Verse: Mark 6:12

Quote:

2          And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

3          Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

4          But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

5          And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

6          And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

7          And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

8          And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:

9          But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

10        And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

11        And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, 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.

12        And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

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

14        And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

15        Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

16        But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

Subject Repenting (verse 12):          The persons to whom the twelve would be preaching when they went out.

Object of that repentance:    Not expressly stated.  Since repentance means "a change of mind," we can only inferentially determine the object of repentance by determining the concepts or propositions about which men must change their mind.  The passage begins in verse 2-3 with Jesus doing many mighty works, but they were offended at Him, and reasoned that he was merely a man, the son of a carpenter.  In verse 6, Jesus calls their attitude one of unbelief.  In verse 7, Jesus gives his apostles the power to do mighty works as he had just done in verse 2, and sends them out preaching that men should repent.  They perform the same mighty works (vs. 12), but we see the dispute of who Jesus is continuing on.  Some said that Jesus was John the Baptist.  Others that he was Elias or one of the prophets.  The object of repentance, therefore, is Jesus Christ . . . specifically that he was more than just a prophet or a carpenter.

Consequence of lack of repentance:            Judgment day will not be a pleasant experience.  "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, 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" (vs. 11).  This soteriological nature of this passage is unmistakable.  Before and after the twelve went out preaching that men should repent, the question was who Jesus was.  And the consequences were of a soteriological nature.  Men would regret their decision on judgment day.

3          And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

4          As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying,  The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

5          Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

6          And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

7          Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O  generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8          Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

9          And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Repentance in Mark 6:12