Devils Cast Out and the Sick Healed - Mark 6:13

Mark wrote how Jesus, “called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits. And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse. But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. And he said unto them, In what place soever you enter into an house, there abide till you depart from that place. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when you depart there, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. And they went out, and preached that men should repent”, and in chapter six and verse thirteen of his book, Mark writes how Jesus' disciples, “cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick” where we read:

And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

The verse reads, “And they cast out many devils, ...” Mark began with the words, “and they cast out” or “and Jesus' disciples drove out with a notion of violence” “many devils” which means “a large and massive amount of evil spirits who were the messengers and ministers of the devil”. Mark shared how the disciples “drove out” “evil spirits” just as Jesus gave them power to do.

The verse continues, “... and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.” Mark added the words, “and anointed with oil” which means “and applied olive oil upon” “many that were sick” or “a large group of people who were ill, without strength and weak”, “and healed them” which means “and cured and restored them to health”. Mark shared how Jesus' disciples “applied healing oil” to people who were “weak and ill” and the people were “restored to health”.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus' disciples obeyed Him as they went out to minister to people. Not only did they declare the gospel of the Kingdom of God but also “cast devils” out of people and “healed” those who were sick. These abilities were granted to the disciples by Jesus as they would be ministering without His physical presence soon, and those who align themselves with Jesus are many times commissioned to serve people in this manner as well. Let all who read these words understand how God wants people to receive and spread His “good news” of salvation, and may all who do seek to be used by God to minister to people in their time of need.

Next time Mark shares how “King Herod” thinks “John the Baptist was risen from the dead”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".