Christ.