Content of Ministry

Mark 6:7-13 "And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed uthat people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them."

Often, we talk about preaching. But what exactly is the content of our preaching? When Jesus sent out his disciples two by two, we note some contents of preaching:

Jesus has authority over evil spirits (7): We need not be concern of idol or deities suppressing us, for we have the true Son of God with us. We need not be fearful because we know the one true God.

Whoever believes in Him, will welcome him. (10): One who believes in Him, will welcome Him into his life, his house, his work, his life and subject everything to Him as Lord and Savior.

Whoever rejects Him, wrath will be on him. (11): One who rejects Him, awaiting him is the terrible judgement and wrath of God.

We have to repent. (12): We have to rid the things and thoughts that God does not approve in our lives.

Jesus is our healer. (13): In Christ, we are healed of our sins. In His will, He may choose to heal physical illnesses too.

Only by Faith, We Experience God

Mark 6:4-6 "And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief."

Without faith, we will not see God. Without faith, we will not please Him. Without faith, we will not experience His power, His blessing.

One might say, where is God? I will only believe when I see Him.

But just as we can only truly feel the power of electricity, love or air when we believe, we can only experience God, when we first take the step of faith.

Are We Out Of Our Mind?

Mark 3:21 "and when his family heard it, they went out to seize Jesus, for they were saying, 'He is out of His mind.'"

In the Christian walk, there will be many times to the faithful follower of Christ where his closest family and friends will not understand the actions of him, till to the point that they mistaken him as out of his mind.

This is not surprising as the same thing happened to Jesus. He allowed people to impose on Him, asking Him to teach them, to heal them, to minister to them. Thousands crowded around Him when the chance arises. And when his family heard Him returning home, they quickly seized Him out of love and protection, to protect Himself from others. This is the natural instinct of loved ones. Won't a mother tiger risk her all to protect her cubs? This is but love shown upon by the family.

However, Jesus knew that an even greater Father was in control. Yes, to the family, they indeed will not understand why Jesus spends so much time outside proclaiming an unseen Kingdom, will want to dine with sinners, tax collectors, willing to be humiliated by supposedly respected teachers of that time, and ultimately, be crucified on to the cross in the most tragic of capital punishment.

But Jesus obeyed His Father's will, that His Kingdom be seek first, His Kingdom be established. Many times, families do not understand why we allow others to impose on our time, money and energy. But this mis-understanding will not stay. In tens of years, in Heaven, all this will be made crystal clear. Why the Christian has been storing treasures in Heaven? Why has he been seeking the Heavenly Kingdom first?

Yes, misunderstandings will remain. However, just as His family did not understand sometimes, they still submitted because they saw the truthfulness and purity of His life. They knew that He was God and they must have faith in what was to be achieved by God Himself, just as Mary submitted and allowed herself to be made use of by God to bear the Son of God.

The Christian is to continue to love, honor his family though such misunderstandings exist. And through that testimony, bring to light what is unseen, to be clearly and soberly seen in faith.