Mark 3:7-19 “Appointing the Twelve Disciples"
The Gospel of Mark • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Good Morning Calvary Chapel Lake City!
I really hope to see many of you at our Marriage Tune-Up. I know schedules are busy… it’s summer…
But, it’s so important to take time to invest in your marriage. Please register today.
Amanda and I will for sure be there.
Please turn in your Bibles to Mark 3. Mark 3:7-19 today.
We just finished a series of brief accounts in the early part of Jesus’ Great Galilean Ministry…
Where… after Jesus called His first 5 disciples… Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Matthew…
… a number of accusations came against Jesus and His disciples
… about Jesus forgiving sins…
… about eating with Tax Collectors and Sinners…
… about fasting…
… and about Sabbath work.
We left off where Jesus had proclaimed Himself the Lord of the Sabbath, and told the man with the withered hand… “Stretch out your hand”… and his hand was restored.
And, we sang a last song and I encouraged everyone here to stretch out that area in your life that is withered… that area that is hopeless… and beyond your control…
I hope the Lord moved in your life like He did in mine last week.
God opened a door for a conversation I thought I would never have!
I was blessed to extend love and forgiveness to a family member for one of the most withered hurts in my life.
It was tremendously difficult and amazing… all in one.
I haven’t cried so hard in decades!
What a day! What a God… who is STILL in the business of taking that which is withered and restoring it whole.
It’s amazing how as we teach chapter and chapter and verse by verse, so often our church is living out what we’re reading about…
We read last week that the Pharisees were done with Jesus’ new ways that were counter to their legalistic traditions… His new wine that burst their old wines skins…
And, so, they plotted with the Herodians to murder Jesus.
Today, we pick up where Jesus now enters the later part of His Great Galilean Ministry…
Jesus 2nd year of ministry now begins… called the “Year of Popularity”…
Up to Mark chapter 6, Jesus will be all around the Galilee region, teaching, preaching, calling, healing…lot’s of amazing ministry…
And this Galilean ministry ends at the beginning of Chapter 6 where Jesus is rejected in His hometown of Nazareth.
And, I love how REAL the Bible is… ministry is the most amazing work… AND hard at times… and that’s real as well.
Praise God that our very real Messiah also lived this out… modeling for us life and ministry.
As we look at the word today, we will see two groups of people… both who follow Jesus, but it would seem for different reasons… different motivations.
And, those who followed Jesus and submitted to His Lordship… would be chosen as His Twelve.
Which is our sermon title for today… “Appointing the Twelve Disciples.”
Let’s Pray!
Mark 3:7-12 “But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea 8 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. 9 So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him. 10 For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him. 11 And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.” 12 But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.”
V7 begins with Jesus leading His disciples to withdrawal or depart from where there were and to go to the Sea of Galilee.
They were in a synagogue, likely in Capernaum, and now they leave… and for good reason if you go back to V6.
When Jesus healed on the Sabbath, the Pharisees plotted to kill Him.
So, He departed.
And, that’s how God is. In love, He sent His Son to offer eternal life to anyone who believes…
He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
But, there is a point when a person hardens their heart against God… and He withdraws.
When people reject God… eventually He gives them up… He gives them over.... to that which they love more then Him… to darkness… for men loved darkness rather than light.
And, as Jesus withdraws to the sea… away from the Religious Leaders… away from the politically compromised Herodians…
A great multitude of people follow Jesus… it seems Jews and Gentiles alike…
From Galilee in the NORTH (the region where Jesus set up camp and where He was from… )
From the SOUTH… the city of Jerusalem in the region of Judea… where the tribe of Judah settled… which is where the word “Jew” derives.
In the OT books that focused on Judah’s captivity to Babylon (Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Jeremiah, and Daniel)… the word “Jew” is mentioned 79x.
Also, amongst the multitude were those from Idumea that region south of Judea… Homeland of Herod the Great… and home to the Edomites… the descendants of Esau.
These people were mainly farmers and tradesmen.
And, to the WEST… those “beyond the Jordan”… which was calle d Perea… an area where John the Baptist ministered… perhaps even from the Decapolis… the Ten cities… a highly Gentile area.
AND, from the NORTHEAST… those from Tyre and Sidon… in Phoenicia… all the way on the Mediterranean coast… west of Galilee.
