Right from the beginning Jesus challenged people’s preconceptions. While doing so He exposed the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. Because of this, the leaders plotted to kill Him. The day would come when Jesus, in accordance with God’s will, allowed them to execute Him. However, Jesus needed to accomplish some things before that day came. Rather than push the confrontations, Jesus withdrew. In chapter 3, verses 7 through 12 of the Gospel which bears his name, Mark tells us what happened. “Jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples; and a great multitude followed him from Galilee, from Judea, from Jerusalem, from Idumaea, beyond the Jordan, and those from around Tyre and Sidon. A great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came to him. He spoke to his disciples that a little boat should stay near him because of the crowd, so that they wouldn’t press on him. For he had healed many, so that as many as had diseases pressed on him that they might touch him. The unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, fell down before him and cried, “You are the Son of God!” He sternly warned them that they should not make him known.”
Even though Jesus left the towns in order to get away from those who opposed Him it did not mean that He returned to obscurity. On the contrary, large crowds came to Him from everywhere. Mark names regions to the south, east and north. Some of these places were outside the borders of Israel. This points to the international impact Jesus’ ministry would have. The crowds were so large that Jesus had to teach from a boat to avoid the press of bodies.
It seems that most of the people who came to see Jesus did not come to hear His teaching, but in search of healing. Jesus did heal many, but that was not His primary purpose. He performed miracles to authenticate His message. On another occasion He said, “…Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” (John 10:36-38 NIV)
Even though Jesus performed miracles to authenticate that He was God’s Son, He told the demons He cast out to keep quiet about His identity. Soon people would accuse Him of performing miracles through demonic power. He did not want the testimony of demons, even though it was true.
No movement can survive unless the founder trains others to spread the teaching and carry on the work. Jesus would remain on the earth for only a short time. He needed others through whom He could continue His ministry after He returned to heaven. In chapter 3, verses 13 through 19, Mark tells us about the men Jesus chose. “He went up into the mountain and called to himself those whom he wanted, and they went to him. He appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority 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, (whom he called Boanerges, which means, Sons of Thunder); Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.”
Mark writes that Jesus chose these men to be with him. To put it another way, Jesus invited these men to share His life as well as listen to His words. He wanted them to know that He, Himself, lived by what He taught. Example is one of the most powerful means of teaching. Later the Apostle Paul told a young leader, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV)
The meaning of the word “apostle” is “one who is sent.” Jesus not only chose these men, He sent them to preach. One person, no matter how talented, can only do so much. By sending these men to preach, Jesus multiplied His own effectiveness in spreading God’s message. Jesus not only taught these men and gave them a task, He also gave them the power and ability to do the work. He enabled them to drive out demons – the spiritual powers who opposed God.
Why did Jesus choose twelve Apostles? No doubt He did it for an important spiritual reason. God’s intent for the Jewish people was that they would bring the blessing of salvation from sin to all mankind. Israel never lived up to their divine calling. Elsewhere in Scripture the followers of Christ are called the true Israel. Just as the Israelites were divided into twelve tribes, the twelve Apostles point to the founding of the true Israel of God.
Who were these men? Certainly they were not the kind of men most people would choose to lead a world-wide movement. As far as we know, none of them was wealthy. None were highly educated. With the possible exception of John, who knew the High Priest, none of them were well-connected or had influence. At least four of them were fishermen. About some of them we know almost nothing. As the Apostle Paul was to write many years later, “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27 NIV)
In Christ’s Kingdom it does not matter what we were when Christ called us, but whether we are willing to answer the call and allow Him to transform us. Jesus named Simon, “Peter” which means a “rock.” When we read the gospels we do not see anything solid or firm in Simon, yet Peter became one of the most important figures in the early church. Jesus called James and John “Sons of Thunder”. They must have been hot-headed. Yet today we know John as the Apostle of love. The other Simon belonged to the Zealot party. They were a radical political organization dedicated to overthrowing Roman rule. Several years later their assassinations and terrorist acts led to the Roman-Jewish war which resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem. In contrast, Matthew (who is also known as Levi) was a tax collector for the Romans. Simon the Zealot and Matthew were natural enemies, yet both accepted Christ’s call and followed Him. Christ transformed their hatred and enmity into love and cooperation.
What about us? Will we answer Christ’s call and allow Him to transform us?