Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. ⁷ 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 6:6b-13

The disciples are sent out with basic instructions and bare necessities. They are to heal the sick, cast out demons, and teach people to repent. Their mission and our mission is very simple – to proclaim the good news – to continue the work of Jesus Christ that brings the gospel to those who need to hear it. The agenda is not a difficult one – but keeping “our personal agendas” separate from Christ’s individual calling for discipleship can be difficult. We are not to engage in ministry for our own personal need for prestige or influence. Rather we are to go with nothing except the basics – our selves, our time, and our possessions. G-d will provide everything else we need for the mission, and the journey.

Pastor Dave

“While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” ³⁶ Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” ³⁷ He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. ³⁸ When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly.³⁹ He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” ⁴⁰ But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. ⁴¹ He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). ⁴² Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old).” Mark 5:35-42

Jesus says, “Do not fear, only believe…” when he hears of the death of Jairus’ daughter. We know that fear can make us do irrational things. Fear can even keep us from doing anything at all. What is it in your faith life that scares you, that takes you to the point of unbelief? Over the years, I have listened to many people speak of the trouble they have experienced in their faith lives when they have experienced the loss of a loved one. “How could G-d allow this to happen?” they say. “Why didn’t G-d intervene?” they cry out.  This story is for us, among other things, an assurance that G-d hears our cries, G-d is with us in the tragedies of our lives, and that G-d promises life for those who believe that Jesus can give us new life. We may not get what we want (so says the song writer) but G-d gives us what we need. And what we need most is the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Pastor Dave