To continue with this series on the Gospels, we now move on to the book of Mark. Like I’ve mentioned before, Mark seems to have written this book like a collection of the stories told to him by the disciples throughout the years. They’re like snippets of time throughout the ministry of Jesus. Mark jumps right into the story with John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus.
Fun fact: if you read the book in the ESV translation, you will notice Mark uses the word “immediately” multiple times. There seems to be a sense of urgency in most of the stories Mark shared.
- 1:10 “immediately he saw the heavens being torn open”
- 1:12 “The Spirit immediately drove him into the wilderness.”
- 1:42 “And immediately the leprosy left him”
Prepper Thoughts
As someone with a prepper mindset, I will admit there is one part of the gospels that has always bothered me: when Jesus sent out His disciples in pairs for a time.
Mark 6
7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 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.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
Do you see where my brain does a double-take? In verse 8, Jesus told them to take nothing with them except a staff (although in Matthew 10 and Luke 9, they couldn’t have a staff either).
No food. No bags. No money. Not even extra clothing.
Nothing!
But…why?
Why did Jesus command them to do this? Shouldn’t His followers always be ready for whatever should come? What if they were attacked on the road or weren’t welcomed into a home?
I always have something on hand, whether it’s a snack or my pocket knife. I don’t feel safe or secure without my EDC.
That’s the point though.
Jesus was not only asking His disciples to go out and do great things in His name, but also testing their faith. Did their faith lie in what they knew or carried around with them at all times? Or did they trust Jesus’s words and believe they would be taken care of despite not having anything at the ready?
Do I trust God that much?
Reflections
Since moving to Ohio eight months ago, I’ve had to re-learn what it means to truly trust God. Not just in my heart but in my head. I’ve seen Him provide for me countless times in ways I never imagined. His name Jehovah Jireh, which means “The Lord will provide”, has solidified in my knowledge of Him.
If God asked me today to leave everything behind and not take my EDC, I need to be willing to believe He will provide.
Yes, I believe God provides resources to give us the knowledge necessary for surviving this world, but there are times He asks us to trust Him without any indication of what to expect.
Even now, my cabinets are not yet full and I’m still lacking some prepper materials, but I trust He will provide regardless of whatever I still need.
What About You?
Do you trust God that will provide for you?
Yes, friend, fear is a natural response to the idea of leaving everything behind. Even I am still struggling through the idea, despite the knowledge and proof that God will take care of me.
But here we see a point in our lives that needs to prayed over.
Whether you’re starting out in the prepper world or your bunker is filled to the brim with provisions to last the rest of your life, every one of us needs to come to a place that we know without a shadow of a doubt that God will provide.
Thankfully, God provides most of the time through resources. Here are a few depending on the project you’re working on:
And sometimes through dreams and visions as shared in my post on the gospel of Matthew.
No matter what stage you’re in, remember to be encouraged because you’re not in this process alone!
Until next time, happy prepping!
