Author: Nigel Ring

Continuing our examination of Jesus as Administrator… Mk 6:33, 34 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. Following their first ministry trip the disciples needed to ‘off-load’. They had experienced some tremendous healings and so on, and Jesus determined to hear all about it and to draw out lessons to help them grow in their gifting. To do this he needed a place where he could have their undivided attention. Being on the edge of the Sea of Galilee the logical way…

Mar 6:30-31 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. The first ministry trip of the early disciples must have been both exciting and ‘heart-thumping’. They had never been in the front line before – they had always watched Jesus ‘do the stuff’ (as our dear friend John Wimber used to say). After several days they came together again with Jesus. Can you imagine the stories they told one another? First one would tell of a healing, then another of a wonderful deliverance. No doubt each disciple tried to ‘cap’ the previous…

Mark 6:7-14  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.…