WEBVTT 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:03.160 Hey, would you turn with me in your Bible to Mark 6? 00:00:03.640 --> 00:00:05.879 We're going to continue our series in Mark tonight. 00:00:09.540 --> 00:00:19.519 If you're looking at it in the Pew Bible, it's page 841, if you want to turn there. 00:00:20.600 --> 00:00:22.660 It'll also be on the screen above, too. 00:00:24.940 --> 00:00:29.379 Mark chapter 6, we're going to look at verses 1 through 30 tonight, a pretty big chunk. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.340 But I hope you'll see by the time of our time together that this big chunk all sort of hangs together. 00:00:35.179 --> 00:00:42.859 So as we come to God's word, let me pray again that God, by his spirit, will open up this passage for us and open up our hearts to speak to us tonight. 00:00:42.920 --> 00:00:43.500 So let's pray. 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:45.579 God, thank you so much. 00:00:47.700 --> 00:00:53.200 Lord, that when we had nowhere else to go and nothing else to do, you came to us in Christ. 00:00:53.840 --> 00:00:55.219 Jesus, where else could we go? 00:00:55.900 --> 00:00:57.740 What else can we do but run to you? 00:00:57.740 --> 00:01:04.359 Lord, help us to really sing that and say that and know that as we come to your word tonight. 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:15.780 Lord, would you open up this passage for us and really, truly, Lord, speak to us about what we need to know in following you. 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:17.920 Lord, we pray this in Jesus' name. 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:18.320 Amen. 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:21.260 Let me read this passage for us, Mark 6, 1 through 30. 00:01:21.740 --> 00:01:22.379 Mark says this. 00:01:22.379 --> 00:01:27.140 He, that is Jesus, went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 00:01:27.799 --> 00:01:29.920 And on the Sabbath, he began to teach in the synagogue. 00:01:30.119 --> 00:01:33.619 And many who heard him were astonished, saying, Where did this man get all these things? 00:01:34.199 --> 00:01:35.899 What is the wisdom given to him? 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:38.199 How are such mighty works done by his hands? 00:01:38.579 --> 00:01:43.500 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Josie's, and Judas, and Simon? 00:01:43.620 --> 00:01:45.099 And are not his sisters here with us? 00:01:45.099 --> 00:01:46.939 And they took offense at him. 00:01:47.799 --> 00:01:54.819 And Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household. 00:01:55.339 --> 00:01:59.979 And he could do no mighty work there except that he had laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 00:02:00.299 --> 00:02:02.039 And he marveled because of their unbelief. 00:02:03.539 --> 00:02:05.579 And he went about among the villages teaching. 00:02:05.579 --> 00:02:11.300 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 00:02:11.400 --> 00:02:14.639 And he charged them to take nothing for their journey except his staff. 00:02:15.099 --> 00:02:19.460 No bread, no bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:23.379 And he said to them, Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 00:02:23.400 --> 00:02:26.659 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you when you leave, 00:02:27.159 --> 00:02:30.120 shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them. 00:02:30.699 --> 00:02:33.500 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 00:02:33.500 --> 00:02:38.080 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them. 00:02:39.639 --> 00:02:43.000 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. 00:02:43.860 --> 00:02:46.039 Some said John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. 00:02:46.139 --> 00:02:48.199 That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him. 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:49.699 But others said he is Elijah. 00:02:49.819 --> 00:02:52.259 And others said he is a prophet like one of the prophets of old. 00:02:52.300 --> 00:02:55.599 But when Herod heard of it, he said, John, whom I beheaded, has been raised. 00:02:56.300 --> 00:03:00.920 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, 00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:03.419 his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. 00:03:03.979 --> 00:03:07.839 For John had been saying to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. 00:03:09.239 --> 00:03:12.099 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. 00:03:12.379 --> 00:03:16.179 But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. 00:03:16.299 --> 00:03:17.239 And he kept him safe. 00:03:17.779 --> 00:03:20.399 When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed. 00:03:20.779 --> 00:03:21.759 And yet he heard him gladly. 00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:26.519 But an opportunity came when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his nobles and 00:03:26.519 --> 00:03:28.519 military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:32.500 For when Herodias' daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. 00:03:32.539 --> 00:03:35.899 And the king said to the girl, Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you. 00:03:36.079 --> 00:03:39.379 And he vowed to you, Whatever you ask me, I will give you up to half my kingdom. 00:03:39.899 --> 00:03:43.199 And she went out and asked her mother, For what should I ask? 00:03:43.359 --> 00:03:46.019 And she said, The head of John the Baptist. 00:03:46.020 --> 00:03:51.680 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, I want you to 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:55.640 give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter. 00:03:56.680 --> 00:03:58.420 And the king was exceedingly sorry. 00:03:58.980 --> 00:04:02.960 But because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to break his word to her. 00:04:03.240 --> 00:04:06.580 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. 00:04:07.060 --> 00:04:11.960 He went and beheaded him in prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl. 00:04:12.219 --> 00:04:13.580 And the girl gave it to her mother. 00:04:13.580 --> 00:04:17.580 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:23.639 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 00:04:28.580 --> 00:04:34.520 Well, so I don't know about you guys, but I think it's kind of true that we all want to be part of something big. 00:04:34.819 --> 00:04:35.340 Don't we? 00:04:35.980 --> 00:04:39.620 To be a part of a movement that's kind of a little bit bigger and more significant than we are. 00:04:39.699 --> 00:04:41.180 To make a mark in the world. 00:04:41.180 --> 00:04:44.100 I think we see this in advertising all the time, don't we? 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:45.019 I mean, think of Apple. 00:04:45.400 --> 00:04:46.720 You know, you watch an Apple ad. 00:04:47.459 --> 00:04:53.699 And, you know, it's not just that owning an iPod or an iPhone or a MacBook will make me more efficient. 00:04:53.860 --> 00:04:56.639 And it's not just that owning those things will make me look cooler. 00:04:56.860 --> 00:05:05.019 But it's that owning an Apple product will make me a part of a group of people who are on the cutting edge of technology and life. 00:05:05.019 --> 00:05:07.180 And just getting it right, right? 00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:14.519 That somehow, if I'm an Apple owner, I'll be a part of that revolution of work and play and connection, right? 00:05:14.699 --> 00:05:17.879 Owning an Apple, according to advertising anyway, is to be a part of a movement. 00:05:19.500 --> 00:05:21.199 Or take Tom's shoes. 00:05:21.319 --> 00:05:23.419 Does anyone here own a pair of Tom's shoes? 00:05:23.539 --> 00:05:24.079 True confessions. 00:05:25.539 --> 00:05:25.859 Nobody! 00:05:26.459 --> 00:05:26.939 One, two. 00:05:27.019 --> 00:05:27.439 Oh, okay. 00:05:27.500 --> 00:05:28.240 Now it's coming out. 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:31.660 You know, this is probably even more the case with Tom's. 00:05:31.680 --> 00:05:32.379 It's pretty explicit, right? 00:05:32.400 --> 00:05:32.819 What do they say? 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:35.360 You know, we're putting shoes on the feet of kids all over the globe. 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:36.980 We're this force for good in the world. 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:41.780 So if you buy Tom's shoes, you can be a part of a movement that's saving the world. 00:05:41.780 --> 00:05:44.780 Or at least saving the souls of kids, right? 00:05:45.280 --> 00:05:46.120 The feet of kids. 00:05:46.259 --> 00:05:46.780 Not the souls. 00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:47.519 The feet, right? 