Descriptive Verses: Mark 6:12-13
“12) They went out and preached that men should repent. 13) And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.” Mark‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬-‭13‬
I want to make a few more comments on these two verses. First, they are descriptive and not prescriptive. In other words, these verses are describing what the disciples were actually doing in ministering to people. They were casting out demons and healing people in Jesus name.
Second, the timing is important. This was happening prior to the day of Pentecost. They were not acting from spiritual gifts of healing, they were were doing these things through the Name and the authority of Jesus Christ.
These two insights may sound trivial, but they are of profound importance. It sounds like each of the disciples were getting these results. Granted this is describing the twelve. We could argue that this authority only applied to the Apostles. But in Luke 10:1-20, Jesus gave the same command to the seventy, and they had the same results.
As easy as it is to skip over the implications of these verses, Mark 16:16-18 includes casting out unclean spirits and healing people as part of the Great Commission. These are among the signs that wound accompany those who believe. Again, Mark 16 was prior to Pentecost.
What does that mean? It appears that casting out unclean spirits and healing is not restricted to the Apostles or those with gifts of healing, rather it is for every believer who understands their authority “in Christ.”
Having been involved in deliverance ministry for years, I totally understand how unclean spirits respond to the Name and authority of Jesus Christ. We have worked with many people and watched Jesus Christ set them free.
But when it comes to healing people, I have been shy about even praying for healing. To my shame, I have hidden behind the excuse that “I do not have the gift of healing!”
That is why I wrestle with these texts in Luke and Mark. (Similar texts also appear in Matthew and John) These texts when understood in the context of timing, totally obliterate my excuses. I have shared this previously, but I will highlight it again, these texts are not based on the spiritual gift of healing, they are based on the authority of Jesus Christ!
Could it be that we have not because we ask not? The root problem may be that we are ignoring the simple command of Jesus to heal people in His name. We do not understand our authority “in Christ.”
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global

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Sending the Twelve: Mark 6:7-13
“7) And He *summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits; 8) and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt— 9) but to wear sandals; and He added, “Do not put on two tunics.” 10) And He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave town. 11) Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.” 12) They went out and preached that men should repent. 13) And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.” Mark‬ ‭6‬:‭7‬-‭13‬ ‭
This is the condensed version of Jesus sending out the twelve to do ministry. Jesus wanted them to learn how to live by faith.
He wanted them to preach the simple gospel, call people to repentance, cast out demons and anoint many sick people with oil and heal them.
I confess, this is not how I learned to do ministry. The training Jesus gave His disciples was way to radical to be taught at my Bible College. We were taught a more rational and systematic approach. We got natural results and turned out carnal believers.
The training Jesus gave His disciple was on par with Paul’s approach in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. He wanted people to develop a dynamic faith that was rooted in the power of God! The modern church turns out a static faith rooted in the wisdom of man.
As I travel the world, I am discovering that many Christians are following the simple approach Jesus taught His disciples here and in Matthew 10. Not surprisingly, they are seeing the same results and witnessing profound conversions.
I am not going to elaborate on this text, except to say the church in the book of Acts followed this instruction by Jesus. They saw dramatic conversions and produced disciples of dynamic faith.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global

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The Peril of Unbelief: Mark 6:1-6
“1) Jesus went out from there and *came into His hometown; and His disciples *followed Him. 2) When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? 3) Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him. 4) Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.” 5) And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6) And He wondered at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages teaching.” Mark‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭
This was the first major trip Jesus made back to His home town after launching his public ministry. In His home town He was simply known as “the Carpenters.”
On the Sabbath, he entered the very synagogue where He grew up, accompanied by His disciples. But to everyone’s surprise, He went forward and started teaching. He had attended this synagogue for thirty years, but this was the first time He stepped into the role of the teacher.
The people were astonished and began asking insightful questions. First, where did this man get these things? Second, what is this wisdom given to Him? Third, where did He get the power to do these miracles? Finally, is this not the Carpenter and these His family members?
He was most likely preaching the gospel and calling them to repentance. They took offense at Him. They accused Him of being judgmental.
But then the text takes an astonishing turn. It says; “5) and He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6) And He wondered at their unbelief.
It appears that faith and the working of God go hand in hand. He did heal a few people, but it was very minimal. Those healed may have been outsiders who were following Him from place to place.
Among those from His family were His step brothers James and Judas. Each of them were later used by the Holy Spirit to write a book of the New Testament.
James 1:6-8 may serve as an insightful commentary on what transpired in His home town; “6) But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7) For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8) being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” ‭‭ My unbelief does not limit the infinite God, but it hinders me from experiencing His amazing work in my life. Faith is not only the basis for salvation, it also has a bearing on entering into His protection, provision, deliverance, healing and our heavenly blessings “in Christ.”
The good news is that faith can grow! It grows through worship, the study of Scripture, intercessory prayer and serving on the front lines of world evangelism. Hearing the stories of what God is doing for others also feeds our faith. Ask God to increase your faith!
Gather some courageous people and engage in Acts 4:29-31 praying. I love earth shaking prayer meetings where the Holy Spirit is poured out in fresh ways.
It is also important to step out and take God at His Word! This is the best way to kill fear and doubt. If God says it, then do it and expect Him to keep His Word!
I also avoid spending much time with critics, doubters and pessimists. Faithless people mumble, groan and complain. They suck up time, energy and emotions. These people constantly opposed Moses during the Exodus. If you want to walk in Gods presence, separate from them. They will drag you down.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global

