“Don’t think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment. No special appeals for funds. Keep it simple.” ~Jesus

Tags

Enemy, Evil, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Mark 6, Money, Trust

Part of the way Jesus taught the Disciples was to send them out periodically to do the job. We call it OJT now.

• What was important about the assignment? Jesus gave them power and authority. What they needed to learn is that this is all about Jesus. The power and authority is over evil. I must remember I have an enemy.
• Did they need special equipment? Not at all. All they needed was Jesus. I must remember that is all I need. Nothing else.
• What about the financing of the mission? Ha! Ha Ha! I don’t need much to talk about Jesus and to spread the message with joyful urgency that life can be radically different.
• Where should they stay? The cheapest place they could find, many times in the homes of the faithful.
• When should they leave? When they aren’t welcome or listened to.
• What was God’s goal? Wow! They preached with joyful urgency that life can be radically different; right and left they sent the demons packing; they brought wellness to the sick, anointing their bodies, healing their spirits.

Jesus called the Twelve to him, and sent them out in pairs. He gave them authority and power to deal with the evil opposition. He sent them off with these instructions:

“Don’t think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment. No special appeals for funds. Keep it simple.

“And no luxury inns. Get a modest place and be content there until you leave.

“If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.”

Then they were on the road. They preached with joyful urgency that life can be radically different; right and left they sent the demons packing; they brought wellness to the sick, anointing their bodies, healing their spirits.

Source: Mark 6:7-13

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“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” ~Jesus

Tags

Courage, Fear, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Mark 6

Courage

99 out of 100 things I worry about never happen.

And yet, I continue to be afraid.

Jesus is ever present letting me know that I need to take courage.

He says “It is I”. He is here. Do I hear Jesus? He says “Don’t be afraid”. Do I hear Him?

He gives me courage in His world. His world is here and now.

On earth, as it is in heaven right now.

 Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” ~Jesus (Mark 6:50)

May I take courage.

May I have courage.

May I hear Jesus.

“A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child.” ~Jesus

Tags

Faith, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Mark 6, Nazareth, Stubborn

Nazareth

Jesus was working for GOD. One of many of Jesus gifts was being a prophet. Jesus goes home to Nazareth. It always feels so good to go home.

Yet, Jesus didn’t receive much honor there. The people of Nazareth, who knew him as a child and young man, didn’t have much faith.

Jesus didn’t let that stop him. Jesus didn’t get discouraged.

Jesus saw the core of the problem. Jesus challenges us to not be stubborn. Stubbornness gets in the way of faith in Jesus. God’s goal for us is to believe in Jesus, the Messiah.

Jesus knew what to do. Go to other places where faith and believe would be unleashed. Others would be ready for miracles and life changing transformation. The harvest is bountiful. It just may be in another field. Jesus knew not “to cast your pearls before swine”.

Jesus told them, “A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child.” Jesus wasn’t able to do much of anything there—he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that’s all. He couldn’t get over their stubbornness. He left and made a circuit of the other villages, teaching. 

Mark 6:4-6 (The Message Bible)