24. The Disciples' First Mission (6:7-13)

When Jesus was rejected in his hometown, it marked a shift in the focus of his ministry. Mark indicates that Jesus then began to preach in other towns of Galilee, and before long, he also took his ministry outside of Galilee, and even outside of Israel, as he brought the good news of the kingdom to the surrounding Gentile regions. In this short story, the disciples were sent out two by two, on their own, in their first attempt at ministry without Jesus right beside them. While the specific instructions that he gave were especially applicable to this short-term setting, the underlying principles apply across the ages to all who are engaged in ministry on behalf of Christ.