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

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 to touch 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, Thaddeus, Simon the Cananite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.

- Mark 3:7-19

Yesterday, we read about Jesus' encounters with the Pharisees. When He and His disciples walked through a field on a Sabbath, and plucked ears of corn and ate as they passed, the Pharisees criticized them. They asked why they are violating the Sabbath law, by working in the plucking of the grain. Jesus pointed out the example of King David, who was fed the showbread by the father of the high priest along with His men when they were hungry. He said the Sabbath was made for man -- and that the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath. Later, He was in the temple, and healed a man with a withered hand -- also violating (in the eyes of the Pharisees) their practice of Sabbath rest. He asked, ""Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" From this day, the Pharisees plot together with their enemies, the Herodians, to destroy Jesus.

But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. Here is something interesting. After Jesus' confrontation over the Pharisees' zealous practice of the Sabbath rest, He withdraws. He has forced the confrontation that was necessary, but it is not a personal matter of power for Him. Rather, it is for the revelation of God - the love and mercy He is here to express - that the confrontation took place. It is for the sake of telling the truth and expressing His purpose in the world. But He doesn't force a greater confrontation without purpose; instead He withdraws with His disciples in order to expand His ministry into the next step.

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 to touch Him. His ministry grows, and is such that He is forced to take measures to avoid being crushed. By now all of Israel is after Him to follow Him and to witness and experience His healing.

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. The demons, who have been free to do as they wish until this time, recognize Him. He is the Son of God. He is here for a purpose, which they don't understand -- but they do understand His strength to dispatch them. However, the messianic secret must be kept. Even at this time of conflict with the Pharisees, Jesus will reveal Himself only in the ways in which He must, for the mission and purpose for which He's sent. He wishes to be known first in a certain way, for the qualities of God which He reveals, and not the expectations of a political messiah.

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. Jesus expands the ministry by investing in and sharing His power with His chosen disciples who will be known as the Twelve Apostles. They will have power to do as He does in His ministry: to preach, to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons. These are "called" by Him. My study bible points out that His appointments are different from calling for volunteers for ministry; this is His authority at work. Discipleship involves an intimate life with Christ, learning from Him, following and developing an understanding of His work before they are sent out (the root meaning of the word Apostle). And a part of this call is the commission to share in His work. My study bible adds, "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. Thus, we who are His disciples have a similar mission today -- helping people to break loose from bondage and come to freedom in Christ."

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, Thaddeus, Simon the Cananite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house. Finally the twelve are named, including the one who will betray Him. We see a constant sort of spiritual battle behind the scenes, just as we do in other Gospels. Jesus has to contend not only with a willing world that receives His ministry easily, but also with forces that work against Him, both worldly and spiritual. He will take up His cross, and this will also become a part of the call to "Follow Me."

What do we think of when we consider the demonic power expressed in the Gospels? We know, already, that Jesus has called Himself the "stronger man" who comes to replace the "strong man" of this world. He has full authority over the demons He encounters, and He shares this authority with those whom He calls to ministry with Him. He will also share His anointing at Pentecost. But my study bible's note is interesting if only to think of ways in which humanity may seem to be beset with a kind of struggle of the same nature for each age. Around ourselves we may find many kinds of darkness, of ignorance, of bondage to all sorts of things. I find that forces of loneliness, of terrible boredom, and especially that which comes from a lack of encouragement in life to positive action can lead to all kinds of harm and to things that are destructive to life. Discouragement alone, depression and anxiety are all forces to be reckoned with - and they can lead us down a hard and oppressive road. We still have with us selfishness of all kinds, and zeal for power and position, the hypocrisy of a life lived for false image (and only "the praise of men") rather than the true image He gives us in faith. So, there are all kinds of oppressive, limiting factors that create spiritual bondage in a modern age, and for which the Good News is a liberating factor. How do you find your encouragement today? In faith, through prayer and other help, even through faithful friends, find the positive word that pushes you toward a good future, a healing redemption, a new start. Find the love that teaches you who you truly are - and tells you the truth that an oppressive force will not let you know. Don't be a slave to the lies that would limit this power of love and redemption.