Mark 3:7-19 NIV
7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. 8 When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. 9 Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. 10 For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. 11 Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.
13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach15 and to have authority to drive out demons.16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
To Know Him
Called those he wanted: The Lord handpicked twelve men out of the multitudes that had been surrounding Him to this point. They were a holy remnant, chosen by grace. Yet the Lord’s choosing of these men likely had something to do with each one’s desire to know Him and serve Him. They were not like the crowds forcing their way through to Him just for healing (vv. 9-10). “For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 2:21).
The Lord’s interest was to preach the Gospel so that men might enter the Kingdom of heaven (1:15, 38). We know for a fact that several of them followed Him for this express purpose (1:16-20). These disciples took on Jesus’ interests, priorities and ambitions as their own.
That they might be with him: NOT that “he might be with them” as they pursue their own interests. True disciples follow the Lord wherever He goes. Jesus Himself is their curriculum. They observe everything He does, are attentive to His every word, and are ready to serve Him at a moment’s notice. For three years, this was their theological and ministerial training.
Their time spent with Jesus was of more value than any ordination or education that any religious body could ever confer upon them. Just like the Lord taught with real authority, an authority not derived from the schools of the pharisees or the endorsement of the priesthood, His disciples spoke with courage and clarity and a demonstration of power that astonished their opponents. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
Theological training is of some value, as is being recognized by the church and its leaders, but it is meaningless unless someone knows Jesus and walks with Him daily. Knowing Him is the difference between…
- Worship leaders and glorified karaoke singers
- Preachers and motivational speakers
- Evangelists and an exhibitionists
- Teachers of the Word and feckless academics
- Apostles and bureaucrats
- Prophets and soothsayers
- Pastors and counselors
- Worker of justice and mercy and social justice warriors
- Consumers and true disciples of Jesus Christ
All the talent and training in the world is no substitute for the anointing that flows from the Anointed One.
To Make Him Known
That he might send them out to preach: The Lord would, in time, send them out on their own to preach and minister as He had (6:6-13). And ultimately, following His death, resurrection and ascension, they would go to the ends of the earth and He would be with them (Matthew 28:18-20).
And have authority to drive out demons: The Lord’s Apostles were not to be dismissed as “Great Value Jesus.” They were sent by Him and conferred the same authority He Himself had, which can be seen in their ability to drive out demons and to heal sicknesses (cf. 6:13). By being with Jesus they were becoming like Jesus and learning to do what Jesus did. “It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!… Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me” (Matthew 10:25, 40).