HE APPOINTED TWELVE--DESIGNATING THEM APOSTLES

Mark 3:1-19

Key verses: 3:14-15

He appointed twelve---designating them apostles---that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach [15] and to have authority to drive out demons.

Last week at the conference we learned about being born again. When we are born again, we have a hope for life in the kingdom of God. While we are waiting for this hope in Jesus’ return, we see that God has a great work for us to do right now.

Jesus appointed Twelve--designating them as apostles. The designation “apostle” means to be sent out. They were appointed as twelve whose purpose was to go out. Go out from where? From Jesus and to this world to serve all the people. You may ask: Isn't it too much to take care of myself already? How can I take care if other people? Let’s think about this question as we go through the message, for Jesus calls the disciples to first “be with him” and then to go out. For heals us so that we are made whole and not needy. Do you remember what the Psalmist said in Psalm 23? “The lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”

The leadership, or service, is very important. In the Bible a leader means a servant. But sinful man turns the position of leading from serving other into serving himself. These days we hear a lot about bad leaders being rejected by their people. Revolutions happened in Tunisia and Egypt. A revolution is happening now in Libya. Qaddafi said, “It’s going to be a long war.” Although the people rejected him, he doesn’t want to give up power. And it turns out that all of these Northern African dictators are all stinking rich and were looting their countries. 

We see that Jesus is very concerned about the leadership because he is deeply concerned about the people. Specifically, that they might have faith in God and be right with him, by hearing his words and following his ways.

Let’s look at the passage now and see the way in which Jesus established twelve apostles. 

First, the problem: No one to take care of the people (1-12)

Look at Mark 3:1-2:

[1] Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. [2] Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.

Where it says “some of them” it is referring to the Jewish religious leaders, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. It was the Sabbath and they were in the synagogue. In those days, you had a 6 day work week. And then you took a break on the Sabbath, by Jewish law. Nowadays we enjoy only a 5 day work week! When the religious leaders saw a man with a shriveled hand there they immediately thought about Jesus. When they saw the two together what came to mind was that this was a golden opportunity to find a reason to accuse Jesus. Here was tasty bait to catch the big fish. So they watched Jesus closely ready to reel him in. 

They didn’t think about this man with a shriveled hand as a person in need. What was it like for him to have a shriveled hand? Probably it looked like so, the same way some people look after suffering a stroke. He couldn't do basic things, like get dressed properly. He couldn’t enjoy simple things like swimming or playing guitar. He couldn’t even shake hands when he met somebody for the firs time, for it was his right hand that was shriveled. Who was taking care of him?

Already Jesus had a history of healing the sick. And they obviously believed in his power to heal! But rather than seeing an opportunity for one of their synagogue members to be healed, they watched closely so that they might accuse Jesus. We see that they were determined to find fault with him. Actually, in chapter 2, they had met several conflicts with Jesus. He was not performing as they had expected. When he forgave a man’s sin, they accused him of blasphemy. So Jesus demonstrated his authority by healing the man who was a paralytic. The man got up and jumped up praising God and then went home in view of them all. Jesus also called a tax collector named Matthew (or Levi) to follow him. The tax collectors were the stinkiest of sinners, but Jesus had called him to be his disciples and follow him, and then had dinner with him and his tax collector colleagues! They were so shocked. They could not imagine that the Christ would be so involved with sinners, like tax collectors and sick people. Jesus did not fast when they did, and he fed his disciples when they were hungry, even though it was the Sabbath. They kept asking, “Why do you do this?” And “How is it that you do that?” But they didn’t listen to his answers although he explained them very gently to them.

But Jesus knew what they were thinking. Instead he used the man to call them out, and made the first move. Look at Mark 3:3-4:

[3] Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone." [4] Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent.

Jesus’ question was directed at these religious leaders. The question seems all too obvious, almost rhetorical! But how did they respond? They did not answer Jesus' question. They remained silent. How could such people be the leaders? They could not even say which is lawful, to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill. Of all people, they had to answer this question, but they did not. If it is to do good and save life, then what is wrong with healing the man?