So, from the North, South, East and West… people came from everywhere to see Jesus…
And, perhaps for emphasis, in V8, Mark repeats, “a great multitude.”
Now… WHY was this multitude of people following Jesus? V8 says “…a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him.”
The NLT translates this “The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and a vast number of people came to see him.”
We don’t read they came to worship Him… or they came to be His disciples… they came because they heard about all the miracles He was performing.
What can Jesus do for me?
This is a not the reason to follow Jesus. If you are following Jesus just for the miracle… just for the experience… you’re going to be disappointed.
What happens when He operates in His will and not your will?
When His will serves a greater purpose than to heal… or to prosper…
This is where some people lose faith and fall away. NOT at the fault of God, but because of their own motives.
This kind of thinking still exists… and plagues the church today.
It’s a consumer mentality… leading people to the almost the same question…
But, instead of seeking Jesus for the miracle… it’s what can the church do for me?
It’s the same error.
If that’s why you’re here… you’re going to be disappointed
And, there stands a major contrast in two groups of followers today… this first group… who is following Jesus selfishly…
Contrasted with VSS 13-19… the selection of the Twelve… Twelve… actually Eleven (because Judas was a different sort)…
Eleven disciples who followed after Jesus BECAUSE HE IS GOD.
They left all they thought was important in their life to follow Him… to serve Him… to learn from Him… to become like Him.
NOT for how He could enhance their life without them putting anything on the table.
And, maybe that’s our major application for the day… which kind of follower are you?
If you’re not sure… take a walk with that this week.
So, this great multitude of people have gathered… from all over Israel and the surrounding countries…
And, in V9… Jesus instructs His disciples to have a small boat ready for Him to prevent the crowds from crushing Him.
Because that’s what happens when there is a mob of people who are all trying to have their needs met… they push and the press…
This word crush carries the idea of crushing grapes… and Jesus was at risk of being the grape…
So, He planned an escape route… He could hop on a boat… and push off from shore… for His own safety if need be.
Jesus was setting boundaries.
In that conversation I mentioned I had with a family member, my wife and I were called into question as to why she and my kids left a Christmas party early…
Which really wasn’t early… they had been with my family for hours… and then went to a mid-week church service with our sending church…
We were accused of being judgmental… of calling my family “rough”… “which isn’t very Christian”, they said…
But, I told my family member… I had no problem with my wife leaving early because when the alcohol has been flowing for hours… lips get looser and louder… and my family doesn’t need to stick around for that.
THERE’S Nothing UN-Christian about setting boundaries.
If you need to hop on your little boat and push off shore so those people in your life don’t crush you… you do that.
Jesus had His disciples prepare a small boat for Him.
V10 amazes me… sometimes even if our motives are off… God is still gracious to us.
V10 begins “For He healed many…” Matthew says, “He healed them all.”
They may have been there with selfish motives, but Jesus graced them regardless.
I remember a time when I went to a Bible Study and another time to church…
All with the wrong motives. I heard there were cute girls there.
This was before I met my wife… but they were right because it was at the “cute girl” church where I met a cute girl… who became my wife.
And, she still is! 20 years later!
But, look… despite my motives being off… both times God graced me.
He revealed Himself to me… and I grew in relationship with him.
Don’t be too hard on people if they come to church and they have the wrong motives.
I was that guy. And, God got a hold of my heart.
You let God deal with them. Just be glad they are in church, because there’s a lot worse places to be.
And, all those people who Jesus healed… those with afflictions… they did press about Him to touch Him… we don’t read that He need to get in the boat, but it was there.
The word “afflictions” lit. means “a whip, a scourge”… these are some nasty afflictions…
And, V11 gives us an idea as to how bad it really was…
Some of these people had “unclean spirits”… they were demon possessed… one of the worst kind of scourges…
And, even though many people didn’t recognize Jesus… the religious leaders before… or many in this crowd now…
Sadly, the demons knew who He was… as they cried out, “You are the Son of God.”
And, in Jewish reckoning to be the Son of God… was to be God.
These demons knew Jesus was God…
But, demons are not who you want to announce who you are… demons are not an appropriate forerunner… so in V12… Jesus “sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.”
Now, in Mark’s account it seems clear that Jesus is speaking to the demons, but in Matthew’s account it appears that He was also speaking to the people He healed… (Turn over to Matthew Chapter 12… Matthew Chapter 12)
Jesus very likely told all to not make Him known, because there was a divine schedule… and the people were anxious for a political Messiah who would overthrow Rome.
