The devil in the detail

Janet Scott reads from the gospel of Mark

by Janet Scott 1st March 2019

And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons.

(Mark 3:14-15, NRSV)

When Jesus selects companions to be part of his mission to bring about the kingdom of God, Mark presents their task as fourfold. Firstly, they are to be close to Jesus so that they know him well; secondly, they are to be willing to be sent out to proclaim the good news in words; then they are to have an authority like his own to demonstrate the nature of life in the kingdom through their actions of healing and casting out demons.