Mark 6:7–13 (ESV) — 7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 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.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

Jesus sent out his twelve disciples as his representatives. Like him, they were to preach the message of repentance, heal, and cast out demons. The disciples were instructed not to take extra on their journeys, but to rely on the reception of the people for their needs.

How a person received a messenger reflected how they received the sender. So, how one received the disciples of Jesus was a reflection on how they received Jesus himself. If a person or family or town did not receive the disciples as the preached and ministered, the disciples were to shake off the dust of their feet as a testimony against them. This was symbolic of saying that they too had been rejected.

Christians today are also called to be the ambassadors for Jesus Christ. We are his representatives in the world. We take the message of the gospel to all and how they receive that message is a reflection on how they receive Jesus himself. Fellow Christian, we have an important role in the salvation of others. May we trust in him who has sent us as we testify to his goodness.

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