Introduction

Our passage today will end with this statement: the apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught (Mark 6:30). It is one of only two instances in Mark's whole book when the disciples are referred to as "apostles." We've already studied the first instance:

"And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons." (Mark 3:13-15)

Jesus will train them for their future work by sending them out two by two. They will then return to Jesus and report to him about everything they had done and taught. This short missionary journey was an excellent training mechanism that helped prepare them for life after Jesus' ascension. And, sandwiched in the midst of their journey, Mark will record the tragic death of John the Baptist, the greatest prophet who ever lived. Each episode highlights the way they served Jesus.

So, today, in this passage, we are going to consider what it's like to serve Jesus, something every believer is meant to do.

7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, "Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

Jesus sent them out two by two, teaching them the importance of serving him with others (7). Mark says Jesus deposited his authority into his men, an important development (7). And as these men rode the authority and ability of Jesus, they proclaimed repentance, cast out many demons, and healed many who were sick (13).

Jesus had been busy preaching the kingdom, confronting the demonic realm, and healing the sick, and now the apostles were doing the same.

1. See Yourself As An Extension Of Christ (6:7-13)

See yourself as an extension of King Jesus as you live out his kingdom principles here on earth. Here are a few suggestions:

Ask people how they are doing.

Offer to pray for people.

Be a conduit of his peace.

Look for opportunities to express the hope you have in Christ.

Live a holy life.

2. Be Reliant On And Content In Christ (6:7-13).

Notice the way Jesus sent these men. In later directives (Luke 22:35-38), Jesus would tell them to brings swords and money and extra clothing, but, in this first mission, Jesus wanted them to pack light. And, on top of packing light, they were also to remain with whoever offered to host them as long as they were in each town. If a better offer came along, they were to reject it and remain in the humbler accommodations. All this was meant to teach them to be reliant on and content in Christ.

And just as God took care of their needs then, providing enough for their mission, so he will provide us enough for the mission today.

[Condition] "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,"

[Promise] "...and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

14 King Herod heard of it [the work of Jesus through the disciples], for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him." 15 But others said, "He is Elijah." And others said, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."

17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

Because the Herod of this story had enticed his brother's wife, Herodias, away from him, John the Baptist had been saying to him, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife" (18). This is the message that landed John in prison. Herod wanted to keep him alive, but Herodias wanted him dead.

21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced [seductively], she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you." 23 And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom." [an expression] 24 And she went out and said to her mother, "For what should I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist." 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."

26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

This whole movement is meant to shock us. Why? Not because of its graphic nature, but because of something else. Mark started his book with John and his radical prophetic work out in the wilderness of Judea. He preached. He baptized. And he spoke of the coming of the Messiah-Christ. He then baptized Jesus, and heaven split open the sky -- God came down!

Then Jesus joined John and began declaring the kingdom. The kingdom of God is at hand!

And after all Jesus' miracles and messages, even to the point he is able to send his men out to do what he'd been doing, his forerunner dies. At the hands of another kingdom, the kingdom of God's prophet is brutally murdered. And Mark wants us to know about it, right in the middle of the power and ministry impact of Jesus' disciples.

3. Know This: In Christ's Kingdom, Winning Looks Weird (6:14-29)

Remember what Jesus said back in verse 11?

And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them. (Mark 6:11)

This was Jesus' way of saying they had to move on when rejected. Their job was not to make converts but to be faithful. They would do their part, but God would do his, and the people they preached to had their own decisions to make. They would plant, some would water, but God would give the increase.

But, in Christ's kingdom, winning looks weird. John won. The apostles, nearly all of them martyred, won. And generations of the church, persecuted and harassed and marginalized, won.

Serving Jesus is a wild experience. You die, but you live. You lay down your life, but you find your life (Mark 8:34-35). You give your soul and gain something more than this world (Mark 8:36-37).

30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.

31 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. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.

Mark concludes this section by doubling back to the apostles' story. They came back to Jesus and gave him an exciting report about everything they'd done and taught (30). Jesus followed up with an invitation to get into a desolate place for a time of rest (31).

4. Let Christ Serve You (6:30-32)

Serving Jesus can be tiring work, so you must allow Christ time and space to serve you. For me, this is one of the reasons I often highlight the importance of personal quiet time. I cannot imagine serving Jesus without times to sit at his feet and minister to my heart and mind.

I also see this principle having an effect on the way we structure our lives. When you live with Sabbath rhythms, you can work extremely hard with intense focus, but also know how to enjoy the people around you. You become balanced as Christ serves your soul.

Conclusion

Let's allow Jesus to reshape the way we think of serving him. It is hard work, but good work, because we get to represent him. And in the service of Christ, we will learn dependence upon Christ, and contentment which is of infinite value in life. Pain is involved, John's death teaches us as much, but the victory will come.

And, at the end of our days, when we report to Jesus, he will bring us into his eternal rest. And he loves to give us tastes of that rest today. So let us commit to serving him.