And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them

 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him.  And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue.  And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things?  And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!  Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon?  And are not His sisters here with us?"  So they were offended at Him.  But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house."  Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.  And He marveled because of their unbelief.  Then He went about the villages in a  circuit, teaching. 

And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.  He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff -- no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts -- but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.  Also He said to them, "In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.  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!"  So they went out and preached that people should repent.  And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.

- Mark 6:1-13

Yesterday we read that when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side (that is, to His ministry's "home" side of the Sea of Galilee, at Capernaum), a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.  And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name.  And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter lies at the point of death.  Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live."  So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.  Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians.  She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.  When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.  For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well."  Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.  And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?"  But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'"  And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.  But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.  And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well.  Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."  While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue's house who said, "Your daughter is dead.  Why trouble the Teacher any further?"  As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid; only believe."  And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.  Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly.  When He came in, He said to them, "Why make this commotion and weep?  The child is not dead, but sleeping."  And they ridiculed Him.  But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying.  Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, "Talitha, cumi," which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."  Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age.  And they were overcome with great amazement.  But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him.  And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue.  And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things?  And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!  Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon?  And are not His sisters here with us?"  So they were offended at Him.  But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house."   Jesus travels to His hometown of Nazareth in Galilee.  My study bible makes note of the double response to Christ of being both astonished and offended.  It notes the frequency with which this happens with those who encounter Christ (Luke 11:14-16; John 9:16).  To be rejected in his own country is a foreshadowing of His rejection by the whole nation at the trial before Pilate (John 19:14-15).  This saying, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country . . ." occurs in some form in all four Gospels (see also Matthew 13:57, Luke 4:24, John 4:44).

Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.  And He marveled because of their unbelief.  Then He went about the villages in a  circuit, teaching.   My study bible tells us that Jesus could do no mighty work there, not because somehow He lacked power, but because of the unbelief of all but a few of the people in Nazareth.   It notes that while grace is always offered to all, it is only those who receive it in faith who obtain its benefits.  We note that this time it is Christ who marvels, because of their unbelief.

And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.  He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff -- no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts -- but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.  Also He said to them, "In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.  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!" The twelve were chosen earlier (see this reading) and so have been "trained" for this apostolic mission in their close discipleship ever since.  ow they are sent out on their first apostolic mission.  Jesus gave them power; that is, it is His power shared and invested in these men who are sent out as apostles.  Accompanying this power, we note His instructions for the practice of humility in their mission.  They are not to dress ostentatiously, neither will they "trade up" for better lodgings once they are accepted in one place.  But note the response taught by Christ to those who will not receive the gospel message of the presence of the Kingdom.  Mark tells us they were sent out two by two; in Matthew's Gospel their names are listed in pairs (Matthew 10:1-4).

So they went out and preached that people should repent.  And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.   Note that repentance and healing go together, as well as the casting out of demons.  All are part of the same package, the same effect, and good medicine.  My study bible says that anointing the sick with oil has not only medicinal value but also sacramental value.  It notes that as God's healing power is bestowed through creation (5:27; Numbers 21:8-9; 2 Kings 13:21; John 9:6-7; Acts 5:15, 19:11-12), so oil becomes a vehicle of God's mercy and healing in the Church (James 5:14).

My study bible makes an important note regarding God's use of creation through which healing power is bestowed upon human beings.  That is, the elements of this world become "conductors" of the healing power of God.  In this we have an important tie to the Incarnation itself, when God became fully human, one of us, so that God could bring His healing into the world for all through Christ's ministry and the gospel message.  Note what the apostles do on their first mission in which they are "sent out."  (The meaning of the word apostle in Greek is "one who is sent out"; the meaning of disciple is "learner.")  They preach that people should repent.  They cast out demons, and anoint with oil many who are sick and heal them.  Each of these elements are important to our healing.  To repent is to change our minds, to turn toward God, to re-orient ourselves in life and be prepared to cast off whatever stands in the way of our ultimate aim of union with God, our walk toward a more full communion in this sense, our growth in that embrace of Creator and creature.  This aim in itself is a wholistic merger of body, soul, and spirit.  That is, another mirror of the Incarnation, in which all the elements of our creation are alive in harmony and within the communion with Creator.  In Greek, this is called "theosis," this goal of becoming "like God" in whose image and likeness we were created to begin with.  But the idea that creation itself is the vehicle for God's work of grace and healing is most important, for it becomes a statement -- as does the Incarnation of Jesus Christ itself -- of the basic goodness of all of creation, as well as what we are created for.   If the villagers to whom these apostles are sent may receive them, may receive the gospel message, may practice a repentance that leads to deeper communion with Christ and with God's work and grace in the world, then it illustrates that all of creation is made for this union.  Christ's saving mission isn't simply for we human beings.  As John's Gospel tells us, He came down from heaven to give life to the world.  Jesus Himself says, in affirmation of the true goodness of creation as vehicle for our healing, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world" (see John 6:33, 51).  There is nothing evil about what God has created; but it is rather our deep union with God that reveals the fullness of this truth and the potentials for the healing of all that truly exist for us and for our world.  It is God's power that may be at work through ourselves and through all of creation that reveals its beauty, truth, and goodness -- the true measure of worth and value.  It will also reveal to us what is of little value and must be cast aside in the light that Christ brings.  Don't sell yourself short.  Take the gift that is offered, for it is priceless, and it makes all the difference to our lives and the life of the world.