Relying Entirely on God
Calling the twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits. These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic… Mark 6:7-.9
The pairs of disciples were sent out with two things the Western church has too little of today – austerity and authority.
They were to go out just as they were. They were to travel light and presumably move quickly from village to village. We don’t know how long they were gone for but they could only be gone for as long as they were successful. If no one offered them hospitality they would have to return. If crowds gathered and their message was well received, they could expect to be looked after and so stay longer.
The second mark of these teams was their authority. Jesus specifically gave them authority over evil spirits. The result? They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them (Mark 6:13).
Austerity doesn’t give us authority. Jesus wanted the disciples to learn a valuable lesson. He sent them out with nothing to fall back on but God’s provision. They had watched Him rely on God for His needs and now it was their turn. They were being thrown in at the deep end. It’s still the best way to learn even if often the hardest.
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