00:05:48.220 --> 00:05:49.379 I don't even think of that pun. 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:52.280 So here's the thing. 00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:54.680 I'm not saying that Apple or that Tom's shoes are bad. 00:05:54.759 --> 00:05:55.540 I'm not trying to be cynical. 00:05:55.759 --> 00:05:56.439 I own a Mac. 00:05:56.519 --> 00:05:57.540 I think Tom's shoes are great. 00:05:58.280 --> 00:06:01.660 But what I want us to see is, aren't they tapping into something? 00:06:01.860 --> 00:06:06.340 Aren't they tapping in to a deep longing of a human heart to be part of something? 00:06:07.240 --> 00:06:11.820 To be part of a people or a mission or a movement that's bigger than you and I. 00:06:11.820 --> 00:06:15.240 And that will sweep me up into some larger purpose or goal. 00:06:16.759 --> 00:06:20.379 Now, have we ever stopped to think about where that longing comes from? 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:25.379 Why does the thought of being a part of that sort of awaken something in my soul? 00:06:25.379 --> 00:06:32.439 And, you know, it does this even when we know that whatever movement it might be, we know 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:35.680 that it ultimately doesn't satisfy and we know that it ultimately won't last, right? 00:06:36.300 --> 00:06:37.980 We know that these movements don't satisfy. 00:06:38.180 --> 00:06:42.680 You know, you buy an iPad and it doesn't significantly, radically change the story of your life. 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:47.060 You know, you still have a hard time returning your emails and you still forget calendar events 00:06:47.060 --> 00:06:47.860 and things like that. 00:06:47.860 --> 00:06:51.620 And you buy a pair of Tom's shoes and the good feeling goes away after a while. 00:06:51.879 --> 00:06:55.300 You know, these movements don't satisfy and we know that they don't last, right? 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:58.540 One day, Tom's shoes, unfortunately, will probably go out of business. 00:06:58.759 --> 00:06:59.420 It's just inevitable. 00:07:00.819 --> 00:07:02.800 One day, Apple computers will be no more. 00:07:03.300 --> 00:07:08.900 And our, you know, grandchildren will laugh that we ever used a gadget so arcane as an iPhone. 00:07:08.899 --> 00:07:12.060 Just like you and I laugh right now at old school car phones, right? 00:07:12.139 --> 00:07:12.919 Do you remember those things? 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:14.779 They had the cord. 00:07:14.979 --> 00:07:15.959 They were like this big. 00:07:16.459 --> 00:07:17.859 You had to like connect to a satellite. 00:07:19.079 --> 00:07:20.339 Don't you remember car phones? 00:07:21.019 --> 00:07:21.639 Yeah, right? 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:22.919 Did anyone here own a car phone? 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:25.459 My dad had one in his like company car. 00:07:25.539 --> 00:07:26.039 It was ridiculous. 00:07:27.939 --> 00:07:28.939 So why, right? 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:29.479 Why? 00:07:30.259 --> 00:07:34.339 Why do I have this longing in my heart to be a part of something, to be a movement, 00:07:34.939 --> 00:07:37.439 even when nothing in the world seems to satisfy it? 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:40.879 I mean, is that whole desire just completely delusional? 00:07:42.680 --> 00:07:45.959 Well, you know, it's interesting that according to the Bible, the answer is no. 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:53.920 According to the Bible, we have this longing because human beings, you and I, are created in the image of God. 00:07:55.139 --> 00:08:01.139 And part of what it means to be God's image bearer is to be a part of God's mission. 00:08:01.139 --> 00:08:08.560 God's mission to display and to reflect his character and his love and his authority out into the world. 00:08:09.259 --> 00:08:14.819 You know, in the Olympics, in the opening ceremonies, when they sort of have all the athletes come streaming into the stadium, 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:19.479 and they're all sort of bearing the flags of their countries and images of their home country, 00:08:19.480 --> 00:08:22.700 and they're representing and they're reflecting their nation to the world, 00:08:23.280 --> 00:08:25.700 bearing their country's standard, bearing the image of their country. 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:33.399 Well, that image, in some sense, in creation, all of humanity was meant to be like that. 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:41.659 With God's image stamped on our hearts, we were meant to stream into creation, reflecting and representing him. 00:08:41.659 --> 00:08:52.759 We were created to be a part of God's mission to care for and cultivate the world in such a way that God would be seen and known as infinitely glorious and as infinitely satisfying. 00:08:54.360 --> 00:08:59.819 In other words, being created in God's image means that we were created to be a part of a movement that's bigger than us, 00:09:00.059 --> 00:09:03.719 and that ultimately has nothing to do with us, and that ultimately is about God. 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:13.480 So you see, that's why even cheesy advertisements, when they start speaking this language of movement and of mission and of belonging, 00:09:13.680 --> 00:09:15.080 our hearts start resonating. 00:09:15.820 --> 00:09:21.920 It's like they're playing strands of a song that we'd forgotten long ago, and yet we're begging to be reminded and to be called back. 00:09:22.980 --> 00:09:26.840 And called back not by advertisers and ultimately not called back by nation states, 00:09:27.300 --> 00:09:29.759 but to be called back by the one who created us. 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:44.639 Now, when Jesus shows up on the scene in Mark's gospel, what we find is that at last, in Jesus, God has come to reclaim his people and to send them out on his mission. 00:09:46.019 --> 00:09:50.259 Jesus comes, after all, as we've been following the story of Mark, he comes starting a movement, right? 00:09:50.620 --> 00:09:53.639 In chapter 1, Jesus begins his ministry by calling disciples to himself. 00:09:53.639 --> 00:10:01.960 In chapter 3, he intentionally chooses 12 apostles, representative of the 12 tribes of Israel, a representation that he's renewing the people of God. 00:10:03.460 --> 00:10:06.740 And he particularly builds into and spends time with those 12. 00:10:06.899 --> 00:10:09.340 And then here in chapter 6, what are we told? 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:15.600 He sends those 12 out on this short, tactical mission to some surrounding villages and towns. 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:19.139 And then in verse 30, they come back and tell Jesus all that they did. 00:10:19.139 --> 00:10:24.299 Now, what in the world is Jesus up to in sending them out in this way? 00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:30.580 Well, the reality is that from one angle, Jesus knows that after his death, resurrection, and ascension, 00:10:30.679 --> 00:10:38.960 he's going to entrust the apostles and to the rest of the church with the mission of taking the good news of his person and work, 00:10:39.460 --> 00:10:41.460 of his redemption to the whole creation. 00:10:41.460 --> 00:10:48.540 At Pentecost, after Jesus completes his work, he pours out the Holy Spirit and the church explodes into the world. 00:10:49.220 --> 00:10:54.080 And it's still spreading today with the saving news of who Jesus is and what he's done. 00:10:54.920 --> 00:10:59.340 And here in Mark 6 is in some sense the first spark of that. 00:11:00.460 --> 00:11:04.940 He's preparing the apostles now in this chapter for the mission that's eventually to come. 00:11:05.920 --> 00:11:10.360 It's almost like what's going on here in chapter 12 is like a scrimmage before the big game. 00:11:10.360 --> 00:11:15.039 If you ever played a sport, you know that like before your season gets up and running, 00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:17.680 you always play these like nothing games. 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:18.379 Like they mean nothing. 00:11:18.500 --> 00:11:21.940 Oh, we're scrimmaging like Joe Schmoe High School from across the, you know, tracks. 00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:25.779 Like they're going to pound on us, but it doesn't count because they're not in our league, you know. 00:11:27.019 --> 00:11:30.779 And Jesus is saying, look, I want you to suit up and hit the field and take some snaps 00:11:30.779 --> 00:11:36.360 and make some tackles before we hit game day and before the mission of the church begins in full at Pentecost. 