"He [Jesus] called for the Twelve and sent them out in pairs. He gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a walking stick--no bread, no bags, and no money in their belts. He told them to wear sandals but not to put on two shirts. He said, 'Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave that place. If a place doesn't welcome you or listen to you, as you leave, shake the dust off your feet as a witness against them.' So they went out and proclaimed that people should change their hearts and lives. They cast out many demons, and they anointed many sick people with olive oil and healed them."
In this text, Jesus sends out his disciples to proclaim and live the life that Jesus lives in their presence. He gives them the command to preach, heal, and to overcome evil, with authority. He sends them to reveal the good news of the kingdom with words and actions-- to continue his ministry of changing lives.
It's interesting how Jesus sends the disciples out in pairs. I used to think this had to do with the Jewish law that required two witnesses. But now I think that by doing this, he's creating partnerships. The missionaries have to learn to trust and depend on others, as well as the grace of God. This means that we are called to create a community where there is acceptance, trust, and discipleship.
Jesus requires the disciples to pack lightly--"no bread, no bags, and no money in their belts." Dr. Thomas Long speaks about how this verse is different in Matthew 10, Mark 6, and Luke 9. He says, "We think that the Markan community was the poorest socioeconomically of the Gospel communities in the New Testament . . . We think Luke was a mixed economy. We think Matthew was an affluent church, and John is a little hard to tell. Now, how do we know this? . . . In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus sends the disciples out two-by-two and in each of those Gospels, he says to them, 'Take no money' . . . but the Greek is different. In Mark, it's take no copper . . . In Luke, it's take no silver. In Matthew, it's take no copper, silver, or gold."
When Jesus tells the disciples to "shake the dust off your feet," he's making it clear that the mission will not be easy or a guaranteed success. There will be offense, unbelief, and failure. What are we to do when people don't want to hear or don't believe the message? Fred Craddock says, "Leave them to heaven and move on."
Jesus still sends us out. He sends us out to trust, believe, preach, teach, serve, anoint, and invite others to follow Jesus. William Barclay was speaking about these verses when he wrote, ". . .we can see that the mark of the Christian disciple was . . . utter simplicity, complete trust, and the generosity which is out always to give and never to demand." Our mission may seem overwhelming until we realize that we're not alone.
Also, it's important to note that the disciples were sent with a message--not their thoughts and opinions--what Jesus had told them. Jesus' message is the call "that people should change their hearts and lives." But the message is not only about words. We see that the disciples "cast out many demons, and they anointed many sick people with olive oil and healed them." This is more than a healing ministry. This is a restoration ministry. People were given back their liberty. These missionaries were helping people rebuild their lives.
Our task is to continue the ministry of Jesus. We are called to carry God's message. We are sent to share God's mercy and healing with others.
As we read these verses, we have to ask ourselves: Are we partnering with each other to share God's love? Have we offered hope to anyone lately? Because that is the mission of the church. Our mission is to go out and help people heal their lives.
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