re question 1
...disciples would be traveling light and this would mean they could travel further, and this way they would have to learn to depend on god and the generosity of others. Whilst on their mission, if shelter was offered, they were to stay in the same house until they moved onto a different area, it was considered impolite to change houses. If the disciples were not welcomed, they were to move on after shaking the dust from their feet, this was a sign that the disciples had no time for them as they had rejected god. Christians who spread the good news today are called missionaries, some of them feel called by god to preach their message, they learn to trust in god and need not worry about money, they believe that god will provide for their needs. The apostles took Jesus’ commission to heart. The New Testament book, Acts of the Apostles, tells the story of how the ‘good news’ about Jesus was carried to many places in the middle east and into Europe. Communities of Christians sprang up in many areas, and these groups came to be known as churches; the Christian church was born! Jesus explained that his own destiny was to suffer and die. Any disciple must be prepared to do the same. By the time Mark was writing, around 65AD, the Christian Church was undergoing its first persecution. The message that Jesus was sending them was blunt - they should not have expected anything else but suffering, persecution and possible death. Jesus knew that he was going to be crucified. This is why he spoke to those listening in terms of each disciple 'taking up their own cross' and following in his footsteps. Even if Jesus was not forecasting the actual death of his followers, he was asking them to give up their security and their own interests, which might, in many cases, lead to death itself. Anyone who loses his life for the sake of the G...