Daily Devotions
Mark
1 Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."
Day 136 – Mark 6
“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
ENJOYING SUCCESS IN MINISTRY
There were people who were happy to hear and see Jesus. The people who came with deep needs were always happy when Jesus came to their towns. They went away overjoyed because their loved ones were healed from their illnesses. Others would be forever grateful that Jesus helped them defeat the unclean spirits.
FACING REJECTION
Jesus Himself experienced tough situations where He was rejected. Let us recall the following texts:-
1. The Pharisees rejected Him
They believed that He was in league with Beelzebub (Cf. Mark 3:22)
2. The Gadarenes rejected Jesus too
They could not appreciate how Jesus could have power to cast out a legion of demons from a wild and mad man who lived in the tombs (Cf. Mark 5:17)
3. Nazareth rejected Jesus as well
Jesus was scorned and rejected by people from His own hometown, because they could not fathom how Jesus could be so powerful and popular (Cf. Mark 6:3)
THE POSSIBILITY OF NOT BEING WELCOME
What a word of encouragement Jesus gave to His disciples just before they went forth to preach the Word of God. They might well experience rejection as Jesus did.
“And whoever will not receive you nor hear you,
when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet
as a testimony against them.
Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable
for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment
than for that city.”
MARK 6:11
1. Not to take things personally
This was a wise and welcome word from Jesus. The Disciples must not take rejection too personally. (Rejection is always a hard thing to accept).
2. Shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them
It is inevitable that sandals would gather dust. The dust would confirm that the disciples had been there to preach the Gospel of the kingdom of God.
Those who reject the message brought by the Disciples of Jesus would not be able to deny the fact that they had been given a golden opportunity to enter into the kingdom of God through faith in the Gospel proclaimed. The very dust of the earth would testify against the unrepentant city!