Then He appointed the Twelve

But Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things he was doing, came to him. So he told his disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for him because of the multitude, lest they should crush him. For he healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about him. And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, fell down before him and cried out, saying, "You are the Son of God." But he sternly warned them that they should not make him known.

And he went up on the mountain and called to him those he himself wanted. And they came to him. Then he appointed twelve, that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: 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, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. And they went into a house.

- Mark 3:7-19a

We recall from Saturday's reading and commentary that the leadership (of the Pharisees and Herodians - the temple leadership and a party that supports Herod) has now begun to actively oppose and seek to bring Jesus' ministry to a halt. We were told in the last reading that they are actively plotting to "destroy him."

So Jesus has "withdrawn to the sea." This is his home region of Galilee. We recall from John's gospel that Jesus reiterates repeatedly it is not yet "his time." He will continue to elude the authorities who wish to destroy him until he decides that it is "his time."

And a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things he was doing, came to him. We are given to understand the tremendous effect of Jesus' ministry; all are drawn to him, great crowds from all over Galilee, with each region specifically named. So he told his disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for him because of the multitude, lest they should crush him. For he healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about him. He's surrounded by mobs, so much so that he has to make ready to escape. All who want healings are surrounding him. And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, fell down before him and cried out, saying, "You are the Son of God." But he sternly warned them that they should not make him known. Always in the context of Jesus' healing is the notion of a spiritual battle that is happening unseen. These demons know who Jesus is; their startling appearance reveals something of this unseen world. But Jesus forbids them to speak; it is not time to reveal the messianic secret. All will happen in his own time, a gospel "sign" of divinity.

And he went up on the mountain and called to him those he himself wanted. And they came to him. Out of all the multitudes who follow, Jesus calls to himself those he wants. And the gospel is written in such a way as to make clear that these he chose to call also chose to follow. There is much to note of choice here. Clearly, not everyone who presses him in that crowd is called. We are reminded of the saying, that "Many are called, but few are chosen." Note that this is not the escape by boat from the crowds; he has chosen to go up to the mountain for a purpose. Then he appointed twelve, that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: 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, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. Jesus now appoints out of his disciples - those who have been following him, living with him, sharing his life and ministry - the Twelve he names Apostles. The Apostles are those who will be "sent out" (ἀποστόλους - from the root of the verb that means to send).

My study bible has several interesting points in a note here which I shall report: "The appointing of the twelve sets forth: (1) Jesus' authority in calling people to ministry: many might have volunteered, but He appointed whom he would; (2) the requirement of discipleship before ministry: to be with Him -- for intimate fellowship and training -- and to follow Him in order to be sent by Him; and (3) the commission to share in Jesus' ministry of preaching, healing, and casting out demons. In Mark's view, demonic oppression is characteristic of human existence under the bondage of evil. The mission of Jesus' disciples is to liberate humanity from this bondage. Every age has its own manifestations of demonic power."

What are we to make of this new turn in his ministry? First of all, there is the interesting counterpart of the appearance of the demons and the appointment of the apostles. It's like Jesus is appointing "soldiers" to be at work in this spiritual battle; they are like the counterpart to the demons, to liberate us from the bondage of evil (as the note in the study bible reads) and all that this might mean in terms of our spiritual blindness. Jesus not only appoints these from his disciples to be "sent out" but there is much more to it: these men have invested and shared in them the spiritual power that Jesus manifests and that originates with him - and of course the Father. So, our shared lives in Christ become something much deeper, after intimacy and companionship: this is an investment in identity - our very selves are transformed through shared power and mission, spiritual gifts. Our intimacy with Christ extends to all the energies which he shares with us, that become a part of us, a depth of substance in our very identity that shifts and adds character, meaning, life. Corresponding to all of this is the significance of naming. Not only are these disciples set apart and called Apostles now, but Jesus has also given his own name to several of them. Simon is now called Peter, the rock (from the name in Greek, Petros, which means "rock"). John and James, his companions from the lake, the sons of Zebedee, he renames Boanerges, the "Sons of Thunder." The qualities and character that will be made fuller, added onto, by the process of transformation in the grace of the Spirit are named by Jesus.

So there is a very important message here for all of us, that to be disciples means following forward in this cycle of choice and choosing, and being chosen. There is someone we are to follow. We recall the words from Revelation 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." This is an invitation to discipleship, intimacy, companionship which the note in my study bible remarks upon. But from that discipleship will flow new graces, new facets added to our character, the energy of God's grace that will form and shape us, deepening that intimacy into the very parts of the self that form our identity as we grow, and follow, and respond to whatever call we receive. All of this involves choice -- just as the demons, who have made their choice, know Christ but choose not to follow and no longer participate in that grace.

So, we will stand in that place where we have the choice to open the door that He knocks. How will your intimacy and companionship deepen? What will it bring? The Lenten journey - the spiritual journey of a lifetime - is not easy. These men's lives would change forever; they'd leave behind all they'd known for a different identity and a different life. But the rewards of Spirit demand our choice. This discipleship confers a deepening reading of who we are, a deeper understanding and insight into our character and identity from the knower of hearts. It will ask us to transform and change, and accept. We start with prayer; this is the way to be intimate, to open the door to sup together with Him and be with him. For that we must be able to hear his voice.