Mark 6:6-13
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
6 Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.
8These were his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. 10Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them."
12They went out and preached that people should repent. 13They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
Jesus had been with the Twelve for some time...They had witnessed His miracles and healings...They had heard His teachings...Jesus knew it was the right time for the Twelve to go out to different villages and spread the Good News...He sent them out two by two, so there would be six pair going to different areas and villages...Jesus gave them authority over evil spirits...
The Twelve had to be a little nervous and anxious about going out on their own for the first time...To our knowledge they had not gone out to spread the gospel until now...Jesus may have sent them out two by two for support...When one of the Twelve needed some assistance, another disciple was right there to help...Also, different people relate to different personalities...Also, in Mosaic Law it took two witnesses (or more) to establish the truth (Deuteronomy 19:15, Matthew 18:16)...So the two could establish that Jesus was the Messiah and the truth...So by being in pairs, the group may have been better in relating and connecting to the people they would meet...This might be much like your first time talking about God and Jesus to someone, or a new preacher's first few sermons...They would need faith in Jesus to assist them in getting through any of the issues that might come up...The Twelve would learn, God does provide...No doubt, the disciples would remember this, and reflect on this after the resurrection of their Teacher...
The only thing Jesus wanted them to take was a staff...They would take no extra food, no bag, no money, and no extra clothes...They were truly living by the faith of their Master...Jesus knew the people of the area...He also knew that the people in the villages would have probably heard of Him and the Twelve...Many people may have known one or more of the disciples...With Jesus gaining in popularity, many people may have known of Him and the Twelve (by) now...There probably were many people who had heard about the teachings and healings of Jesus and had been too busy with work, family, and life to see and hear firsthand about His teachings...This group would have been receptive to hear about this new gospel...This was part of God's plan, a plan we all know would work...When God is behind something, it will not fail...
Jesus also tells them that everyone will not be receptive...Meeting new people came take time to get to know them...But time here is of the essence...If some are not receptive, Jesus tells them to dust off their feet and move on...Jewish tradition had them dust off their feet when they came back from a foreign land...The Twelve would be telling the people that did not welcome them or listen to them that they had rejected the message of the Messiah and they would face judgment as any foreigner who did not believe...
The Twelve were given the ability by God to heal sick people...Only God has the power to heal and drive away evil and unclean spirits, and only He can give this power to others...God gave the Twelve healing authority, while they were out on this journey...The disciples drove out demons and anointed the sick with oil and healed those ill...
The Twelve knew of their shortcomings...They preached a simple message...Their message was for us to repent...They knew something special was happening...The day of the LORD was here...They were eyewitnesses to the Son of the Living God...