00:11:37.920 --> 00:11:39.539 Okay, so what does this mean for us then? 00:11:40.360 --> 00:11:47.659 Well, first off, it means that the mission our hearts were made for is found in Christ. 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:49.759 It's found in him. 00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:55.620 That Jesus has come renewing and reinstituting and resending the people of God on mission. 00:11:57.340 --> 00:12:02.680 And it also means that Mark 6 can show us some critical aspects of what this mission looks like. 00:12:02.679 --> 00:12:07.500 So you see, to become a follower of Jesus, this is what we've been thinking about this fall. 00:12:07.659 --> 00:12:08.219 Who is Jesus? 00:12:08.739 --> 00:12:09.559 Why has he come? 00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:11.159 What does it mean to follow him? 00:12:11.620 --> 00:12:16.139 To become a follower of Jesus, to place your faith in him as your Lord and as your Savior, 00:12:16.339 --> 00:12:23.799 means finding your place in his mission to be a part of the movement that you were created for. 00:12:23.799 --> 00:12:31.620 So tonight, I want to spend just a few moments looking at Mark 6 and seeing what it teaches us about our mission as Jesus' followers. 00:12:33.379 --> 00:12:34.439 So we're going to do that. 00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:41.339 So the first thing I think that this text shows us about our mission as the church is that it's a team effort. 00:12:42.059 --> 00:12:42.240 Okay? 00:12:42.620 --> 00:12:44.799 Verse 7, Jesus sends them out two by two. 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:48.240 He's not expecting that they would do it alone. 00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:52.199 Jesus doesn't want them to go out as lone rangers proclaiming the kingdom. 00:12:52.819 --> 00:12:55.439 I mean, you can almost imagine sort of Jesus gathering with the disciples saying, 00:12:55.559 --> 00:12:56.819 Okay, we're going to go out two by two. 00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:58.319 And they're like, Jesus, look, there's 12 of us. 00:12:58.659 --> 00:13:01.740 If we go out one by one, we're going to get this job done like twice as fast. 00:13:02.219 --> 00:13:02.799 We're going to be done. 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:04.179 We'll be home in time for Shark Tank. 00:13:04.339 --> 00:13:05.179 Like, done, right? 00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:06.639 Let's just, let's get efficient. 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:07.779 Jesus says, no. 00:13:08.539 --> 00:13:09.819 You're going out two by two. 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:12.439 You can't go alone. 00:13:12.440 --> 00:13:17.460 Jesus knows that our work together, that our mission has to be done together. 00:13:18.540 --> 00:13:22.240 I mean, after all, when we hit difficulties, we'll need to encourage one another, right? 00:13:23.520 --> 00:13:28.340 And when we're not sure what the next step to take or what the next word is to say, we need wisdom. 00:13:28.660 --> 00:13:29.820 We'll need each other's wisdom. 00:13:30.900 --> 00:13:38.800 And on top of all that, you know, it will be the quality of our relationships with one another that gives our message credibility. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:44.219 It's going to be in how we love and how we serve and how we're generous with one another. 00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:55.099 It'll be the care and the love and the unity between us that starts turning heads so that people suddenly start thinking that there's something actually to this message about Jesus. 00:13:56.039 --> 00:14:02.299 In other words, our relationships with one another become living evidence of the truth and the power of the message. 00:14:02.299 --> 00:14:11.879 And as a side note, if you kind of look at the passage, I think that's one of the reasons why Jesus tells them when you go into a village and someone receives you, stay there. 00:14:12.199 --> 00:14:14.439 Don't hop from house to house to house to house. 00:14:14.779 --> 00:14:19.059 Because he wants their life, he wants their mission to be incredibly transparent. 00:14:20.019 --> 00:14:25.959 Jesus doesn't want anyone thinking that the apostles are trying to hide something or trying to pull one over. 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:34.480 He wants their lives and their message and their motives to be completely open and clear with the people that they're staying among. 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:38.820 So here's how I think this plays out for us today, this idea. 00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:46.980 One of the most important things that you can do, that you and I can do as a Christian, as a follower of Christ, to be about Jesus' mission in the world, 00:14:47.700 --> 00:14:52.660 is to actually become an active, loving member of a local church. 00:14:52.659 --> 00:15:02.819 To admit that we actually can't be lone rangers and to formally join a church so that the world can see our love for one another on display. 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:07.779 Now, I know a couple of you tonight are actually in the process of becoming members. 00:15:07.939 --> 00:15:08.659 Scott, high five. 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:09.779 Right? 00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:10.620 And that's awesome. 00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:14.199 I mean, that's exactly what it means to begin living out our mission. 00:15:15.259 --> 00:15:20.539 But, you know, maybe some of you here tonight haven't given any thought to the idea of membership and what it means. 00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:22.179 But just think about it. 00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:27.379 I mean, to be a body of believers committed to one another, loving one another, open with one another, 00:15:27.719 --> 00:15:31.600 is going to be part of the evidence that the gospel of Jesus is real to the world. 00:15:32.719 --> 00:15:37.399 Let alone the fact that we need encouragement when we hit hard patches, that we need wisdom when we're facing tough decisions. 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:41.319 The reality is that we don't have to do this alone. 00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:43.539 And that Jesus doesn't want you to do this alone. 00:15:43.539 --> 00:15:47.079 And I think that's a great comfort, isn't it? 00:15:47.959 --> 00:15:53.240 That we're not meant to sort of bear the load of the mission that Jesus has given us by ourselves. 00:15:53.419 --> 00:15:54.259 It's a team effort. 00:15:56.199 --> 00:15:57.059 So that's the first thing. 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:57.899 Here's the second thing. 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:02.319 I think the second thing we see about our mission is that it's a radically dependent mission. 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:07.780 We're not just to be relying on one another, but ultimately relying on God. 00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:09.120 Look at verses 8 and 9. 00:16:09.820 --> 00:16:14.300 In verses 8 and 9, Jesus tells them to go out with basically like minimal equipment, right? 00:16:14.520 --> 00:16:16.900 You get a staff and you get a pair of sandals. 00:16:17.100 --> 00:16:18.120 You get nothing else. 00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:20.580 Don't even take an extra coat, you know? 00:16:20.580 --> 00:16:24.200 So I think on the one hand, what does this mean? 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:28.759 It means that the disciples are going out pretty lightly equipped because it's meant to be a short-term mission. 00:16:28.860 --> 00:16:32.139 They're not going to be out there for years and years and years and years, so they don't have to take a ton of stuff with them. 00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:38.840 But I think more than that, Jesus is teaching them a lesson about who to depend on. 00:16:40.060 --> 00:16:40.900 Because think about it. 00:16:40.900 --> 00:16:49.020 If they go out with minimum amount of supplies, they're going to have to rely on God to provide what they need. 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:55.100 They'll have to rely on God to lead them, for example, to hospitable homes where they can stay. 00:16:57.220 --> 00:17:01.419 You see, this is going to force them not to rely on themselves, but to be dependent on God. 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:10.279 So for us today, I don't think this means that we should never make plans or wise preparations for what God is calling us to do, right? 