Look at Mark 3:5-6:

[5] He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. [6] Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Jesus was rightly angry with them and, it says that he was "deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts." When they didn't answer, Jesus showed them the answer by healing the man. At that time he performed a healing miracle to give them a message. Of course, this was amazing grace to the man with the shriveled hand. But Jesus was focusing on these people. He even healed a man with a shriveled hand to speak to their hearts. He was not healing and collecting a doctor’s fee. He was not seeking personal gain. He was restoring the man’s hand to him. He was making him whole. And it was for their sake that he did it, first above the man’s sake. 

Why was Jesus “deeply distressed”? It was because he was so concerned about them and the people. He did not have a problem with Pharisees as Pharisees, or with the pharisaic system. When Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, Jesus did not say, “I tell you the truth, you cannot see the kingdom of God unless you repent of being a Pharisee!” But the problem was their hearts. Their hearts were so stubborn that they could not even say whether it is lawful to do good or do evil, to save life or to kill. He tried to help them. He was willing that they were the leaders, but they had to repent of their pride and let go. Rather than accept his words and repent, they went out and plotted more evil, going from bad to worse. They thought they were going to get rid of him. But the truth is that he could not use them anymore. 

Here we see the poor condition of the people who were the so-called leaders--who turned out in fact that they should not be leaders. The people cannot be taken care of with such people over them who do not have regard for God’s law and purpose, nor for the people to be taken care of it. 

How bad had things gotten under this kind of leadership? Look at Mark 3:7-12:

[7]Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. [8] When they heard 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 evil 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 who he was.

Such large crowds were coming to Jesus from all the surrounding regions; they were coming from every direction to see him. They were so desperate to see Jesus. Jesus was even taking precautions now to keep the people from overcrowding him. They were sick and demon possessed. Some didn’t even know how needy they were! They didn’t know that an evil spirit was in them, until they got near Jesus and the evil spirits began to cry out at Jesus! It is very obvious that no one was taking care of them. Specifically, there was no connection with God. No one was shepherding them to be right with God. No one was giving them God’s words to live by. No one gave them to good example to follow. For the sake of the Pharisees’ pride, these people were suffering and harassed like this. 

Now they found a shepherd in Jesus. In fact, it was why he came to them. He came as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. Jesus taught them God’s words and he healed them. 

Second, the solution: Jesus designates Twelve Apostles (13-19)

Look at Mark 3:13-19

[13] Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. [14] He appointed twelve---designating them apostles---that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach [15] 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.

Jesus’ solution to this need was to establish new leaders for the people. So he went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. This is the key connection point among the Twelve. “They came to him.” When he called, they answered. When we look at who Jesus called, we don’t see anything impressive or noteworthy about them. We see their names, and some have nicknames. There’s a zealot, who was a terrorist against Rome, and a betrayer. We can find out in the gospels that most of them were just blue collar fishermen, one was a tax collector, and so on. And they were all very different. Later, the Pharisees criticized the disciples, calling them out as “unschooled” and “ordinary men” (Acts 4:13). Notice however that there is not one Pharisee who was called to be part of the Twelve.

But this point is what separated them from the Pharisees and teachers of the law. Those guys had all the Bible knowledge, self-discipline, and training. But they lacked the most important thing: a soft heart to listen to Jesus and learn from him. These twelve, on the other hand, answered his call. They had been with him, following him, learning from him, although they were often just as shocked and challenged by what Jesus did as the Pharisees were. But with their humble and learning minds, they became the foundation on which Jesus built his church and spread the gospel to all the world.

Who was the right candidate in Jesus’ eyes? It was not the smartest men, or the most disciplined, or the best looking or most popular, or wealthiest, etc. It was one thing he was looking for: those who would listen to and learn from him. And it was these men that he called and sent out to take care of the people. Here we see how important it is to soften our hearts and learn from Jesus! It may be the deciding factor if he finds us ready and useful for service to him! 