But, that was not Jesus’ intent… He came to bring salvation to the nations… Jews and Gentiles alike.
In Matthew 12:16-21, the parallel account… Matthew gives the reason why Jesus told all to be silent…
Matt 12:16-21 reads, “Yet He warned them not to make Him known, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet [Isa 42:1-4], saying: 18 “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; 21 And in His name Gentiles will trust.”
Jesus fulfilled this messianic passage… God was pleased with His servant… Isaiah says, “My Elect One.”
Jesus is the Father’s Beloved Gk. agapētŏs Root word agapaō…Jesus is unconditionally Agape loved by the Father.
V18 God’s Spirit was upon Him… which clearly was pictured during Jesus’ baptism when the Spirit descended upon Him like a dove… which is depicted in the Calvary Chapel logo.
Note the Trinity in this passage… the Father…the Servant (Jesus)… and the Holy Spirit…
Messiah would bring justice to the Gentiles:
Numerous OT verses prophesied that Messiah would go to the Gentiles… as did His gospel… and they/ WE have been justified before God as a result. He brought us justice.
V19 Jesus did not come to quarrel or fight in His 1st Coming as a political revolutionary…
His voice wasn’t heard in the streets…reflecting His character...“gentle and lowly in heart [humble]…” (Matt 11:29).
V20 He would not break a bruised reed…
Reeds grew near rivers…if a reed was bent...say by the wind…forever it had a weak spot…a bruise…and was susceptible to break.
Jesus was gentle with all the broken who came to Him… as clearly seen with Him healing ALL in our account today.
How grateful I am that He still receives broken people with tremendous gentleness.
He would not quench smoking flax…
Flax refers to the wick of an oil lamp...if the wick was low or if the oil was low…instead of the wick burning, it would smolder.
And, many who come to Jesus are running on empty… with nothing else to give… they’ve exhausted all their resources…
But, Jesus doesn’t put them out of their misery… He receives them.
These two illustrations refer to something that has been weakened…and Jesus’ ministry was to the weakened…the sick… the brokenhearted…
He brings salvation to all “weary and scattered” sheep with no Shepherd (Mt 9:36)… to all who “labor and are heavy laden” (Matt 11:28 )…Jews and Gentile alike.
D.A. Carson wrote, “What is pictured is a ministry so gentle and compassionate that the weak are not trampled on and crushed till justice, the full righteousness of God, triumphs.”
V21 “And in His name Gentiles will trust.”
Messiah came first to the Jews, but as they did not receive Him, He went to the Gentiles.
Isa 42:4 alternatively words this... “And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”
Coastlands…Gentile territory.
In Rom 15:9-12, Paul cites 4 verses in the OT all pointing to God reaching out to the Gentiles…with this purpose “...that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy.”
So, altogether, Isa 42:1-4… is a beautiful picture of Jesus’ ministry…loved by the Father…gentle and humble…a ministry extended to all.
But, to publicize Jesus’ works and proclaim Him as Messiah… at THIS POINT in His Ministry was ahead of God’s schedule…
So, back in Mark 3… Jesus “sternly warned them...” to not make Him known.
Their publicity of Jesus would work against the divine prerogative… God’s schedule… and would invite more opposition.
I doubt they honored Jesus’ command… for so often in the Gospels… those healed go and tell all.
A reminder for us of how not to be. It’s important that we submit to God’s timing in our lives… that we patiently wait on the Lord in all things.
That we hold our tongue when we need to… and let Him work His ministry out to impact those around us… in His most kind and gentle way…
Not breaking the broken… and not quenching those who are running on empty.
What a beautiful picture of Jesus ministry at this time in Galilee… and still to this day.
So, this was the first group… they flocked in the thousands to see Jesus…
Jesus was concerned they might press Him to death… so he was ready to set boundaries with His escape boat…
Their motives are in question… self-centered versus God-centered…
And, did they actually obey to keep silent? To not get ahead of God’s plan?
Now as we move forward… a contrast with a second group… not perfect men… their lives had their own challenges as we will see…
But, their motives and obedience to Jesus and following Him with pure intent (except for Judas Iscariot)… will stand in contrast to the multitudes…
This next scene is where Jesus appoints the Twelve… which next to the cross may have been the second most important thing He did.