00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:17.960 None of us should sort of grab a buddy and jump on a plane to, I don't know, Romania with sandals and a staff and say, we're just going, you know? 00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:18.859 Let's just go. 00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:20.619 That's not the point. 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:25.559 In fact, Jesus, it's pretty clear that Jesus is meant to be teaching them a spiritual lesson here, right? 00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:34.720 In fact, later on in Jesus's ministry, Jesus is eventually going to tell the disciples to go ahead and take all the things that he told them here not to take. 00:17:35.099 --> 00:17:36.119 It's in Luke 22. 00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:39.839 He says, okay, remember how I told you not to take all that stuff? 00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:40.700 What did you need? 00:17:40.940 --> 00:17:42.859 They said, we lack nothing, Lord. 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:46.220 He says, okay, now take all that stuff and I'm going to send you out. 00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:50.740 So the point is, is that here in Mark 6, he's teaching them a spiritual lesson. 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:55.160 And the lesson is that our mission is to be a radically God-dependent one. 00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:57.579 And what does that mean for us practically? 00:17:57.579 --> 00:18:07.720 I think for us practically it means that our time spent praying should match or even exceed our time spent planning. 00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:10.319 You see what I mean? 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:19.960 If we're going to be engaged in the mission of God that he calls us into, then we have to be relying on Jesus to see it through. 00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:26.039 You know, we often think, when we think about prayer, we often think that the thing that keeps us from prayer is our self-control, right? 00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:27.339 What keeps me from praying a lot? 00:18:27.419 --> 00:18:28.099 What's self-control? 00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:30.419 If I only had more self-control, then I'd pray more. 00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:31.220 I'd wake up earlier. 00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:33.579 I'd force myself to pray longer and better. 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:35.720 I'd read more books about prayer, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:39.240 But, you know, the thing is in prayer, self-control is not our real problem. 00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:41.259 It's self-sufficiency. 00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:45.100 Self-sufficiency is the real enemy of prayer. 00:18:45.940 --> 00:18:51.460 When I think that I can accomplish what's before me through my own efforts and skill, then I won't rely on God in dependent prayer. 00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:52.519 It's pretty simple. 00:18:54.600 --> 00:19:01.100 Jesus intentionally puts the apostles here in a position materially where they can't possibly be self-sufficient. 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:02.839 That they'll have to rely on God. 00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:06.159 And that's supposed to teach us about our real position spiritually, right? 00:19:06.459 --> 00:19:08.679 It's a material example of a spiritual lesson. 00:19:09.939 --> 00:19:12.039 That spiritually we're never self-sufficient. 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:17.220 And isn't that the truth at the heart of the gospel? 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:20.220 That we can't save ourselves. 00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:24.199 And that our good works aren't good enough for God to accept us. 00:19:24.779 --> 00:19:26.220 That we're not sufficient. 00:19:27.679 --> 00:19:30.059 But that Jesus is completely sufficient. 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:32.199 That he's perfectly good. 00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:34.980 And he bore the penalty for my sins on the cross. 00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:37.400 And I can stop relying on myself. 00:19:38.080 --> 00:19:39.860 And I can rely solely on him. 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:43.559 And in him, be perfectly acceptable in God's sight. 00:19:44.840 --> 00:19:46.920 That's what it means to become a Christian. 00:19:49.120 --> 00:19:53.720 To come to rely solely on Jesus and not myself for a right relationship with God. 00:19:53.720 --> 00:20:00.299 And you know, once we become Christians, our life continues in that same vein. 00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:06.940 We learn more and more and more to stop relying on ourselves and to rely on God and Christ. 00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:17.900 And so our mission becomes one of increasingly dependent, prayer-filled reliance. 00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:21.140 It's hard to pray, right? 00:20:21.180 --> 00:20:22.480 It's hard to pray when you think about mission. 00:20:22.560 --> 00:20:23.980 Because it feels like we're not doing anything. 00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:27.519 It's like, what are we doing? 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:28.780 We're just praying. 00:20:28.900 --> 00:20:30.100 We should be doing something, right? 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:31.200 Not just sitting here. 00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:35.000 But it's only God, right? 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:36.720 It's only God that can change a person's heart. 00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:38.680 And it's only God that can bring someone to saving faith. 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:42.160 And it's only God that can bring the renewal that we long for. 00:20:43.400 --> 00:20:44.779 And so that's why we pray. 00:20:44.860 --> 00:20:46.120 That's why it's a dependent mission. 00:20:47.620 --> 00:20:48.720 So here's the third thing. 00:20:48.860 --> 00:20:49.640 That's the second thing. 00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:51.680 It's a very radically dependent mission on God. 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:55.539 But third, the mission is supposed to be a both-and kind of mission. 00:20:55.660 --> 00:21:00.180 That our mission as Christians, as we follow Jesus into the world, is supposed to be a both-and kind of mission. 00:21:00.279 --> 00:21:01.039 And now here's what I mean. 00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:05.160 When you look through this passage, what did Jesus tell the disciples to actually do? 00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:06.779 What are they supposed to go do? 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:11.299 Well, on the one hand, they're supposed to be engaged in really bold proclamation, right? 00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:12.480 This is verse 12. 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:16.180 They went out and they proclaimed that people should repent. 00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:17.600 That's pretty bold. 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:24.359 They were supposed to go out and declare to people that in Jesus, God's kingdom was at hand. 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:27.879 And that it was completely reordering the world. 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:31.799 And it was completely restructuring how we were going to relate to God. 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:34.779 And that everyone needed to respond. 00:21:36.719 --> 00:21:38.119 Everybody needed to respond. 00:21:38.119 --> 00:21:43.119 That's why they were shaking the dust off of their clothes when they left the town that rejected them. 00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:46.899 In the first century, that was what Jews did when they left the Gentile area. 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:53.179 They went like this and brushed the sand off because it was symbolic by saying, that's an unclean territory. 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:54.559 And I'm leaving it there. 00:21:55.639 --> 00:21:56.639 See what Jesus is saying here? 00:21:56.919 --> 00:22:00.980 If you go to a Jewish village and they reject the message of me, it's like they're unclean. 