Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Tuesday, week three: Six pairs of two (Devotions for Lent from the Gospel of Mark)

When Jesus began his ministry, he entered the synagogue in Capernaum and cast out an unclean spirit. He then crossed the street, entered the home of Simon’s mother-in-law, and cured her of a fever.

A lot has happened in Jesus’ ministry between then and now.  He has made a big, big impression in Jewish circles. Everywhere he has been, with the exception of his own hometown, he has taught with power and authority. He has demonstrated that his interpretation of the ancient scriptures is backed with action. Crowds of people have responded.

Now Jesus gives his power and influence away.

He sends his twelve closest followers out in pairs and orders them to take nothing on their journey. He entrusts them with his power to cast out unclean spirits and heal, telling them the people they meet on the way will provide.

Jesus wants it to be clear that effectiveness depends upon nothing except Jesus’ power and authority and their own willingness to go. He wants them to experience success and failure, welcome and rejection, accolades and jeers. He wants them to experience the fullness of ministry firsthand.

Like any apprenticeship, important skills are honed by doing.

They set out, having first been taught, and then having witnessed the power in Jesus’ actions. They have heard and seen, now it’s time to do.

They go off in pairs, proclaiming the same message Jesus proclaimed, ordering unclean spirits around just as Jesus did, and bringing healing just as Jesus did.

Same message, same actions, same results.

Text for the day:

Things to think about:
The message and power of Jesus resides with him. It also resides with the ones Jesus empowers. Can we rely upon one another the way we rely upon Jesus?

Things to do:
Pray for the power of Jesus’ teaching and actions to be present in the church.


Jesus, empower your church.

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