Working on Team Jesus (Mark 6:7-32)

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)

So these men had come to Jesus that he might turn them into apostles. And in the next few chapters of Mark, Jesus' attention will be turned more toward his men. He is going to prepare these apostles to follow him with their lives. Every believer is invited into this life of discipleship. And, as we watch Jesus train his apostles, we also can be trained.

An apostle is an ambassador who has been sent out to convey a message. And most of these men eventually ascended into the actual office of Apostle in the church, in that they were sent out with the gospel message, but also oversaw the establishment of the Christian church and the New Testament Scriptures.

But, in the episode in front of us today, these apostles are not concerned with establishing the church or authoring Scripture. Instead, they will be focused on things every believer since their time should be concerned with, the preaching of Jesus' message and the establishment of his kingdom here on earth. 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. Mark placed the sordid details of John's last day here, in the middle of the apostles' missions work, on purpose. The disciples, and every reader of the book of Mark, needed to know the difficulty of serving on Team Jesus. His kingdom collides with the kingdoms of this age, including Herod's.

In this passage, we are going to consider what it's like to serve Jesus, something every believer is meant to do:

"(When Jesus ascended), he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ..." (Ephesians 4:11–12, ESV)

What the church does and stands for is not only what occurs on platforms and in pulpits and at altars throughout the world. It's us. It's you. It's me. Throughout the days, weeks, months, and years of our lives, we are meant to work on Team Jesus. We get to serve the greatest King and the most wonderful kingdom! We are meant to be a great gift from God's heart to our communities. The passage in front of us will help us learn how.

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. (Mark 6:7-13)

We often think of the disciples as a bumbling group who densely followed Jesus around and were only awakened once the Spirit came upon them in the book of Acts. But this story shows us they were further along than we might think. Were they confused about the kingdom? Yes. Were they often prideful or foolish or prejudiced? Yes. But were they growing? It seems so.

And here, in this passage, 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. They were doing what Jesus had done. And once Jesus rose from the dead and ascended back to glory, these same men would, with many other men and women, go out as Christ's representatives here on earth. In this episode, they began learning they would serve as extensions of Jesus.

1. See Yourself as an Extension of Christ (6:7-13)

The church is Christ's body. We are his people. We are his kingdom. The disciples were extensions of Jesus and, in a similar way, so are we. 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.

According to the New Testament, we are a kingdom of priests. The Old Testament priests were supposed to be concerned with others, wanting to help them commune with God. So, like a priest, learn to be concerned with others. One way to cultivate this is to sincerely ask people—with many similar follow-up questions—how they are doing.

Offer to pray for people.

This is a simple way to live as an extension of Jesus. People around you are hurting, and quite often, a simple, "I will be praying for you, " or, "Could I pray for you?" help lighten their load and show the love of Christ.

Be a conduit of his peace.

During this time of division, hostility, complaint, anger, and fear, believers should be calm, hopeful, and loving. Our hope is in Christ, and we should project quiet confidence and determination that our world lacks. Though these feel like perilous times to many of us, we know our God is on the throne. He can redeem this terrible mess. He can use it for his purposes. So let's act like it.

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

This might be as simple as responding to a trial by saying, "As a Jesus-follower, I trust he is going to help me get through this time and have wisdom." Or it might be as robust as sharing the full gospel message with someone. But look for those opportunities.

Live a holy life.

As we saw last week, no life will be holy enough to lead others to Christ. Even Jesus' life in Nazareth didn't convince the Nazarenes. But, don't do the gospel harm by persisting in unconfessed and overt sinful attitudes. It is one thing to confess, apologize, and grow. It is quite another to persist in unholiness.

Be reliant on the Father.

Notice the way Jesus sent these men. In later directives (Luke 22:35-38), Jesus would tell them to bring swords and money and extra clothing, but, in this first mission, Jesus wanted them to pack light. No bread, no extra gear, no money (8). Only a staff and sandals and one cloak (8, 9). With clothing and gear like the Israelites who fled from Egypt on Passover night, the disciples were to be free to quickly move out into the new work God had for them.

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. It might require that we are content with less than our flesh would prefer, but he wants us to be reliant on him today. While serving Jesus, we will receive everything we need for the mission.

[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)

God is the one who fuels our service to him. We need the power of God, the grace of Christ, and the gifts of the Spirit to be effective. Let's lean on him, reliant on and content in him as we do his work.

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

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." (Mark 6:14-16)

As the disciples went about as extensions of Jesus, notice who got the credit: Jesus! People came to various conclusions about Jesus at that time—Elijah, another prophet, or John the Baptist—conclusions we will consider more thoroughly in Mark 8. But when Herod heard of Jesus, he concluded John had been raised from the dead. He felt guilty for beheading John, and now he thought the man had returned to life.

With that, Mark tells us the story of John's death.

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. (Mark 6:17-20)

This story is about Herod Antipas, the second of four rulers who bear the name "Herod" in the New Testament. Time prohibits us from unraveling the complexity of Herod's family. This Herod is the son of Herod the Great, the ruler who ordered the murder of the babies in Bethlehem. Because Herod the Great had ten wives, and because his descendants were often involved in incestuous relationships, their family tree is complicated.

Listen to one scholar try to explain it: "Herod the Great had ten wives, Herod Antipas being son of the fourth wife, Malthace. Herodias was the daughter of Aristobulus, Antipas's half-brother who was murdered by his father Herod. Herodias was thus a granddaughter of Herod the Great through his second wife, Mariamne I, and hence a niece of Herod Antipas." (James R. Edwards, Pillar New Testament Commentary)

But 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. — Mark 6:21-29

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. While they were out there winning, John took the L.

Or did he?

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.

At times, it is hard to see it this way. And the pain is real. In a moment, we will watch Jesus encourage a time of rest for his disciples, but Matthew tells us part of the reason was Jesus' need to get into a desolate place after hearing of John's death (Matthew 14:13). The news didn't catch Jesus off-guard, but it did hurt Jesus.

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).

Contrary to the message the prosperity gospel preachers spoon-feed us, the truth is more complicated. Serving Jesus is painful at times. But, so often, in the persecution and hurt and struggle, in the troubled waters, Christ is winning for us, making way for his kingdom to come and will to be done.

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

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 6:30-32)

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). One day we will report to Christ about our lives, and the disciples did the same at this moment.

Jesus followed up with an invitation to get into a desolate place for a time of rest (31). This boat ride was meant as an escape, a time for some leisure (31-32). As a man in a pressing season of ministry life, I envision the shores of Lake Tahoe calling me for leisure and rest. Jesus offered this rest to his men, a way of escape, a time to recharge and get healthy once again.

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 time to sit at his feet and minister to my heart and mind.

I also see this principle affecting the way we structure our lives. Too many, in an attempt to explore the freedoms of New Testament Christianity, have thrown out the principle of the Old Testament Sabbath. But having a day each week to stop your work, rest, and have leisure, is a great way to go. And, from time to time, get away.

Whether through a church retreat or conference or a personal vacation, we all need times of refreshment. We need life to slow down so we can get refocused for the season to come. As an example of this, I have known a few people who have made major life decisions during this coronavirus shutdown. Because they stopped for a season, they were able to reconsider their direction and hear God's voice, making decisions they likely wouldn't have if they hadn't gotten some forced rest.

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.

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.

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For the entire Mark series, go here. Thank you.