00:22:02.179 --> 00:22:03.819 That's pretty bold, right? 00:22:05.179 --> 00:22:06.719 Everyone is called to respond. 00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:09.179 It doesn't matter what your spiritual pedigree is. 00:22:10.419 --> 00:22:13.099 You have to come to Jesus. 00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:16.799 It's a bold proclamation on the one hand. 00:22:16.879 --> 00:22:18.719 But what else were they doing in their mission? 00:22:19.399 --> 00:22:20.299 Look at verse 13. 00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:23.359 They cast out demons and healed the sick. 00:22:24.379 --> 00:22:26.839 In other words, it wasn't just a mission of bold proclamation. 00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:28.000 It was certainly that. 00:22:28.439 --> 00:22:30.519 But it was also one of compassionate service. 00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:33.059 They were meeting people's felt needs. 00:22:33.199 --> 00:22:34.240 They were caring for the sick. 00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:36.279 They were dealing with people's spiritual bondage. 00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:40.000 And that's what I mean by saying it's a both and mission. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:43.740 It's both bold proclamation and it's one of compassionate service. 00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:47.599 Now, there's a lot we can say about this sort of aspect of the mission. 00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:50.339 And we can come back to it in the Q&A if you guys want to. 00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:57.740 But let me now just say that I think for most of us, temperamentally, we probably fall on one side of this or the other, right? 00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:59.599 Some of us love bold proclamation. 00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:04.899 Like, we could preach about Jesus to anybody and not fear an ounce of, like, fear or anxiety. 00:23:05.659 --> 00:23:07.079 Has anyone ever been around someone like that? 00:23:07.419 --> 00:23:07.859 It's awesome. 00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:08.859 It's not me, right? 00:23:08.939 --> 00:23:09.819 But it's cool, right? 00:23:09.879 --> 00:23:12.139 It's like, man, they don't care if they offend anybody. 00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:12.980 Like, they just love Jesus. 00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:13.699 They're going to tell about it. 00:23:14.859 --> 00:23:16.519 Other of us are on the other side of the spectrum. 00:23:16.919 --> 00:23:18.639 We're into the compassionate service, man. 00:23:18.679 --> 00:23:25.199 We just have really creative and insightful and effective ways to care for the people who are in need around us. 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:31.700 And I think the challenge for us is first to realize which side we sort of naturally tend to. 00:23:32.140 --> 00:23:33.720 Are we kind of more of the bold proclaimers? 00:23:33.819 --> 00:23:35.360 Are we more of the sort of compassionate servers? 00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:43.539 And to make sure that personally and as a church, as we minister, even as we minister out of our strengths, 00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:47.819 that we don't fall either way and let the other side fall off. 00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:51.319 That we don't just become bold proclaimers without any acts of love. 00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:54.680 That we don't just become a church that's acts of love with no proclamation. 00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:57.759 That we always have to keep the both and. 00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:00.220 Both proclamation and service. 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:04.559 Okay, so here are three things we see about this mission. 00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.340 It's a team effort. 00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:06.220 It's radically dependent. 00:24:06.340 --> 00:24:07.100 It's a both and mission. 00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:11.559 This is sort of what it's taking shape to be, following Christ in mission. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:15.539 But the last thing that we see in our passage tonight is that in this mission, 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:20.500 we shouldn't be surprised or discouraged by rejection. 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:26.220 That rejection shouldn't throw us off course or take the wind out of our sails. 00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:28.339 Look again at the chapter. 00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:31.640 Verse 7, Jesus sends the apostles out. 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:34.400 And way down in verse 30, we're told that they come back. 00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:39.440 And then sandwiched right in between is this account about John the Baptist. 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:42.160 Right? 00:24:42.300 --> 00:24:43.180 About his execution. 00:24:43.180 --> 00:24:47.039 And a lot of commentators say, you know what? 00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:49.480 Mark's being very intentional in doing it this way. 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:53.960 He could have put the account of John the Baptist anywhere in his gospel. 00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:55.840 It doesn't happen here chronologically. 00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:57.519 He put it here for a reason. 00:24:58.740 --> 00:25:02.880 That Mark purposefully put the account of John the Baptist's death right in the mission, 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:06.000 right in the middle of the account of the mission of the 12 to make a point. 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:08.180 And what point is that? 00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:08.900 Here's the point. 00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:18.080 That faithfully following Jesus will often result in opposition and rejection and sometimes even persecution and death. 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:22.960 Just as John the Baptist was unjustly executed by Herod. 00:25:23.060 --> 00:25:23.960 It's senseless, right? 00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:26.960 The whole account is just rife with ridiculousness. 00:25:29.779 --> 00:25:37.460 Just as that happened to John the Baptist, so for us, following Jesus will often result in being misunderstood and rejected, even hated. 00:25:38.180 --> 00:25:47.220 Now, for some of you tonight, for some of us tonight, maybe that's part of what's going on in your heart as you consider becoming a Christian. 00:25:47.860 --> 00:25:49.500 You know, maybe you're attracted to Christ. 00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:53.340 Maybe you're seeing the difference that it kind of makes in your friends' lives. 00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:58.880 And maybe you've been exploring it, and it's starting to make sense, and it's starting to ring true. 00:25:59.560 --> 00:26:03.180 And you actually feel yourself being drawn to place your trust in Christ. 00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:15.060 But you know, you know that if you were to take a step over that line and give your life to Jesus and identify as a Christian, that your friends and your family members would think you are totally crazy. 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:20.320 And you'd be completely ostracized and made fun of. 00:26:22.060 --> 00:26:24.820 You know, sure, they're not going to literally put your head on a platter. 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:28.580 You know, by God's grace, in America, we don't have to worry about that. 00:26:28.579 --> 00:26:30.319 It's true in other parts of the world, though. 00:26:31.199 --> 00:26:35.500 To publicly identify with Jesus means pretty much an immediate death sentence. 00:26:37.659 --> 00:26:38.859 Okay, so we're not dealing with that. 00:26:38.899 --> 00:26:45.579 But figuratively speaking, man, it feels like if I become a believer, there are a lot of people that are going to be putting my head on the social platter. 00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:49.899 Or maybe you are a Christian tonight. 