The Gospel of Mark: Mission

Then he went about among the villages teaching. He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. ~ Mark 6:7-13



Jesus has just shown that you can't always get what you want from family and home. But he's a man on a mission, and now he extends that mission to HIS insiders. The twelve. The twelve men who walk most closely to him as he travels, heals, and teaches.

It is now time for these men to travel, heal, and teach. It is what he had prepared them for.

The idea of traveling so lightly was one that would continue after Jesus' death. Traveling ministers/prophets/missionaries were not meant to preach to make a profit. This wasn't a paying job. It was a calling that depended on hospitality. The Apostle Paul would later lead this kind of life.

This is what Jesus does for his disciples. He prepares them so that they can go out and fulfill their mission. A mission that Jesus begins and passes on.

And still passes on. This is why the church has never been simply a place we come to. Instead, church is a place we are sent from. It took me a long time to come to this conclusion, but I've finally decided that the most important part of our worship service is the sending.

Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

Everything that's happened to us in and through worship is for that purpose. To feed us, console us, strengthen us, and inspire us so that we can be Christ's hands and feet in the world.

Holy God, thank you for the gospel - the good news - of your Son. Open my mind and heart to this good news and enliven me with your Spirit of servanthood that I might share this good news with a world in need. Amen



Engagement Question:


During this year when we have mostly not met in person, how has your understanding of church and mission changed?



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