24.127 | CHOSEN TO BE WITH HIM | Mark 3:13-21 | God’s Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

God’s Word For Today

Text: Mark 3:13-21 (ESV)

13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons. 16 He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); 18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

20 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

CHOSEN TO BE WITH HIM

The night before, He had spent alone praying to God (Luke 6:12). It is only after conferring with His Father that He chooses who will be His closest followers. Let us take note that He has already chosen Simon, Andrew, James and John (Mark 1:16–20), and Levi[Matthew] (Mark 2:13–14). Here, He completes the number of His disciples, who Mark calls, "the twelve."

Jesus "appointed" these men, from the Greek root word ‘proskaleomai.’ This appointment was not just for them to leave their jobs or their homes, which is a significant sacrifice. Jesus commissions them to follow Him, mind and spirit. These men are to show interest in His ministry beyond the healings. That, their hearts should be open to His teaching.

And their learning should happen when they are ‘with Him.” Resultingly, they would become proclaimers, authenticating their message by doing supernatural acts, such as casting out demons. After three years, hostile religious leaders confirmed this. Luke said,” Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” [Acts 4:13]

As they went back home, the crowd gathered around Him, calling Him,” “He is out of his mind.” His family came to seize and rescue Him. This could be enough reason to discourage the disciples to not follow Him, but they did not. Jesus was unpopular, yet they were committed to follow Him.

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