00:26:50.659 --> 00:27:01.539 Maybe you are a believer, and you think, as you think, as you think about this mission that Christ is calling us into, this together, dependent, both-and kind of mission, honestly, you're kind of filled with a lot of fear. 00:27:02.619 --> 00:27:06.879 The boldness that you know you should have in telling others about Jesus just isn't there. 00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:16.220 You're timid and nervous, and you're afraid of rejection, afraid of what others will think of you and say to you if you were open about your beliefs in Christ. 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:20.160 So what does Mark have to say to us? 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:23.060 Okay, it's going to happen, right? 00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:24.360 Or at least it might. 00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:30.560 Well, I think that's why Mark starts the chapter the way that he does. 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:43.980 You know, as we face our fears of rejection, either in becoming a Christian or as living out our Christian life, what the first part of this chapter is telling us is that Jesus himself faced rejection. 00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:53.259 He goes to his hometown, and they mock him, and they ridicule him, and his own family calls him crazy, and they take offense at him. 00:27:53.259 --> 00:28:09.059 And this means that as we experience rejection, we can know that Jesus himself is not just empathetic, but sympathetic. 00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:15.099 That he's near to those who are experiencing the exact same thing that he's gone through. 00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:18.319 But, you know, it's even more than that. 00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:21.960 As comforting as that is, to know that Christ is near to the rejected, 00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:25.140 that as we go forth and experience that, that Jesus is near to us. 00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:26.120 It's even more than that. 00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:32.799 Because the rejection that Jesus experiences isn't just like us, but it's for us. 00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:37.420 You know, Jesus lived a whole life of rejection. 00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:42.600 And his mission ultimately leads him to the ultimate rejection of the cross. 00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:45.100 And why? 00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:46.840 Why does he go to the cross? 00:28:46.839 --> 00:28:53.000 So that everyone who believes in him can know acceptance. 00:28:54.939 --> 00:28:59.019 That he's rejected so that sinners like you and me can be accepted. 00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:01.679 So that we can know the acceptance of God. 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:10.439 And friends, as we meditate on that fact, that my sins actually deserve God's rejection. 00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:14.619 But because of what Christ has done in my place, I now receive God's acceptance. 00:29:14.619 --> 00:29:20.519 As we meditate on that, we find that our assurance and our boldness actually grows. 00:29:21.859 --> 00:29:22.639 And you know what that means? 00:29:23.699 --> 00:29:29.059 It means that those other kinds of rejections that we face, it means that they'll still sting us, right? 00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:32.799 But they won't ultimately stop us. 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:35.879 Because God no longer rejects us. 00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:40.379 He accepts us in Christ that we have his favor no matter what may come. 00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:43.059 And that he'll never leave us or forsake us. 00:29:43.059 --> 00:29:47.679 And we can start to say that his love is better than life. 00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:56.599 So tonight, I want you to know that this is the mission that you were created for. 00:29:57.139 --> 00:29:59.579 To follow Christ into the world. 00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:05.299 That nothing else will satisfy your heart and nothing else will captivate your life. 00:30:05.299 --> 00:30:16.440 And that when this mission takes you to the hardest places of rejection and opposition and hurt, you can know that Jesus has already gone before you. 00:30:18.099 --> 00:30:25.759 And that anything that we face will ultimately be worth knowing him and experiencing the acceptance that he's won for us. 00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:29.819 So let's pray together. 00:30:31.379 --> 00:30:39.980 Lord Jesus, thank you that on the cross you were rejected, Lord, for our sins so that we might be accepted. 00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:44.579 Lord, so now as we go forth, we can go forth in boldness and confidence. 00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:48.339 God, thank you for these things. 00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:53.079 Lord, as we think about this mission that you've called us into, Lord, would you empower us for it? 00:30:53.379 --> 00:31:04.779 Lord, thank you for your Holy Spirit who gives us a deep knowledge of your love for us so that we might go forth together depending on you, proclaiming and loving and serving in your name. 00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:05.699 Lord, we ask this. 00:31:06.099 --> 00:31:06.279 Amen. 00:31:07.579 --> 00:31:09.379 Hey, so we're going to go ahead and take a seat, guys. 00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:11.440 So the preacher was long-winded tonight. 00:31:11.900 --> 00:31:15.120 So we don't have as much time for Q&A, but let's fire away. 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:17.280 What questions do you guys have about this passage? 00:31:23.780 --> 00:31:24.380 Nord, yeah. 00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:30.260 Planning, I'm sorry. 00:31:30.560 --> 00:31:31.540 Planning, yeah. 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:35.480 You know, we sort of spend all this busy energy like trying to concoct a strategy, right? 00:31:36.140 --> 00:31:38.140 But, you know, and executing it. 00:31:38.140 --> 00:31:38.900 And those are good. 00:31:38.900 --> 00:31:39.980 Those are, like, right on. 00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:43.560 You know, we see the apostles all the time planning and executing in the book of Acts. 00:31:44.880 --> 00:31:48.460 But there's just dependent prayer that surrounds that. 00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:49.220 So, yeah. 00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:00.100 Matt. 00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:04.240 Why couldn't Jesus do miracles in his hometown? 00:32:05.820 --> 00:32:08.220 Why couldn't Jesus do miracles in his hometown? 00:32:08.900 --> 00:32:11.000 Was he somehow sort of tied up? 00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:13.700 Was his power sort of limited because there wasn't any faith? 00:32:14.060 --> 00:32:18.759 You know, I think one of the best explanations I've read about that is that what is the purpose 00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:19.680 of Jesus' miracles? 00:32:19.800 --> 00:32:22.860 The purpose of Jesus' miracles really are to affirm his identity, right? 00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:23.560 And his mission. 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:28.680 They're not just meant to be sort of brute acts of power that just sort of overpower people. 00:32:28.680 --> 00:32:33.340 But they're sort of all a part of his mission and his sort of establishment of his identity. 00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:39.720 So if people are sort of not believing and hardened in their unbelief, then in some sense, 00:32:39.779 --> 00:32:41.660 the purpose of the miracles is already useless. 00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:42.620 It's already shot. 00:32:42.619 --> 00:32:45.119 So he doesn't. 00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:45.519 Yeah. 00:33:00.719 --> 00:33:01.319 Yeah. 00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:02.519 That's a good question. 00:33:02.639 --> 00:33:05.219 So how would that aspect apply to our mission? 00:33:05.220 --> 00:33:06.220 Hmm. 00:33:08.220 --> 00:33:08.620 Yeah. 00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:09.380 I don't know. 00:33:09.799 --> 00:33:10.600 That's a good question. 00:33:11.019 --> 00:33:12.200 I haven't thought about that. 00:33:17.059 --> 00:33:19.120 I have nothing interesting to say. 00:33:19.120 --> 00:33:19.519 Yeah. 00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:21.460 It can be a mission where somehow it may be a mission. 