I am amazed at the training methods and risks Jesus took when entrusting the greatest message and only hope to unlearned and inexperienced people. The fact that He did astounded experts in the book of Acts as they noted that those who they had just debated, were unlearned and uneducated fishermen with only one qualifying detail, “They had been with Jesus”! In the rabbinical schools the pupils from a very young age had to show increased academic aptitude that was designed to eliminate students until you were left with the best and brightest. The pupils that didn’t make it would be dropouts that would filter to different trades. It is clear that Jesus didn’t choose His disciples from the rabbinical schools but rather from the cast off trades.
His chosen were not the best and the brightest, far from it! His disciples were not trained daily in the class rooms but were with Him observing His methods and manners. It is here that we pick up our story in the 6th chapter of Mark as the 12 have come back having been paired up and sent out with His power and authority. As you look at the whole of this passage you see the ebb and flow of the Christian life: A continuous going into the presence of God from the presence of people, and coming out from the presence of people and back into the presence of God. You can not be effective at our work for God unless you have spent time at rest with God! But you will be restless if you have not been engaged in your work for God, we need both!