July 11,2021 Mark 6:7-13
7 Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil 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 tunic. 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, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, 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.
“I can’t do it!”, said the little three year old girl as her daddy put her on the new bike she received for her birthday. “Don’t worry! The training wheels will keep you up.”, her father said. “But I can’t steer,” she replied. “I’ll steer for you.” It was of no avail. No matter how hard the father tried, the girl just wasn’t ready to ride her bike yet. Ever been there? Either as a parent or a child, I’m sure you have. Whether it was trying a new food or riding a new bike or going out on a date for the first time - it’s always the most difficult to do it the first time. After that - it gets easier and easier. Why is the first time always the most difficult? Because we are afraid we are going to mess up. We aren’t sure as to what we’re doing. We’re going beyond the known to the unknown - and we don’t know what to expect.
Imagine how difficult it would have been for the 12 disciples - then - to receive their first real call from Jesus! Here they had been following Jesus up to this point - watching him do the talking and the healing - soaking up His wisdom and knowledge like a bunch of sponges. But then - while they were still green recruits, Jesus turned to them and said, “Now it’s your turn!” You could imagine the hair stand up on the back of these uneducated fishermen’s heads - wondering, “how are we going to do it?!?” Jesus knew their reservations - their fears. And he knows ours as well. But He doesn’t just send us out naked to the wolves.
Jesus Equips Us for Our Calls in Life
I. With sidekicks
The first thing God equips us with is companions or what is known as “sidekicks”. There have been some famous sidekicks throughout time - Batman always had Robin, Michael Jordan had Scottie Pippen, Sonny had Cher, Regis had Kathie Lee - the list goes on - of people that worked well together. The Bible also has many examples of sidekicks - both good and bad. David had Jonathan. Moses had Aaron. King Ahab had Jezebel.
For some reason, God basically has “hard wired” us for a need of companionship. As Adam named all of the animals, “Mr. and Mrs. Bear, Mr. and Mrs. Giraffe,” he soon noticed that he had no suitable companion for himself. And even God Himself stated that out all of the wonderfully good things about creation, it was “not good” that man was alone. Ecclesiastes 4:10-12 says, If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Man has a built in need for companionship. When Paul was arrested, he wanted and needed someone to be by his side. But what happened? He wrote to Timothy in his second letter, At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane - He asked the disciples - His friends - to stand by His side. But what happened? Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked.
And so, when Jesus sent his 12 disciples out on their first mission - He knew not to send them out alone. Like the animals on the ark He sent them out “two by two.” In this way, when they were rejected - and they would be - they could stand by each other’s side. Together they could shake the dust off their feet - signifying that they would not carry the guilt of their rejection with them - they were dusting themselves of any connection with such a wicked city. Together they could encourage one another not to give up. Jesus knew that especially at the beginning of their ministries they would need to feed off of one another.
This is something that we still need to be aware of today. When we venture into new territory - when we face setbacks and difficulties - God gives us each other as gifts - to encourage each other through this life’s journey. We need each other! You spouses need your companionship more than your money. If you know someone that has had to move into a nursing home or who has been living alone - don’t forget that they still need you to visit them! If you know someone who has recently lost a member of the family - they don’t just need a card. They need your companionship - someone to be there for them. Children need their parents! We are given each other as gifts of companionship.
But how often do we look at our spouses and those we live with as “gifts.” One of the first sins committed was when Adam complained to God about the “woman YOU gave me.” Or how often do we complain to God, “Why did you give me such a lazy spouse? Why did you give me such disobedient children!?” Did you ever think that when Jesus sent them out two by two - that somebody got “stuck” with Judas! But God’s Word doesn’t mention anyone complaining to Jesus, “do I have to go with HIM?” They were only glad to be able to serve the Lord - and they were most likely glad to have someone to travel with as they fulfilled Jesus’ call for them.
II. With provisions
I remember when I first received the Lord’s call to serve in Norton, KS and McCook, NE - I didn’t hardly own anything - no lawnmower, no chairs, no beds, no dressers. Everything I had fit into the back of a pickup truck. But the Lord provided - by almost giving me most of the previous pastor’s possessions since he was moving to Russia. It made it much easier to move here when I knew I would have most of my necessities provided for.
Imagine then, the call of the disciples. Jesus said, Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. So how would they survive? 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. They would only live off of the people where they stayed!
Why did Jesus send them out this way? To teach them a lesson! What was the lesson? You’ll need to trust in ME to provide for you! But how would God provide? Through the believers that were brought to the faith through the message that was proclaimed to them! When they won converts to Christianity, those converts would then have an opportunity to provide the 12 apostles with all of the food and bedding they needed. And what happened? The 12 went forward, and God provided! None of them starved to death on their missions. None of them came back naked! God provided for them through fellow Christians - teachings the disciples the idea of a team concept - how the people had a role as well - they would provide for them in time of need.
