Mark 6:6-29
"The Call of Twelve and the Loss of One"

1. After being rejected notice what Jesus didn’t do.
He didn’t give up.

What do we do?
The first sign of resistance and we’re out.

Gal. 6:9

2. The inability of Jesus to make disciples in His hometown was a fore taste of what the disciples could expect.

Jesus was showing them the reality that they would face.
Elsewhere He told them...

Luke 21:12 They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 This will result in your being witnesses to them. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 All men will hate you because of me.

“Sent” apostellein from apostello- to set apart for the purpose of sending out; an official representative of the sender

Their message and deeds were an extension of Jesus.
They were to work and speak in His power.
As an extension of Jesus’ power they would obviously have authority over evil spirits and disease.

See V.13

The message was also an extension of His
What was that message?

Mark 1:14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 The time has come, he said. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news

Why has the church become so ineffective?

V.6b Now they will do what they were called to do from the beginning, “Fishers of men”

They were with Him,
they listened to His wise words,
they witnessed His mighty acts,
they were given special instruction and now they were sent.

Here, they are making that transition from disciple to apostle
Have you made that transition?

V.7 ‘two by two’ a testimony of Jesus that is established by ‘two or three witnesses’
Practically, two is better than one

Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

V.8-10
Inherent in the commission was the absolute trust in God to supply all their needs.

The allowance of only a few items was to promote faith that such concerns would be taken care of.
Has that changed for us?

Phil 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

V.11
Shaking the dust was a Jewish practice used when leaving a heathen area. These were not heathen. They were Jews

Speaks to the seriousness of rejecting the gospel.

There is no other way. To say that Jews are saved apart from Jesus is the epitome of anti-Semitism.

Application: The impression of the disciples thus far given by Mark is less than complimentary to say the least.
1. They do not understand His teaching (4:10)
2. They do not trust His power to protect them (4:28)
3. They are not sensitive to His perception (5:31)

Yet they are sent out. God uses the weak to shame the wise.

V.14-29
John The Baptizer

1. We see the impact of the truth of God’s Word over the conscience

•Children may seem inattentive in Sunday School
•People in the congregation may appear to be daydreaming

But there is more going on in the conscience than we are able to see

**We must preach the word and trust God to do the rest

2. We see the boldness of John to confront sin

•He didn’t try to placate the king’s status
•He didn’t beat around the bush

He said plainly, “It’s not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

J.C. Ryle, “Here is a pattern that all ministers ought to follow. Publicly and privately, from the pulpit and in private visits, they ought to rebuke all open sin, and deliver a faithful warning to all who are living in it. It may give offense. It may entail immense unpopularity. With all this they have nothing to do. Duties are theirs. Results are God’s.”

This is the loving thing to do.

Prov 28:23 He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue.

3. We see how people hate the preacher when they are determined to keep their sin

Jesus said, Luke 6:26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you,

Why?
Because we're not preaching the gospel which includes repentance of sin

4. We see how our environment may have an impact on our actions

•Notice the elaborate banquet that Herod has for his birthday
•Accompanied with this was excessive drinking and seductive dancing

How do you think he felt the next day?

Commentator, “People do things at such seasons from heated-feelings, which they afterwards deeply regret. Happy are they who keep clear of temptations, and avoid giving occasion to the devil. Men never know what they will do when they venture off safe ground. Late hours, crowded rooms, splendid entertainments, mixed company, music and dancing may seem harmless to many people. But the Christian should never forget that to take part in these things is to open a wide door to temptation.

5. Finally, we see what little reward some of God’s best servants receive in this world.

What did John get for his faithful preaching and service for God?
Unjust imprisonment and a violent death

In the NT we read of James and Stephen whose lives were martyred for Christ’s sake

Our best life is yet to come

Rom 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.