READ MARK 3:13-19:
13Jesus went up to a mountain, and he called to himself whom he would, and they came unto him.
14And he ordained twelve, so that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach.
15And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.
16Simon he surnamed Peter.
17James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, he surnamed them Boanerges, which means, The sons of thunder.
18And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite.
19And Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. And they went into a house.
The calling of the twelve apostles is a key moment in the ministry of Christ. Here is the foundation of a new spiritual Israel of God. Luke tells us that Jesus spent the whole night in prayer before choosing the twelve. The mention of the mountain is also significant. Clearly, like the giving of the Sermon on the Mount and the Transfiguration, this is an important moment in the ministry of Christ.
Matthew 5:1:
1And seeing the multitudes, Jesus went up to a mountain. And when he was set, his disciples came to him.
Mark 9:2:
2After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, and James, and John, and led them up to a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them.
Jesus specifically calls to himself those twelve apostles he wanted to be with him for three years or so. “He called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.” Note how Jesus does the choosing. They did not choose to follow Jesus, but he selected them.
John 15:16:
16Jesus said, You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and I have ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. Whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
Why did the Lord select these particular men? That is a mystery. They were not scholars or professional theologians. We would call them “laymen.” There was nothing noteworthy or special about them. However, the same thing can be said about us. Why did Jesus choose you and me?
Here we see the grace of God, selecting us to be a part of his eternal kingdom. “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.” Think about this: God has chosen you! You are “called according to his purpose.” Listen to what Paul says in Romans 8.
Romans 8:28-30:
28We know that all things work together for good, to them who love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.
29For those whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30Moreover, those whom he did predestinate, them he also called. And those whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
The purpose for which the twelve apostles were appointed is twofold: “That they might be with him,” and “That he might send them forth to preach and to have power to heal the sick and to cast out devils.”
The twelve were to experience the closest association possible with the life of Jesus the Messiah. They were to live with Jesus, travel with him, converse with him, learn from him, listen to his teaching, witness how he interacted with friends and foes, and observe all of his miracles.
Much of their time with Jesus was occupied with their training. They would go forth on several short-term mission trips and preach the good news of the kingdom. Through the power of Christ, they would heal the sick and cast out demons. They would personally witness how the salvation Jesus brings involves the defeat of Satan and his demons.
There are several lists of the twelve in the Bible. Peter is always first and Judas is last. Sometimes the names are different in these lists: Levi is Matthew, Bartholomew is Nathanael, and so on. (Many people in that day had two names.)
Jesus specifically gave some new names to the twelve. Simon is “Peter,” which means “Rock.” To James and John, he gives the name “Boanerges,” which means “Sons of Thunder.” These names show us some insight into the personalities of the disciples, and the power of God who can change people in a profound way.
Even though Peter is often rash, impulsive, unstable, weak and foolish, he will become the Rock after the resurrection of Jesus. In the Book of Acts, Peter will be the bold and strong leader of the early church. His transformation is noteworthy.
James and John were, to be blunt, hot heads. They seem to be aggressive and angry young men. Several Bible passages bear this out. In one, we see them selfishly demanding the best seats in the kingdom. “We want you to do for us whatever we desire.” In another, they want to call down fire from heaven to destroy some Samaritans who refused to welcome Jesus.
Mark 10:35:
35James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come to Jesus, saying, Master, we would that thou should do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
Luke 9:51:
51And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, Jesus steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.
52And he sent messengers before his face. And they went and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make things ready for him.
53But they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
54And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?
55But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and said, You know not what manner of spirit you are of.
56For the Son of Man has not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
After the resurrection of Christ, James and John will become very different people. John will become the great disciple of love. In his First Letter, John will especially teach us how we should love others in the very same way God has loved us through his Son. James will bravely suffer martyrdom when Herod Agrippa puts him to death. He will give-up his life in service to his Lord.
1 John 4:7:
7Beloved, let us love one another: For love is of God. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
Acts 12:1-2:
1Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.
The Apostle Paul (also known as Saul) is another example of someone who experienced a great transformation through the power of Christ. Paul will speak bluntly about his past mistakes and failures. He freely confesses that he is a sinner. However, he also confesses the wondrous mercy of God, the God who chooses the lowly and weak. God has chosen you and me to be his disciples. Again, here is grace!
We also now follow Jesus and learn from him. The Lord changes us from frail and feeble people into strong and bold believers. We are appointed to bear rich fruit to the glory of God. We are called to love and serve others. “The grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant for us, along with the faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus.”
1 Timothy 1:12-17:
12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.
13Who before was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious. But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant for me, along with the faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
15This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptances: That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
16However for this cause I obtained mercy, so that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, as for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen!