How many of you have ever been in a situation such as that - where you had to rely on someone else? Isn’t it a lesson in humility when we do? Many elderly are embarrassed to ask their children to take them into their homes. They had been self sufficient their whole lives. They don’t want to be a “burden” on anyone. The same goes with some on their view of the government. Many don’t want to rely on the government for any help. When a hard working person loses his job due to health problems - the last thing he wants to do is apply for welfare until he can find another one. Again - in the church - often times it happens that couples fail to call their pastor for help in marriage - because they want to handle it themselves - they are too proud to ask for help. God sometimes puts us through these situations to remind us that we are not the ones who are really providing for ourselves. God is! He has provided us with friends, family, spiritual leaders and a government to help us in times of need. It is a test of our trust when we are put in situations where we need someone’s help - when we need to rely on our family, pastor, or our government to help us out in a time of need! It teaches us that we can’t get by on our own! We need the help that God gives us through each other. When we allow others to help us in a time of real need - it then gives them an opportunity to share their Christian faith as well.
Jesus was testing the disciples to trust in Him when He sent them out with nothing. They went, and God provided through His instruments - fellow Christians. Trust that God will provide for you. Don’t be too proud to rely on each other for help. But remember - that it is GOD who provides. Trust in him - not the government - your spouse - your pastor - or your insurance plan. Jesus doesn’t say, “your insurance policy will be with you always - to the very end of the age.” Even if Social Security falls through - even if your spouse dies - even if your health declines - the Lord will provide. He could even use ravens to feed you if He has to, just as He did with Elijah! Jesus promises us in Matthew 6:33 seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. God always provides for what you need on your journey.
III. With power
If you think about it - Jesus couldn’t have picked much worse people in the eyes of the world to carry on His ministry than what he did. He picked a bunch of fishermen - uneducated men who weren’t real talented speakers. How in the world would these guys be able to carry on this ministry? Even if they would be provided with food - even if they could go out together - none of them were qualified! It would be easy to be confident as long as Jesus was the spokesman - but now Jesus was putting the ball in their corner! How would they do it?
Mark says how they would do it. They would do it because Jesus gave them authority. He gave them the power to chase out demons - to raise the dead - to preach the Word of God to people to repent! It didn’t matter if they weren’t that educated or polished speakers. It’s kind of like holding a machine gun. It doesn’t matter if I hold it or a ten year old holds it - it still has the same power. And what happened? These uneducated green recruits went and “They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” The Word of God did its job.
Our fight is still the same today. Ephesians 6:12 makes it clear: our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. The devil is still real - and he is still seeking whom he may devour even today. Even though we are not as smart as many - even though we are not the most talented - even though we are not the most numerous - and even though we are not as rich as many - we still have the most powerful weapon in the world - the Word of God. If God could talk through a donkey, then He can talk through us! Hebrews 4:12 says, the word of God is living and active. Isaiah promises, “it will not return to me empty!” And we still have baptism. Peter says that when we apply water and the Word on children, it has the power to SAVE! (1 Peter 3:12)
Yet how many of us act as if this Word of God was only a plastic sword - powerless to fight with? We act as if God has left us powerless to fight - sent us to battle with only words and no weapons. We fear saying anything to anyone because we don’t think we will say it right. Did that stop the fig plucking farmer Amos? Did that stop the disciples? We go through our journey in life with our swords nicely displayed on our shelves - without any scars of battle on it. We make reference to it - we even talk about it - but we never actually use it. Don’t forget! The Word of God is a weapon to fight with! We still have the weapons with which to fight the devil. You can chase out demons - demons of doubt - demons of despair - demons that are trying to keep control of your children. Through this Word the Holy Spirit gains ownership of our children - overcomes our doubt - enables us to act - strengthens us to fight the good fight.
If you think about all that God gives us for OUR journeys - isn’t it a miracle when you think about Jesus. He went through much of His public ministry with no place to lay his head. He had no place He could call home. And when He arrived at the height of his journey - to the cross - He didn’t even have a garment to wear - the soldiers took it off of him. All he had was a crown of thorns!
When He went through life - He had companions to help in His journey. Angels supported him after He fought the devil in the desert and in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Father answered His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and encouraged Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration. But when Jesus got to His most difficult part of the journey - to the cross - he had no one to lean on. All of his disciples had fled. And even His own Father deserted Him - sent Him through hell - in His hour of utmost need. When God put the sins of the world on His shoulders - He had nowhere to go - no one to blame - nowhere to flee - when the fire of God’s wrath came crashing down on Him. He was all by Himself.
The only thing Jesus had to hold onto -was the Word of God. He believed the promise of Psalm 16:10 when it said, “You will not let your Holy One see decay.” By clinging to that Word - Jesus trusted that His Father would raise Him after 3 days in the grave. With that Word of God - Jesus arose victorious - and left the sins of the world in the grave. It was with true faith in the Father that Jesus finished His journey to the cross - and rose victorious as the Savior of the world. Without a friend, without a garment - but with the Word - Jesus fought the battle and won the salvation of the world. Without a friend, without a garment - but with the Word - Jesus saved us from eternal wrath by being punished in our place.
How fortunate we are, my friends to have such equipment from God. Every day is a new and sometimes scary journey in life. But He always gives us provisions - ability to work for our daily bread; extra money to send out missionaries; clothing to wear; houses to live in; so many, many, material provisions. He gives us sidekicks. God gives us angels. He gives us each friends, children, parents, and pastors - to help and support each other in time of trouble. But most importantly - He gives us Himself in His Word and in His Sacraments. In God’s Word Jesus promises us, “Never will I leave you! Never will I forsake you.” With these provisions of daily bread, companionship, and our Savior - who of us can claim that we haven’t been provided for? There is no way. We know and trust that Jesus more than equips us for our calls in life - whatever they may be. Amen.