Mark 3:13-19 “And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. 14 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: 16 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, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.”
Right after this scene, in Matthew 5 and Luke 6, but NOT recorded in Mark or John… Jesus would go up on a mountain… to a level place… where He would preach the sermon on the Mount to both of these groups of people… the multitudes and the Twelve Disciples.
It was a teaching that would revolutionize the minds of so many… Jews especially who were caught up in tradition and legalism…
And, Jesus would dig deeper looking past the letter of the law… and would examine the motives of the heart.
A message the multitudes very much needed to hear.
So, hopefully that drops a pin in some of your minds as to where we are in Jesus’ ministry.
In V13-14, Mark tells us Jesus went up on the mountain and called the twelve… and they came to Him.
Luke provides important additional details.
Luke 6:12-13 reads, “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:...”
When Jesus chose His Twelve… this was not a decision in the flesh.
He called upon Heaven… He communed with Father God.
He spent all night… HOURS of heartfelt prayers… NOT vain babblings… and NOT just a devotional exercise, but truly seeking the Father’s will.
I wish it were recorded WHAT He said. John 17… Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer… in my opinion… is the most beautiful prayer in the entire Bible.
What a blessing we have that recorded.
Amazing that Jesus could get alone with God and forsake sleep all night to talk to Him.
How many of us are even physically capable of staying awake all night to do this?
At Gethsemane, Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to watch… to be alert… as He prayed, but they fell asleep within the first hour… and twice more after that…
Jesus said, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
But, Jesus was able to pray all night… His spirit was willing… and He prevailed over His flesh…
And, why does Jesus feel the need to pray all night to God?
Beyond the gravity of the obvious… the important decision of the selection of His closest disciples…
There were many mounting pressures during this time. The Religious Leaders and political Herodians were plotting to kill Him.
Multitudes of people were flocking to Jesus… many willing to follow, but not for the right reasons.
And, so Jesus’ response was to pray and choose students He could mentor into future leaders.
His Twelve Apostles who would carry the Gospel to the world… which is the essence of an Apostle, which means “one who is sent out.”
Of all those who were following Him… only Twelve would be His closest disciples (students)… and He would be their Rabbi (teacher).
And, so He prays all night for God’s will.
Twelve is not an accidental number, but looks back to God’s chosen people… Twelve Tribes started by Twelve Men from the line of Abraham…
Who like our Twelve Disciples today… also had their own faults and failures.
God has a habit of calling and using imperfect people for His perfect plan.
And, what was God’s plan for these Twelve? Look at VSS 14-15...
First, “that they might be with Him...”
Disciples followed a Rabbi, not just to learn from Him, but to become Him… to become like Him.
These men spent time in relationship with Jesus to learn from Him… and to emulate Him.
That’s why daily devotions in the word and prayer are so needed for our lives today as well. It’s how we ‘might be with Him...”
Second, “…that He might send them out...”
They were not to only receive from Him, but they were to distribute that which they obtained.
As you gather here on Sunday… not to hear me, but to hear from the word… the following week take what you have learned… what has impacted your heart… and distribute it to those in your circles of influence… and to those in the world.
That’s what this verse continues with… Jesus sent them out “… to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons...”
Preaching, Teaching and Healing were hallmarks of Jesus’ ministry…
It demonstrated that He was the Messiah.
And, He granted power (ĕxŏusia)/ authority to these Twelve to do the same.
And, this model of preaching, healing and waging war against the demonic is still a model for today.
And, so… WHO WERE these Twelve Disciples?
I can tell you who they are NOT… Not a single one was a Religious Elite, such as a Pharisee…
And, this tells us that so often God chooses ordinary people for His extraordinary work.
And, when God uses the natural man in a supernatural way…
Guess who gets all the Glory? God does.
Because onlookers KNOW it was NOT the person’s inherent talent or intellect or resources… It was God.
In Acts 3… Peter healed the lame man at the gate Beautiful…
Remember Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Which led to a miraculous healing… an open door to preach the Gospel to many… and the number of disciples (just the men) grew to be about five thousand.
And, the onlookers… the rulers and Religious elite… when they asked “By what power or by what name have you done this?”
Peter filled with the Holy Spirit was able to speak boldly… and rebuke them for killing the Messiah and proclaim the Gospel to them.
And, their reply was silence. The Holy Spirit through Peter silenced the Sanhedrin.