00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:22.000 Yeah. 00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:24.240 Yeah. 00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:27.360 Yeah. 00:33:27.359 --> 00:33:34.679 Yeah. 00:33:39.799 --> 00:33:40.899 Oh, right, right, right. 00:33:40.979 --> 00:33:41.279 Yeah. 00:33:41.579 --> 00:33:41.879 Yeah. 00:33:42.479 --> 00:33:42.839 Yeah. 00:33:42.919 --> 00:33:44.899 You know, that's a really interesting question. 00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:48.579 And I think there are different strands in the New Testament that sort of give us sort 00:33:48.579 --> 00:33:50.139 of a robust wisdom about that. 00:33:50.579 --> 00:33:53.579 You know, because even in this passage, you see them shaking off the dust from their feet 00:33:53.579 --> 00:33:54.419 when they're not received. 00:33:54.420 --> 00:33:58.220 Now, you know, we need to be careful with a passage like this, because on the one hand, 00:33:58.720 --> 00:34:01.920 like all of scripture is God breathing is useful for us in our life, right? 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:05.279 But we also have to acknowledge that some of these things are just historical particulars. 00:34:05.740 --> 00:34:09.320 Like in God's redemptive history, like there are things that he's doing that are non-repeatable 00:34:09.320 --> 00:34:14.260 and they're significant and they're powerful, but they're not necessarily just a playbook 00:34:14.260 --> 00:34:15.019 for us to follow. 00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:19.599 So this sort of shaking of the dust is one of those things that might just be sort of just 00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:23.720 a symbolic act for that time period, sort of announcing the identity of Jesus, 00:34:23.719 --> 00:34:25.939 that the King has come right now. 00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:30.959 So, you know, does that mean if we sort of are witnessing at work and no one's converted, 00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:32.739 we're just like, fine, I'm done. 00:34:33.059 --> 00:34:35.179 You know, I'm sick of these pagans. 00:34:35.519 --> 00:34:36.819 I don't think so, actually. 00:34:37.219 --> 00:34:38.419 I actually don't think so. 00:34:38.420 --> 00:34:44.340 I think that, you know, Christ would call us to stay there and to persevere and to keep 00:34:44.340 --> 00:34:45.180 loving and witnessing. 00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:52.440 But there's also wisdom too, you know, in some sense, you know, some people are just really 00:34:52.440 --> 00:34:57.420 hardened and really sort of, you know, just pretty against the gospel. 00:34:58.099 --> 00:34:59.659 Now, should we stop praying and loving those people? 00:34:59.800 --> 00:35:00.079 No. 00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:00.119 No. 00:35:00.719 --> 00:35:05.860 But we might not want to pour all of our energies into a person like that at the expense of maybe 00:35:05.860 --> 00:35:07.559 some other avenues that God might be opening. 00:35:09.579 --> 00:35:12.000 So there is a prudence there that I think is called for. 00:35:12.139 --> 00:35:16.059 Again, not that we stop loving, praying, and sharing Christ with them, but we might not 00:35:16.059 --> 00:35:20.699 want to dumb 90% of our sort of time into that one person that just seems really, really hard. 00:35:21.099 --> 00:35:23.019 But again, I think that's best worked out in community. 00:35:23.019 --> 00:35:26.519 What else? 00:35:26.820 --> 00:35:27.179 Jonathan. 00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:33.079 Yeah. 00:35:36.019 --> 00:35:36.539 Uh-huh. 00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:37.739 So Jesus, right. 00:35:37.860 --> 00:35:41.820 So verse 7 says that Jesus gave his apostles authority over unclean spirits. 00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:42.699 What does that mean? 00:35:42.759 --> 00:35:44.380 And do we have that same authority today? 00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:47.039 Okay, so what does it mean? 00:35:47.219 --> 00:35:49.440 I think it means he gave them authority over unclean spirits. 00:35:49.440 --> 00:35:54.420 And that when they went and preached, like, they actually were casting out demons out of 00:35:54.420 --> 00:35:54.619 people. 00:35:54.679 --> 00:35:56.740 I think that's kind of what the text says. 00:35:58.019 --> 00:36:00.360 So do we have that same kind of authority today? 00:36:00.720 --> 00:36:02.220 First, I think, what did it mean? 00:36:02.340 --> 00:36:03.760 What was the point of that? 00:36:04.200 --> 00:36:07.280 What was the significance of it in Mark 6 in the first century? 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:13.079 I think, you know, especially when we're talking about the apostles and this sort of early 00:36:13.079 --> 00:36:14.679 birth of the church. 00:36:14.679 --> 00:36:20.399 You know, whenever there's sort of a great movement in God's redemptive plan, things like 00:36:20.399 --> 00:36:21.379 this tend to happen. 00:36:21.759 --> 00:36:22.079 Why? 00:36:22.419 --> 00:36:25.659 Because they're confirmations of what God's doing. 00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:29.019 That they're confirmations of the message and the messengers. 00:36:29.859 --> 00:36:34.559 So these miraculous signs are God himself bearing witness to the truth of the gospel. 00:36:34.759 --> 00:36:36.179 That's what you see in Hebrews 2, actually. 00:36:36.879 --> 00:36:39.639 He gives sort of a little snapshot of a theology of spiritual gifts. 00:36:40.319 --> 00:36:43.199 How did God bear witness to the gospel in those early ages? 00:36:43.199 --> 00:36:45.599 Through signs and wonders and miraculous things. 00:36:45.879 --> 00:36:47.779 And by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. 00:36:48.239 --> 00:36:52.799 So I think part of it was, you know, Jesus was sending these guys out with this message. 00:36:52.879 --> 00:36:55.079 And this was a way of confirming that message for them. 00:36:56.299 --> 00:36:59.500 Now, there are a lot of different views on whether we still have that power today within 00:36:59.500 --> 00:36:59.859 the church. 00:36:59.980 --> 00:37:04.019 Some people say that, you know, there's no difference between then and now. 00:37:04.279 --> 00:37:07.699 And that it's the same kind of authority exercised in the same kind of way. 00:37:07.779 --> 00:37:10.599 And we should have the same sort of expectations for it today. 00:37:10.599 --> 00:37:14.980 Other people are kind of way on the other side of the spectrum and say, no, that was unique 00:37:14.980 --> 00:37:17.059 to the apostles in the apostolic age. 00:37:17.460 --> 00:37:21.500 And that once the sort of foundation of the church was laid and the gospel was confirmed, 00:37:21.739 --> 00:37:24.619 that stuff kind of petered out and stopped. 00:37:25.199 --> 00:37:29.380 And then there's some who kind of take a third way, which say, yeah, there's a lot of 00:37:29.380 --> 00:37:31.819 uniqueness in the first century in the apostles. 00:37:31.900 --> 00:37:33.039 And we don't want to overlook that. 00:37:33.039 --> 00:37:37.500 But it seems as if when the gospel sort of breaking new ground, when it's going to unreached 00:37:37.500 --> 00:37:42.500 people groups, say, that oftentimes we'll see an increase in these sort of confirmatory 00:37:42.500 --> 00:37:46.279 signs as the gospel and the kingdom sort of spreads to unreached people groups. 00:37:49.779 --> 00:37:55.239 But there's also the fact, too, that, I mean, as believers in Christ, filled with the Holy 00:37:55.239 --> 00:38:00.380 Spirit, if we feel like we're ever sort of encountering demonic oppression, then we should 00:38:00.380 --> 00:38:01.460 pray in Jesus's name. 00:38:03.380 --> 00:38:05.599 You know, I think that's pretty clear from the New Testament, too. 00:38:05.720 --> 00:38:07.840 Should we expect the same sort of fireworks that are happening? 00:38:08.599 --> 00:38:09.220 Maybe not. 00:38:10.700 --> 00:38:12.360 But I think we do have authority as believers. 00:38:12.860 --> 00:38:14.599 I think our expectations probably are a little different. 00:38:14.760 --> 00:38:16.260 I'm kind of more in that third way. 00:38:16.640 --> 00:38:20.980 But I do think that if we're ever up against spiritual opposition, then we can pray in 00:38:20.980 --> 00:38:21.599 the name of Jesus. 00:38:21.780 --> 00:38:25.619 Because it's interesting, in Colossians, it's the cross of Jesus Christ that has disarmed 00:38:25.619 --> 00:38:27.460 the powers and the rulers and authorities of the world. 00:38:27.559 --> 00:38:29.079 Paul's speaking there of demonic powers. 00:38:29.079 --> 00:38:35.279 That the forgiveness of sins, that the cross has won, defangs Satan and his minions. 