Appointing Apostles. Mark 3:13-19.
And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach And have authority to cast out demons. He appointed twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and Simon the Zealot, And Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Dear Holy Nation,
Jesus was going to need a team that he could rely on. His plan would eventually stand or fall, based on the performance of these men.
Discretion (13). The choice of whom he called was entirely up to Jesus. Other people may have had their preferences, but it was Jesus’ kingdom to found, expand and rule. His choice was dependent on his wisdom and what he wanted to accomplish. At times we may think our ideas are better than what God offers. Let us remember that it is his service and he knows what best needs doing, and who best can get it done.
Designation (vv.14-15). The twelve that Jesus appointed, he named apostles. That there were twelve reminds us of the twelve patriarchs and the twelve tribes. The number is not an accident, yet we also need to see something new in their designation as an apostle, a word that means “one who is sent.”The twelve he appointed for Company. They were to be with him. In order to prepare them for the time he would send them, Jesus wanted them close. Let no one be fooled, lack of closeness to Jesus is the major hindrance to his mission. Cast demons out.
From this passage, it is clear that Jesus gave his apostles authority to cast out demons. It is not clear that all his disciples had this authority. This may explain why a lot of attempts to cast demons out fail – the exorcists may be assuming power they do not have.
Description (vv. 16-18).To some of the apostles, Jesus gave descriptive, or prescriptive names. Simon was named Peter, predictive of his firm leadership later; James and John he called the Sons of Thunder, descriptive of their intolerant, vindictive nature (see Luke 9:54, where they wanted to call fire from heaven to consume those who rejected Jesus). In the first case, Jesus wanted Peter to be conscious of what he ought to be. In the second, he wanted James and John to be conscious of what they ought not to be.
Desertion (v. 19). The man who would later betray Jesus was one of the chosen twelve. The rest of the disciples were unaware of it until Judas Iscariot was revealed to John at the last supper (John 13:26). Three and a half years he was able to pretend and fool the other eleven. This calls for both caution and self-examination.
The latter because it is possible to be with the inner circle of the disciples of Jesus and not belong, the former because there may be a Judas in our midst, one who is like us in outward appearance but who is an agent of Satan. This is not to say that we should live in constant suspicion of others. It is to caution that some who “look good from far may be far from good.”
Your Loving Pastor Chris.