Jaw-dropping Jewels about Jesus
Rarely does Jesus, God the Son, do exactly what we expect of Him. It seems odd that He so frequently surprises us, given that He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 makes this absolute statement: “Jesus the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Still, though He is blessedly consistent in His goodness, Jesus does unforeseen things. Even when He does what is expected, He does not always do it in the way that we anticipate. Let us join with Jesus on a jaw-dropping journey. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
In Mark 6:7-9, Jesus commissioned His disciples for a specific ministry: “And He called unto Him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; and commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip [a small bag for basic provisions], no bread, no money in their purse [belt]: but be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.” These instructions should not be construed as governing all ministerial activities. For example, in an earlier commissioning, Jesus had told the workers that they should not take even a staff (Matthew 10:10). Later, He told His disciples to take both “purse” and “scrip” (Luke 22:36). Thus, none of these rules are formulaic, ensuring the same outcomes to us today. However, we can draw basic principles from this ministry. First, going forth in twos is a wise strategy. Whenever possible, I include my wife in my work. At the very least, such a precaution prevents people with nasty minds from saying nasty things. Beyond that sad reality, “two are better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9a), providing support and insight. Second, any “power” that we possess actually belongs to Jesus, Who grants it to us for His good purposes. Because it is His “power” and His work, we can travel light in this wicked world of woe: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” (I John 2:15a). May we not be weighed down by an unhealthy attachment to worldly things such as control and wealth. Instead, let us serve our Savior God together.