00:38:35.799 --> 00:38:37.360 Because they have nothing to accuse us with. 00:38:37.940 --> 00:38:40.059 If our sins are forgiven, what is left for them to do? 00:38:41.799 --> 00:38:42.739 Is that helpful, Jonathan? 00:38:43.400 --> 00:38:44.119 Okay, cool. 00:38:44.500 --> 00:38:44.920 Yeah, Kevin. 00:38:44.920 --> 00:38:47.740 Thank you. 00:39:05.740 --> 00:39:06.720 Mm-hmm. 00:39:06.780 --> 00:39:07.980 Mm-hmm. 00:39:07.980 --> 00:39:17.599 What is your question, Kevin, what does he mean? 00:39:20.159 --> 00:39:24.219 So the question is, what does Jesus mean when he sort of quotes this thing, 00:39:24.340 --> 00:39:26.119 a prophet's not without honor except in his hometown? 00:39:26.440 --> 00:39:27.280 What's he mean by that? 00:39:28.360 --> 00:39:30.179 So he's being rejected in his hometown. 00:39:31.099 --> 00:39:32.880 Jesus very much has a prophetic ministry. 00:39:33.059 --> 00:39:34.659 Prophetic meaning proclaiming God's message. 00:39:35.279 --> 00:39:38.259 And he comes to his hometown, and they're like, we know this guy. 00:39:38.579 --> 00:39:40.099 He's a carpenter, right? 00:39:40.299 --> 00:39:41.179 He built my shed. 00:39:41.699 --> 00:39:42.759 How can he be the son of God? 00:39:42.960 --> 00:39:44.619 You know, like, or at least a prophet. 00:39:44.779 --> 00:39:45.559 No, I don't think so. 00:39:46.460 --> 00:39:48.119 So I think Jesus is sort of quoting here. 00:39:48.179 --> 00:39:49.500 It seems like this is pretty proverbial. 00:39:50.339 --> 00:39:51.899 Like, there it is. 00:39:51.899 --> 00:39:58.579 Because in a lot of the other cities, I mean, he was drawing massive crowds, right? 00:39:59.139 --> 00:40:01.079 Now, the crowds are always a bit ambivalent in the Gospels. 00:40:01.679 --> 00:40:02.859 They can be sort of fickle, right? 00:40:03.360 --> 00:40:06.820 So at the same time that there's a swell of approval, there's a swell of opposition, 00:40:07.200 --> 00:40:08.900 which grows in Mark's Gospel as we go. 00:40:08.980 --> 00:40:10.240 It grows in all the Gospels, actually. 00:40:10.539 --> 00:40:13.920 But he hits Nazareth, and it almost seems like it's complete rejection. 00:40:15.019 --> 00:40:16.019 Very few people. 00:40:16.260 --> 00:40:19.180 I mean, he says, does it say it here in Mark? 00:40:20.780 --> 00:40:22.920 He laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 00:40:23.099 --> 00:40:23.840 So there's a little bit. 00:40:23.900 --> 00:40:25.180 There's a little kindling there. 00:40:25.179 --> 00:40:28.879 But it's largely because of this over-familiarity, right? 00:40:29.119 --> 00:40:30.599 Which is a deep spiritual lesson, right? 00:40:30.739 --> 00:40:33.859 I think we can sometimes become inoculated to Christianity. 00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:34.859 We sort of grow up with it. 00:40:34.899 --> 00:40:35.899 We become familiar with it. 00:40:35.940 --> 00:40:37.440 Like, oh, yeah, Jesus, I get that. 00:40:38.000 --> 00:40:39.539 You know, like, that's my parent shtick. 00:40:39.779 --> 00:40:43.379 Or, like, all those weirdos in youth group are all about that, but it's not my thing. 00:40:43.460 --> 00:40:44.659 Or I grew up in church. 00:40:44.699 --> 00:40:45.319 Yeah, I'm good with Jesus. 00:40:45.399 --> 00:40:45.659 Whatever. 00:40:45.659 --> 00:40:52.399 You know, this over-familiarity actually blinds us to the just stark reality of who he is 00:40:52.399 --> 00:40:56.079 and the just complete response of our life that he deserves. 00:40:58.059 --> 00:40:58.960 Is that helpful, Kevin? 00:40:59.059 --> 00:41:00.279 Did that kind of get at your question? 00:41:01.399 --> 00:41:01.759 Okay. 00:41:04.899 --> 00:41:05.460 One more. 00:41:08.460 --> 00:41:09.079 Oh, Mike. 00:41:09.179 --> 00:41:09.480 Yeah, sorry. 00:41:09.480 --> 00:41:18.039 That's a great question. 00:41:18.260 --> 00:41:18.420 Yeah. 00:41:18.900 --> 00:41:23.880 How do we relate to people who do feel satisfied and captivated by whatever sort of chosen mission 00:41:23.880 --> 00:41:24.380 they're on? 00:41:26.940 --> 00:41:27.240 Hmm? 00:41:29.219 --> 00:41:29.699 Yeah. 00:41:31.820 --> 00:41:37.199 Well, one, I think, A, just living an authentic Christian life before them. 00:41:37.199 --> 00:41:45.179 Sort of letting the reality of what we have in Christ sort of be almost a foil for the 00:41:45.179 --> 00:41:46.000 life that they're living. 00:41:47.659 --> 00:41:51.939 So that as they sort of pursue whatever their track is on, and once the wheels start falling 00:41:51.939 --> 00:41:57.079 off of that, hopefully they start seeing in our life and in our words something that's 00:41:57.079 --> 00:41:58.319 a little more lasting and real. 00:41:59.159 --> 00:42:01.719 So sort of just a faithful presence with people like that. 00:42:01.719 --> 00:42:07.679 But, you know, there are a lot, you know, sort of dissatisfaction with our current life 00:42:07.679 --> 00:42:11.259 is only sort of one of the means that God uses us to bring to himself. 00:42:11.799 --> 00:42:13.619 You know, that's not all of our stories. 00:42:14.179 --> 00:42:18.739 Sometimes there's a lot of other things that might be sort of means that God uses. 00:42:19.480 --> 00:42:22.519 So, I mean, tonight we were kind of talking just about that one, but there might be others. 00:42:22.519 --> 00:42:27.300 So, yeah. 00:42:28.119 --> 00:42:29.019 Bring them along to church. 00:42:29.380 --> 00:42:30.019 See what they say. 00:42:30.539 --> 00:42:31.259 That was crazy, huh? 00:42:31.280 --> 00:42:32.320 He was talking about Jesus the whole time. 00:42:32.960 --> 00:42:33.719 What do you think of him? 00:42:34.199 --> 00:42:34.420 You know? 00:42:35.800 --> 00:42:40.500 I mean, sometimes it's just a brute reality, just a sort of brute reality of Christ that 00:42:40.500 --> 00:42:43.000 sometimes we just have to get around, you know? 00:42:43.039 --> 00:42:44.000 But it is true. 00:42:44.119 --> 00:42:50.300 I mean, I think very often in our time, and this is how it has always been, but, you know, 00:42:50.300 --> 00:42:54.580 usually when people's lives are going fine, they're not asking deep questions about what's 00:42:54.580 --> 00:42:55.960 really real and what's truly true. 00:42:56.780 --> 00:42:58.460 They're kind of inoculated to it. 00:42:58.780 --> 00:43:02.580 And usually it's when the wheels fall off that they actually start asking deeper questions. 00:43:04.640 --> 00:43:08.640 Not because they're desperate and they need to, you know, it's like this psychological crutch, 00:43:08.780 --> 00:43:13.900 but it's like finally the blinders are sort of taken off, and they see sometimes how bottomless 00:43:13.900 --> 00:43:15.260 our existence is. 00:43:19.680 --> 00:43:20.120 Yeah. 00:43:20.300 --> 00:43:20.780 Yeah. 00:43:24.680 --> 00:43:25.740 Hey, we should close. 00:43:25.960 --> 00:43:26.680 I'm over time. 00:43:27.000 --> 00:43:28.060 So just a couple quick announcements. 00:43:28.680 --> 00:43:33.120 In a few Sundays, December 8th, in the evening service, we're going to be doing our carol service, 00:43:33.200 --> 00:43:34.060 our annual carol service. 00:43:34.480 --> 00:43:37.320 If you want more information about that or you want to join the ensemble, you can talk 00:43:37.320 --> 00:43:40.539 to me or you can email Jonathan Rogers-Salem, which is in the bulletin. 00:43:40.620 --> 00:43:42.740 There's also flyers in the back if you want to hand them out. 00:43:43.220 --> 00:43:47.060 The Wednesday before that, I think it's December 4th, there's going to be another concert here 00:43:47.060 --> 00:43:49.180 at Trinity that's a bit more classical in its aspect. 00:43:49.179 --> 00:43:51.339 The carol service is a big carol sing. 00:43:51.519 --> 00:43:53.799 We'll just get together, have a good time singing carols, and there's a talk. 00:43:54.339 --> 00:43:56.000 Good thing to invite your non-Christian friends to. 00:43:56.359 --> 00:43:59.599 The thing on Wednesday, the brass concert, is going to be a bit more of sort of a classical 00:43:59.599 --> 00:43:59.980 concert. 00:44:00.119 --> 00:44:02.399 Also a really good thing to invite non-Christian friends to. 00:44:02.659 --> 00:44:06.679 Pretty high art, but it's sort of rich with gospel themes. 00:44:06.679 --> 00:44:09.460 So those two things coming up, there's a lot more stuff in your bulletin. 00:44:09.460 --> 00:44:09.659 Okay. 00:44:09.659 --> 00:44:09.699 Great. 00:44:09.699 --> 00:44:10.000 Great. 00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:10.539 Great. 00:44:10.539 --> 00:44:10.599 Great. 00:44:10.599 --> 00:44:11.059 Great. 00:44:11.059 --> 00:44:11.119 Great. 00:44:11.119 --> 00:44:11.159 Great. 00:44:11.159 --> 00:44:11.460 Great. 00:44:11.460 --> 00:44:11.519 Great. 00:44:11.519 --> 00:44:12.019 Great. 00:44:12.019 --> 00:44:12.379 Great. 00:44:12.379 --> 00:44:12.639 Great. 00:44:12.639 --> 00:44:13.159 Great. 00:44:13.159 --> 00:44:13.219 Great. 00:44:13.219 --> 00:44:13.279 Great. 00:44:13.279 --> 00:44:13.379 Great.