Into the weeds of discipleship

By the Rev. Elisabeth Shelton Hartwell

Revised Common Lectionary Reflection, Proper 9, Year B
July 7, 2024

Key verse: Jesus called the twelve and began to send them out two by two. ~ Mark 6:7a

Dear fellow preachers, we are fast approaching that point in the summer when the weeds in my yard grow crazy. All of a sudden, demure weeds that appeared to be under control seem to grow a foot overnight, multiply, and take over my yard. These weeds come to mind when I read this week’s Gospel text because like my yard, weeds seem to overtake these 13 verses. Our lesson invites us to dive into the weeds of following Jesus. Far from painting a rosy picture of discipleship, our text demands we consider just how complicated and difficult it can be.

When I read our lection, my first question is how the first part of the pericope, verses 1-6, relates to the second part, verses 7-13. The first several verses portray how difficult it is for Jesus to engage in meaningful ministry in his hometown. Apparently, people there are familiar with him – perhaps too familiar – because they have watched him grow up and they know his family. They have considerable difficulty looking to him as a religious authority.

By contrast, the second several verses are Jesus’ instructions to his followers as he sends them out to serve in his name. To be honest, the disciples seem to have a better go of it than Jesus himself! Verses 12-13 suggest that the disciples do what they are sent out to do. What are we to make of this? Are we to believe that Jesus’ disciples are ultimately more successful than he is? 

And yet, both Jesus’ experience in his hometown and the disciples’ experience being sent out to minister in Jesus’ name highlight deep, pervasive questions about the nature of discipleship. As you preach from this text, you might address some of the following questions about discipleship:

• Where does religious authority come from and what challenges it? Those in Jesus’ hometown did not regard him as a religious authority because he was too familiar to them. What empowers members of your congregation to live as Jesus’ followers beyond the walls of the church?
• How do our relationships affect our ability to minister in Jesus’ name? Does our familiarity or level of intimacy with someone make us more able to minister to them, or less able? How do relationship dynamics affect our ability to act as Jesus’ disciples?
• What do we really need to go forth in Jesus’ name? What sustains us in ministry? Jesus sends his disciples out into the world with very little, emphasizing that, materially speaking, they only need the bare minimum. How do we reconcile this with our North American culture, which constantly tells us we need more and more stuff? What inward, spiritual resources do we rely upon to sustain us?

My fellow preachers, our text brings out the complexities of discipleship; it affords us the ability to get down into the weeds of what is involved in following Jesus. We can use our text to introspect about our motivation to act as Jesus’ disciples, to explore the relationships in our lives that both empower and inhibit us from following Jesus, and to ask what feeds us and sustains us in our day-to-day walk of faith. As we dive into the deeper questions of discipleship, we can renew our commitment to be sent out in Jesus’ name.

In Worship

Invite those in your congregation to consider a particular dilemma they have when it comes to following Jesus. Maybe they are finding it difficult to put their faith into action in a difficult relationship or a challenging situation at work. Maybe they are searching for meaning or purpose in their walk with Jesus, or they are seeking courage to take a big step out in faith. Encourage them to recognize that Jesus’ own ministry was complicated, and that what he asks us to do in his name is also often challenging. And still, at the same time, we can be strengthened and sustained to continue following Jesus.

Worship with Youth

Walk through the text with youth and invite them to name the different challenging both Jesus and his disciples faced as they engaged in ministry. Then, encourage them to relate to these challenges. They might identify one challenging situation they have faced, or are facing, when it comes to being a Christian. Then, they can reflect on how Jesus is walking with them through this challenge.

Worship with Children

Invite children to think about a trip or family vacation they have recently taken. What did they pack to go on this trip or vacation? Was it easy to pack and prepare or did it take a while? Share the story of how Jesus sent out his disciples with very little in the way of clothes or suitcases, but how he gave them the love, courage, and faith they needed. Encourage kids to see that when it comes down to it, the most valuable gifts Jesus gives us are not so much the things we buy or own, but the gifts of love, courage, and faith we hold inside us.

Previous reflections for Proper 9, Year B:
2018 – Redemption and Reconciliation: Why We’re Here
2015 – Lord, Have Mercy
2012 – Real Strength