Exegesis of the Gospel, Mk 6:7–13

Mark describes the process Jesus used to call his first disciples in 1:16–20. Jesus summoned four fishermen and immediately they left their fishing boats and pointed their lives in a new and challenging direction called discipleship. In today’s Gospel the number of disciples has increased to 12. Jesus is going to authorize and empower them to assist him in the work of proclaiming the good news in word and by deed.