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False Perceptions About Jesus: Mark 5:35-44
“35) While He was still speaking, they *came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?” 37) But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, *said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.” 37) And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38) They *came to the house of the synagogue official; and He *saw a commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing. 39) And entering in, He *said to them, “Why make a commotion and weep? The child has not died, but is asleep.” 40) They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He *took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and *entered the room where the child was. 41) Taking the child by the hand, He *said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42) Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded. 53) And He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said that something should be given her to eat.” Mark‬ ‭5‬:‭35‬-‭43‬
Because of His delay, the little girl died. As a result, Jesus has to combat four false perceptions.
False perception number one: you’re to late! The girl had died! But Gods timing is always perfect.
False perception number two: you’re to weak! “This is now too difficult for you.” But according to a similar story in John 11:25; Jesus is the resurrection and the life!
False perception number three: you’re to shallow! “You don’t care!” “If you really loved us, you would have been here on time to heal our daughter!”
False perception number four: you’re crazy. This was the reaction of the crowd when Jesus said the girl was only sleeping.
What Jesus did in the story by raising the girl from the dead sent a strong message to everyone who heard: “Your perspective is to small!”
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
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The Healed Woman: Mark 5:25-34
“26) A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, 27) and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. 28) For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” 29) Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30) Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” 31) And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” 32) And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. 33) But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34) And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”” Mark‬ ‭5‬:‭25‬-‭34‬ ‭
This is an amazing miracle and story about healing. The woman had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years. That’s a long time to be sick. She sought help from many doctors, spent all of her money and her condition only got worse.
I have seen this happen to many people today. She was not alone in her plight. There is a place for medical intervention, but not to the exclusion of God. Good doctors are the first to point people to God, faith and the need for prayer.
As Jesus and the crowd walked past her, she developed an interesting plan. She thought to herself, “If I just touch His garments, I shall get well.” She had gained huge faith in the healing power of Jesus Christ. She had lost all faith in doctors.
Her problem had not been a lack of faith, her problem was misplaced faith. She had been believing in doctors, medicine and various medical treatments above God!
Sure enough, as she touched the garments of Jesus, she was immediately healed. Her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
Much has been written and preached about this story. Some imply that you need to touch Jesus just right or be sincere enough in order to be healed.
I maintain that small faith in the right object can make a huge difference. It wasn’t the amount of her faith that suddenly made the difference, it was that she finally put her faith in Jesus. He was and is the right object!
The interesting part of the story is that Jesus perceived that power had gone out of Him. This seems to indicate that the healing was not from His active will, it was from sincere belief in His identity, authority and power. Why? He alone has the authority and power to heal!
I am sorry, but the context forces that conclusion. She was not double minded. She didn’t wrestle with whether or not it was Gods “will” to heal her. She put her faith in the identity, authority and power of Jesus. She didn’t even ask Him to heal her. For her, the healing had nothing to do with His will, it was about His identity.
Jesus immediately looked around to see who had touched Him. The disciples noted the size of the crowd and the many incidentally bumping into Jesus. But Jesus was looking for the one who was healed!
Soon, the woman fearing and trembling came and bowed down before Jesus and told the whole truth. Then, In verse 34, Jesus openly commended her faith. She went away healed.
I like this story! It stretches my understanding of faith, healing and the authority of Jesus Christ. When praying for healing, I no longer say; “If it be your will.” That is a confession of double mindedness. I cringe when people join the praying and cancel all faith with that phrase.
James 1:5-8 exposes the futility of double mindedness. Later, in James 5:13-16, James commands the sick to call the church leaders and pray for healing.
This text helped me settled the issue about Gods will when it comes to praying for healing. According to James; it is always God’s will for us to pray for healing. I removed the phrase “If it be Thy will” from my praying for the sick.
Honestly, the more biblical prayer would be; “Jesus, I ask you to heal because of your identity, authority and power… and I am praying this way because your Word commands us to pray for healing.”
Another version might be; “I now command your healing based on the identity, authority and power of Jesus Christ!” Jesus sent His disciples out to preach the gospel, heal the sick and cast out unclean spirits. It must be His will that we do so! (Matthew 10:1; 7-8)
When I pastor a church, I adopt the policy; “if you’re sick enough to go to the doctor, you’re sick enough to call the elders to anoint you with oil and pray in faith for healing!” We have seen God do some amazing things. It always helped!
I will leave you to wrestle with this text and these concepts. More and more, I am moving to “the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick…” (James 5:18) Did you notice the word “will” in that verse?
My faith is not in healing or a personal gift of healing. My faith is in the identity, authority and power of Jesus Christ. My focus is on Him. My faith is in Him. I make Him responsible for the healing. In this way, His Name and reputation are at stake for the results!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global.

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