The Authority of Jesus | Mark 6:7-13 By: Pastor Charlotte Bailey
“...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 6:7-13 NIV My interpretation of Jesus sending out the twelve is simply this- I feel like this was the true start of the very discipleship we are called to today. Here are 3 main points I would like to focus on. 1.) They were to be his companions and learn from him. - In order to be good at something (or at least to have knowledge over something) we must first study it. In order to know someone you must spend time with them. So in walking side by side with Christ, the disciples were equipped with the knowledge of who He was, the good works He had already done, and how to execute the message to those they came face to face with just by witnessing Him in action. 2.) He sent them out to do what he had been doing — preaching the gospel. - The disciples told the message to ALL people they met. They didn't try to predetermine who would receive the message and who wouldn't. They spread the gospel over a wide area, expanding Jesus' ministry. They did many good things in the name of Jesus. We MUST learn from them. There is an old hymn that says, "The blessed Gospel is for all, the Gospel is for all." Exactly! It is not for a select few, our friends, those we deem most likely to respond, or those we feel most comfortable sharing the message. We must tell the Gospel to all so they can find blessings in knowing Jesus.
3.) He gave them authority to do good works. - Jesus knew that in order to see people receive the gospel, a bridge needed to be built. He equipped His disciples with the power to serve others so they may see the true heart of the Kingdom. He gave them authority to cast out demons in order to save those afflicted. And lastly, He gave them the gift of healing, so that the wounded, sick, dying and diseased could see freedom.
Jesus knew that in order to see people receive the gospel, a bridge needed to be built.
We, as Christians, having a direct and intimate relationship with God, are called to be disciples. We are to make fishers of men. So our focus is to spread the Gospel to ALL we encounter. We have that same authority that Jesus gave to the original 12, and because of that, we are to have a servants heart, we have the power (Christ’s power) to cast out evil, and we must have the faith to heal the sick (physically, mentally and spiritually). So let us be a clear reflection of Jesus. I hope this encourages you today!
Mark 6:30-44 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late.Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties.And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all.And they all ate and were satisfied.And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men. What is the biggest party that you have ever hosted? For some of you, it would be a weekend cookout with 10 people. For some of you, it would be a wedding or some other event with 100 plus people. I can’t imagine any reason that someone would need to host more than that many people at one time. But no matter how big your gathering is, there is something that needs to be thought out before people start arriving... What are we going to feed all these folks? Well, Jesus and the Disciples obviously did not think that particular thing through prior to leading all these people out in the wilderness. This story takes happens in a desolate place that Jesus and His Disciples were heading to so they could rest. But there was something about Jesus that just drew people in to Him. So, although they weren’t planning on throwing a party, the party came to them. Isn’t it amazing that Jesus doesn’t want to turn anyone away? Even when the Disciples were begging Him to release the people so that they could go find something to eat, Jesus wanted to keep everyone close. He ordered His disciples to feed these people. I get nervous when two or three extra people show up. I bet they were sweating trying to figure out how to do what Jesus had asked of them. But this wasn’t just a test of the faith of the Disciples, it was an opportunity to teach us all of God’s provision. We have all quoted Philippians 4:19 “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” And that statement is absolutely true, but as with so many things in the Kingdom, we have some responsibility. Those two responsibilities I am referring to are GRATTITUDE and GENEROSITY. In the story, the Disciples bring what little they have to Jesus, 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Who are they going to feed with that small amount? But that meager portion did not discourage Jesus. He was grateful for what they had. He looked up to Heaven, and thanked God for the meal. No matter how little or how much you have in your life, be grateful for what the Lord has given you. Next, we see Jesus distribute this meager meal among all the crowds who had gathered around Him. Instead of hording what He had because it wasn’t going to last too long, He gave. Jesus lived His life generously, and God always came through. If you are generous with what the Lord has given you, there will always be something to give.
If you are generous with what the Lord has given you, there will always be something to give.
The two keys to seeing God’s provision in your life are GRATTITUDE and GENEROSITY. I have never seen someone who was grateful go without, and I have never seen someone who was generous be without something to give. I truly believe that Jesus was teaching us these two principals in this story. When we live our lives like this, we can expect the same kind of miracles to happen. Not only did God supply all their needs according to His riches and His glory, but He gave increase. They had more when they ended than when they started!
Mark 6:1-6 He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.
If we want to see healings, we must seek to do three things: 1. Honor People “Honor Up, Honor Down, Honor All around”
A. Honor Up A. Honor our Parents Deuteronomy 5:16 Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
B. Honor our Pastors 1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. Honor our Governmental Leaders
Romans 13:1-2 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed,and those who resist will incur judgement.
B. Honor Down John 4:6,7 Jacob's well was there; so, Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, wassitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”
C. Honor all around! “We don’t necessarily honor people because they are worthy of honor, we honor people because we are honorable.”
2. Honor the Lord A. Recognize what the Lord has done B. Spend time with the Lord C. Don’t do things that will separate you from Him 1 Corinthians 10:23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Mark 6:53-56 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
3. We try to reproduce His works John 14:12 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
