And He called the twelve to Himself,and began to send them out two bytwo, and gave them power over unclean spirits. He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in theirmoney belts—but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. Also He said to them, "In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"So they went out and preached that peopleshould repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them….Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.
Fascinating. The disciples were sent out on the very first mission trip with nothing but a staff and sandals. No elaborate advance team, no sound system. No come to the front and say the Sinner's Prayer. Nothing except a marvelous message. “The Messiah has come.”
And there is an element of excitement in the short verse. I can feel them crowding around Jesus to tell Him their stories. I'll bet most of them started with, “Jesus, you should of seen what happened in the village of ____________.” and continued from there.
Oh, LORD, that we would go out two by two, with that simple yet over-powering story of the Grace and Mercy of the LORD, God, the Almighty.
Readings
Morning Psalm 62, Noon Psalm 119:129-136, Evening Psalm 14
