Calling the twelve to him, he despatched them two by two giving them authority over evil spirits with these instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff - no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if in any place they will not welcome or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet as you leave, as a testimony against them." They went out and preached that people should repent and drove out many demons, anointing with oil and healing many sick people.
In a Nutshell
Jesus' instructions to the twelve remind us what John the Baptist had taught about living simply in God's Kingdom. They had to learn to trust God for their daily bread.
Questions
What is repentance? Why were they sent to teach that?
Opposition to the work of Jesus was spurred on by the jealousy
of the religious leaders. And now, just as it was starting to get more
difficult for people to come to Jesus, He initiated a fresh approach. Those
living in the towns throughout the Galilean region would have the opportunity
to respond by welcoming His closest disciples. It was time for the 12 to get
involved. They were to spread God's Word. The Kingdom of God has always
required workers. Then it was the twelve; later it would be 70; still later all
of us have become involved. Jesus sent out the twelve to cast out evil spirits,
continuing the work of John the Baptist. As Jesus had taught, repentance
prepared the soil so that the seed can bring forth a good harvest.
So out they went. It was no fashion parade; no door-to-door
selling. This was work the Rabbi had planned for His students. They were to
spend time with people, live with them in their homes, get to know them and
their problems, share their worries and fears. They would have to rely on the
people they visited. Jesus sent His disciples out expecting that such people
would be generous and hospitable - God's Kingdom is about God's generosity and
hospitality.
His instructions were simple. The apostles were to dress simply,
travel without money, wear a single tunic and take one pair of sandals only.
They were to give thanks for what they received and were not to stick around
arguing if there was no welcome. Then they would move on. The word had to be
proclaimed. John's message was still the right one! They had to repent and get
clean before God. Repentance is an ongoing "sorry" to God, a search
for a better way.
Notice the results. They taught people to repent, freeing them
from spiritual slavery. Jesus warned them to expect opposition, just like He
had faced in His home town. Doors would be slammed in their faces but there was
to be no banging on doors demanding a place to stay.
The work begun here, continued on a similar pattern after Jesus
rose from the dead. When people's hearts are opened to receive God's word their
lives change in miraculous ways. Generosity and hospitality flourish. That's
what caring means in God's Kingdom.