He told them: “Take nothing for the journey – no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

Luke 9:3-6(NIV)

Talk about having to rely on your wits, the generosity of others, some good walking sandals, and a whole lot of faith.  It’s a little daunting to imagine doing something like that.  Mind you, as far as I can tell, the disciples stuck together and didn’t each go off by themselves individually, so at least they had each other.

Interestingly though, after all this trekking around, preaching, and healing people, when they return to Jesus, they’re tracked down by about 5000 people and, when asked by Jesus to feed the whole crowd, pointed out that they only had five loaves of bread and two fish, and how in the world was that going to be enough?  It seems there was a disconnect somewhere there.  I’m not sure how many miracles you have to see – and participate in – before you’re able to believe there might be another.   However, it is comforting to know that they were still a work in process, just like me, and didn’t have everything figured out, yet.    (See the Feeding of the Five Thousand later on in Luke chapter 9, as well as Peter’s recognition of Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus’ prediction of His approaching death, The Transfiguration, and more)