Go and Preach

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

GO AND PREACH

Mark 6:12-13

12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

NIV

Jesus told them to and they did it. These twelve were ordinary men who Jesus had called to himself and empowered them to preach that people should repent. He empowered them to drive out demons and to anoint sick people with oil and heal them. It is amazing to think these ordinary men had such extraordinary power. Yet is it that extraordinary? If we are supposed to apply all the scripture to our lives today then should we not also have the power? If we have Jesus living in our hearts, which of course he is not actually physically living inside of us, but is actually at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, we should have that same power those twelve had. It was Jesus who told us if we ask anything in his name the Father would give it to us. Why are we so weak? Why are we not preaching that people should repent? We try all sorts of methods based on the cultural we live in. We try to explain that people will know to repent just because we live a good life in front of them. Maybe some people think putting a fish symbol on the back of their car will cause people to repent or drive the demons out of them. But then as they speed by maybe they cause more demons. Maybe some think building a “non-church” church building will cause people to repent, or maybe the demons will just leave people as they drive by. Why can’t we just tell people who do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior they need to repent? Why can’t we simple tell demons to get out of those people who are possessed by them? Why can’t we just anoint people with oil and see them healed? Why did those twelve have so much faith they just went out and did it? Are we lacking that kind of faith? Are we afraid if we try to do that and fail we will look foolish? Maybe if we actually acted on faith, people would actually see God at work and repent, be released, freed from demons and be healed. Do we think that what we pay the Pastor to do? Shepherds do not beget sheep, sheep beget sheep. We are the ones who should be going out telling people to repent, driving out demons and anointing people with oil and healing them. We are supposed to go and preach.