We read in Acts 4:13-14 “Now when they [the Sanhedrin] saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.”
When God chooses ordinary people to do extraordinary things… God gets all the glory.
The Sanhedrin did not recognize Peter’s inherent abilities… they recognized that he was untrained and uneducated, but he had been with Jesus.
In 1 Cor 1:26-29 Paul would declare, “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.”
This is a life verse for me. I’m not noble or mighty… I lived foolishly… and God chose me… He graced me… and people looked on this changed man and glorified God.
“...that no flesh should glory in His presence.”
I can never proclaim how great I am, because I know my back story.
God get’s all the glory.
And, I suspect… that as we look at this list of men… they would say the same. Starting in V16...
“Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter”…
Peter was a fisherman from Bethsaida… who would become one of the most prominent Apostles… in the Gospels and the first half of the Book of Acts.
I love the contrast of Peter’s life before and after the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
In the gospels Peter would speak before thinking.
One time Jesus rebuked him for this stating “Get behind me Satan!”
But, those moments of impulsivity dramatically decreased after Peter was Baptized with the Holy Spirit… which is a testament to the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Still, Peter was not perfect… Paul wrote in Gal 2, how he later rebuked Peter for being a hypocrite by acting different around Gentiles when Jews were present.
And, I appreciate this, because even with the Baptism with the Holy Spirit… we are still human… and subject to human error.
Tradition holds that Peter was crucified upside-down in Rome fulfilling Jesus’ prophecy of Peter’s death in John 21:18.
Next, V17… “James the son of Zebedee”…
Brother to John… one of Jesus’s inner three (Peter, James, and John)…
They were Jesus’ closest friends at special moments alone with Jesus… the transfiguration… raising Jairus’ daughter… Gethsemane…
James and John were also fishermen… and were nicknamed Boanerges… the “Sons of Thunder” probably for suggesting Jesus call fire down from heaven on the Samaritans who rejected Jesus in Luke 9.
James was the first of the Twelve to be martyred… slain by the sword of Herod in Acts 12.
Next… “John the brother of James…”
The other Son of Thunder…
A major author of the New Testament… writing the Gospel of John, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John, and the Book of Revelation.
The only male disciple at the Crucifixion,… whom Jesus entrusted the care of His mother to.
John was known as “the apostle of love”…
Repeatedly, he referred to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”…
In his first epistle, he wrote to believers “whom I love in the truth” and exhorts them to “love one another.”
Tradition holds that John was boiled alive in oil in Rome, but miraculously lived.
Then, he was exiled as a prisoner on the Island of Patmos according to Rev 1:9.
Where he would work the mines and be mistreated.
Later he was released and returned to Asia Minor… where he lived out his days in peace.
John was the last to die… he had the martyrdom of a long life.
Next, V18… Andrew… Peter’s brother…
What stands out most about Andrew is he was known for bringing people to Jesus.
He introduced Peter to Jesus… in John 1.
He brought the young boy with the loaves and fish to Jesus…
There were certain Greeks in John 12 who wished to see Jesus… and Andrew, along with Philip made that introduction.
If your only ministry was introducing people to Jesus, and nothing else… that’s not a bad ministry at all.
Tradition holds that Andrew was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Greece.
Soldiers tortured Andrew with whips and prolonged his agony, but for two days he preached to them until he died.
I guess he tried to bring them to Jesus as well.
Next, Philip…
Only in John do we have words of Philip recorded…
In John 1:45, Philip said to Nathanael… “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
A shining moment in Philip’s record.
At the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus tested Philip asking him ‘where shall we buy bread?’
A test which Philip failed as he looked to their resources instead of the bread of life.
In John 14:8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
NOT understanding that to see Jesus was to see the Father.
In Philip, we see that sometimes disciples having shining moments, but other times they fail tests… or do not understand God at all.
Tradition holds that Philip went out as a missionary to the region of Phrygia, in Asia Minor, and was martyred in the city of Hierapolis.
Next Bartholomew, who is also known as Nathanael, but was relatively obscure.
He’s the disciple who said in John 1, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Jesus said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
By the end of this interaction, Nathanael proclaimed, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
Tradition holds that he was a missionary to Asia minor and was martyred by being scourged to death for preaching in Armenia.
Next Matthew… also known as Levi the Tax Collector…
He was a traitor to Israel for selling out to Rome and over taxing his countrymen.