Consider what is happening in Northern Africa. These “rebels” are dying for the sake of having a new “leader” and new government. They are giving their lives for this cause. But what they really need is Jesus to be their shepherd and to be their Lord. But they cannot believe and go to Jesus if they don’t hear the message. So, firstly, they need someone to go there and tell them the good news. 

Later Jesus told his disciples to make disciples of all nations. It means that this problem and the need of the people was not something unique to Jesus’ day. It is a common problem everywhere. Choosing twelve from among many others was just the beginning, the starting point. This is how God has been working. It was the same with Moses. God started by calling him and sending him to Egypt and to the people of Israel. But God’s vision was for the whole nation to be a kingdom of priests. Even Moses said, “I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them” (Numbers 11:26-29). 

Jesus has commanded us to make disciples of all nations. How can we make disciples like Jesus? We have to find those whose hearts are not stubborn and will listen to Jesus and learn of him. We have to believe in God who chose all kinds of lowly people to be his apostles. We have to look at the heart and integrity. 

We are not called to remain stationary or introverted, but to be sent out by Jesus. How then did Jesus prepare them for the task? Look again at verse 14. [14] He appointed twelve---designating them apostles---that they might be with him…

Now, before sending them out, they were to be with him. They were to learn of him. The key point of preparation was being with Jesus, learning from him and listening to him. This is because 1) Jesus sent them out to do what he was doing; 2) because what the people really need is Jesus. The preparation then they needed then was learning of Jesus who is the good shepherd. Then he empowered them with his authority to carry out that work, just as he had been doing. Jesus reveals himself and works among people through his apostles. 

So first of all we must come to Jesus and “be with him” with a humble heart that is ready to listen and learn. What does it mean to be “be with him”? The conference messages did a good job to show how we can be with Jesus. First, we have to answer his call, “Where are you?” We have to come out of our darkness and come to God’s words. Next, we need to repent of our sin and believe in Jesus. Jesus came in love like a bronze snake to heal us of sin sickness. He was lifted up on a cross and died for us. So we have to believe in him. Then he calls us to follow him. We have to spend time with Jesus by coming to his word, such as daily bread and prayer, and if you didn’t sign up for a discipleship program at the conference there is still time for you to do so. One of the discipleship teams meets on Friday nights and study’s the Sunday passage together. But they begin with testimony writing and sharing. This is very good! I hope all who attend would write and share their testimonies each time, so that you can listen to Jesus and learn from him, specifically how to repent and obey his word and pick up faith in him! 

What a great and urgent task Jesus gives to those who answer his call and come to him. Jesus sends us out to take care of his flock. There is such an important work that Jesus has for his disciples right now!

Consider what Jesus said in John 14:12: “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

In coming to him, we have to believe in him! For this message is for all of us. Often we try to excuse ourselves. We say maybe Jesus did not choose me, he chose that other guy who’s doing a lot or is a better speaker than me, or is smarter than me, or has a better job than me. Some say, I am too young. Others say, I am too old. Still others say, it’s not my character, or I’m too busy, I have too many problems, I just want to mind my own business, etc. But just as Jesus choose 12 who were all different, Jesus choose us who are very different so that we can take care of all kinds of people, not just one kind of person. Anyway, it is his will for us to answer his call and shepherd over his people. If we have faith in him, we will do even greater things!

We have to respond to Jesus calling! We are here now. And he has this great work to do now, for there are so many in need of Jesus. It is amazing to see that the way Jesus reveals himself in this world, and the way he takes care of people, is through the service of his apostles. What a great task we have before us, if only we humble our hearts and accept his calling and listen to him. 

In this room there are a little more than 11 times 12. So we can make at least 11-12 groups of twelve apostles among us. 

We thank God for calling us to Jesus. Let’s pray that we may learn of him and be sent out by him to shepherd over his people. Let’s pray to make disciples and send them out as Jesus did to the ends of the earth!

---