Home > Jesus is God in Mark's Gospel
Jesus had called the disciples for the purpose of preaching and the time had now come. Earlier, Jesus exercised authority; now He originates it. This is also mentioned in Matthew 10:1, 5-15 and Luke 9:7-9.
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 that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
“Two by two” - The likely reason is that the law demanded two witnesses for any testimony. See Deuteronomy 17:6 “On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.” There is strength in two doing the work together. See Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
“take nothing for their journey except a staff” - They were not to take supplies or money to purchase supplies. They needed to depend on God and the hospitality of others for their housing and food.
“Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there” - When the disciples found a home that was receptive to them, they were to stay there until they left the town. If they observed this principle, they would not bring offense to their message by searching out better accommodations than what they had already accepted. “The spread of the gospel has the priority over personal likes and dislikes” (Hendriksen, Mark, p. 230).
“shake off the dust” - there could be no fellowship between them if people shut the door in their faces and refused to listen. When an orthodox Jew returned home after visiting a Gentile area, he was supposed to shake every bit of dust from his body because the Gentile land was unclean.
“they cast out many demons...” - Jesus sends out the Twelve and gives them authority over unclean spirits. A prophet can pray for someone else to be healed, but only God can grant a third party the "right" (exousia) to use His own power. This shows that Jesus is the fountainhead of divine authority, not just a conduit for it. Elijah did pass his prophetic office and symbolic authority to Elisha. Elijah is gone, Yahweh remains!