But, upon the call to follow Jesus, Levi left his tax office, and threw a great feast inviting many tax collectors and sinners who also followed Jesus.
His name was changed to Matthew meaning “Gift of God” and he wrote the Gospel of Matthew.
He often recorded the failings and hypocrisy of the religious leaders.
What did he observe to be so attune to this?
Tradition holds Matthew was killed in Ethiopia… slayed by the sword.
Next, Thomas… “Doubting Thomas”… who questioned if the resurrected Jesus was real…
When Jesus proved Himself, Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”
John 11:16 records Thomas’ firm commitment to Jesus when Thomas exclaimed, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”
During a teaching of Jesus, confused… Thomas asked in Jn 14:5 “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
To which we forever will quote Jesus reply in Jn 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
In Thomas, we see that disciples sometimes are complex people full of zeal and moments of clarity, but also confusion and even doubt…
And, that makes you no less of a disciple.
Historical records and traditions hold that Thomas was a missionary to India, where he was martyred being speared to death.
Next, James the son of Alphaeus…
Also known as “James the less” or “James the younger” in Mark 15:40.
Very little in known about him… his is the best example of obscure service to the Lord…
But, that does not make him less in God’s eyes.
He answered the call and was as much an Apostle as any of the others… honored with his name on one of the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem in Rev 21:14.
If you are serving faithfully without much recognition, know that God sees you… and there are rewards stored up for you in heaven.
Tradition holds he took the Gospel to Persia (Iran) where he was martyred.
Homestretch… Thaddaeus… also known as Lebbaeus in Matt 10:3, and “Judas the son of James” in Luke 6:16 and Act 1:13.
The Bible scholar, Jerome, called him “Trinomious,” meaning “the man with three names.”
His only recorded words are in Jn 14:22 where confused by Jesus’ teachings, he asks, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”
Tradition holds he was a missionary to Edessa, an area in modern Turkey where he was martyred… either by a club, axe or by crucifixion.
Second to last, Simon the Cananite… also know as Simon the Zealot.
Zealots were known as the “dagger-men.”
They were an anti-Roman political group that used guerilla tactics to murder Romans and their sympathizers.
A Tax Collector would have been a target for a zealot… and yet Jesus brought Matthew the Tax Collector and Simon the Zealot together.
And, while little is known of him… it’s clear that a lesson from his life is Jesus can bridge the gap between even enemies.
It’s thought that Simon was a martyred missionary as well, but where and how is unclear.
Ten of Apostles suffered martyrs deaths… and never forsake the Lord.
Which testifies that Jesus was true because you don’t die for a lie.
Lastly, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.
In these lists, Peter is always listed first, and Judas is always listed last.
And they earned their positions.
In John 12, he protested Mary anointing Jesus with spikenard for it could be sold for much and given to the poor.
But John revealed he did not care for the poor, but was a thief…
Who as their treasurer would steal from the moneybox.
In John 17, Jesus prayed and titled Judas the “son of perdition”… the only one Jesus lost so Scripture would be fulfilled… speaking of Ps 41:9 and Ps 109:8.
He betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver… the redemption price for a slave… fulfilling Zech 11:12-13.
At the last supper, Jesus honored Judas, but he was set on his path… and Satan entered him… and a few scenes later… Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss.
Judas had remorse, but not true repentance… and threw the money back into the temple… which the priests used to purchase the potter’s field fulfilling scripture.
Judas death is recorded in Matt 27:5 and Act 1:18-19… it appears Judas hung himself, and the rope or branch broke and he fell head first to his death in the very field purchased with his betrayal money.
Judas allowed temptation to creep into his life, and while no one suspected him… his failing was eventually revealed… and it cost him everything.
How important to safeguard against small compromises in life that can lead to a major fall?
These were Jesus’ guys. Common. Imperfect. Failings. Doubts. Struggles. Impulsive. Hotheaded. Uneducated.
And, all because of Jesus… and their relationship with Him… they would turn the world upside down.
Let that be said of you as well.
Let’s Pray!
God did not make a mistake when He called these men. And, He did not make a mistake when He called you either.
We looked at two groups of people today… both followed Jesus… but only this second group truly exalted Him as Lord.
Be like them… give Him the glory He deserves… and see what extraordinary things He does with your ordinary life.
God bless you as you go!