Jesus’ ministry in Mark’s Gospel began with the opening verses of the book. Mark wanted people to know Jesus. So, Mark did not linger on Jesus’ lineage or birth, as Matthew did. He wanted people to trust Jesus as their Savior because His ministry was most important.
With the opening chapter, John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Next, God proclaimed who Jesus is from heaven when He said, “You are My beloved Son; in You, I am well pleased.” Jesus walked into the wilderness at once after His baptism. He stayed there forty days and nights without food or drink. While there, Jesus resisted three temptations from Satan. After His wilderness experience, Jesus walked to the Sea of Galilee and told four men to follow Him. He began healing people, casting out demons, and teaching with power and authority. Word spread about Him, which led to people following Him. These people wanted to watch Jesus. By the end of the chiasm (Mark 3:1-6) Mark used to teach about who Jesus is. Jesus showed His divinity. He is Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is not lord of Him. In chapter one, demons shouted who Jesus is, the Holy One of God. By Mark chapter three, they shouted Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 3:11).
Jesus did not want to become famous so fast. He wanted people to see, hear, and trust Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus desired people recognize He is the Messiah. He came to take the sins of people who trust him. By Mark chapter three verse seven, people had listened to others talk about Jesus. People from outside Israel traveled to be with Jesus, too.
The Withdrawal
And He (Jesus) went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. (Mark 3:13 [NASB])
Each verb in this verse is past tense. They show action begun and concluded in the past. The verbs are “went up,” “summoned,” “wanted,” and “came.” Notice, Jesus is the one who did each of the actions except the last. The people to whom He spoke did the last action as a reaction to the Jesus’ actions. Jesus started the actions and the people He summoned received the results from Him. Those people reacted to Jesus’ actions—His commands—positively. In essence, these verbs said Jesus walked up the mountain and called people to go to Him because He purposed these people for His plans. The men reacted on Jesus’ actions by going to Him. Summoning a person is more than calling to people. This verb has behind it the recognized authority of the person doing the calling. This verse is the setting for the rest of the verses in this passage, Mark 3:13-19, and affects the spread of the gospel, including Christians today.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, the gospel writers told of His getting away to quiet places. Most often, Jesus desired to be with the Father in prayer. He did this for Himself; He is divine and wanted concerted times to be with the Father. Jesus did this to set an example for His apostles and disciples, too.
Jesus was not the only person in the Bible to get away and meet with God. Often in the Old Testament, different people traveled to a mountain or hill to meet with God. Abraham climbed a mountain to offer Isaac as a sacrifice to the Lord (Exodus 22). Moses met God on a mountain many times (consider Exodus 19, 24:12-18, 32:1-7 & 49, & 34:1-6; Deuteronomy 10:1). He and Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel met him on the mountain in Exodus 24:9-12. Moses, Aaron, and Eleazar met God on Mt. Hor in Numbers 20:23-29. Elijah met God on Mt. Horeb in 1 Kings 19:11-14. Jerusalem sits upon a hill (2575 feet high), too. Whenever any Jew walked to the temple in Jerusalem to worship God, they desired to meet with and worship God. To go to a mountain to meet God signified an important purpose. That purpose was because a solemn meeting was about to happen.
Jesus’ frequent meetings with God had more significance than any other person’s meetings with Yahweh. This time, going to a mountain had a different purpose. This solemn meeting included His soon-to-be apostles. This time, Jesus summoned twelve men, not everyone who followed Him. He called these men to go with Him. The men had to accept the summons from Jesus to join Him on the mountain. They had to react upon Jesus’ actions. When they reacted with acceptance, they walked to Jesus. These twelve men separated themselves from the multitude. (Luke 6:12-16 is the only gospel record that tells of Jesus going to the mountain to pray, then do something else. Mark 3:13-19 and Matthew 10:1-4 do not include Jesus praying in their retelling.) For what did the twelve men go to the mountain with Jesus? Which men did Jesus call for His purposes?
Purpose
14 And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and He could send them out to preach, 15 and to have authority to cast out the demons. (Mark 3:14-15 [NASB])
Mark recorded that Jesus appointed twelve men. What does “appointed” mean? Why did Jesus appoint twelve and not ten or twenty? Was there any significance for this? What did Jesus want the men to do? How would they be able to do what Jesus asked of them?
Questions arise when considering verse fourteen. People should always consider with care appointments for duties. They are pivotal points of change. Jesus realized what His mission was on earth. He understood He would not be on earth long enough to affect every person in time by Himself. Jesus realized the testimony of His followers would play a pivotal role in the spread of His news. For the men to grow, training was necessary. With the knowledge of these things, Jesus walked to the mountain (likely near the Sea of Galilee) and summoned the twelve men.
“Appointed” comes from the Greek word poieo. It means to make oneself or another person do something--to ordain that something occurs. This verb implies an authority that causes something to happen. Mark recalled Jesus showing people His authority. Because the people had this knowledge, the men He summoned would obey by approaching Jesus. They would come at His command. This shows their reaction because of Jesus’ action. Behind this verb, “approach,” are conditions that define the purpose of the appointment. Jesus appointed (ordained) the twelve men to do something. He planned for something to happen and now its beginning started.
Who did Jesus appoint (ordain)? Mark recorded Jesus appointed twelve men. Jesus called them to Himself with His authority. Who were these men? Was there significance in the number?
The number twelve held deep national significance for the Jews. Israel had twelve tribes. The high priest wore twelve stones on his ephod. These tribes, named after their leaders, represented the whole of the people of God—Israel—in the Old Testament, under the old covenant. Jesus chose twelve men to represent the people of the new covenant. These twelve men were symbolic of the leaders of the new Israel. New Israel includes each person who considers Jesus as the Son of God and as his or her Savior. The twelve men did not call themselves to this job. They did not volunteer for the position. The twelve might never have considered what Jesus would ask them to do. In their minds, it may have been too fantastical.
What did Jesus appoint these twelve men to do? According to Mark’s record, Jesus appointed the twelve men to be with Him and to send them out. The main reason Jesus wanted them to be with Him throughout each day—to walk and eat with Him—is so they witnessed what He did and understood how He did it. He wanted them to learn from His teaching as they walked around the nation and as He taught the people He met. Being with Jesus wherever He traveled implied a change occurred in the men after they had been with Him. Jesus had a purpose for them. He would teach them how to do that for which He ordained them. This being with Jesus looked forward to what would come after that time. It was more than just physically following Jesus. It prepared the twelve men for their sending-out by Jesus.
“Send out” in the Greek is apostello. This word is from where the word “apostle” comes. Jesus sent them out. He called them His “sent-out”ones. Jesus spelled out the mission of these twelve by His choice of words. He commissioned the twelve as messengers (heralds) to tell people something or to do something for them. Jesus called, ordained, taught, and empowered the men. They did not call, ordain, teach, or empower themselves to do what Jesus would send them to do. These twelve men whom Jesus summoned would be closely connected to Jesus. They would represent Jesus and has His authority to do it.
What would Jesus send out these twelve men to do? Jesus wanted word that the Redeemer has come to get out to more people. God’s plan is that all people will hear the gospel. His heart is to save everyone from their sins and give them a close relationship with Him for eternity. Jesus knew He had less than three years left to walk on the earth. Because of His brief time on earth and because the task was large, He wanted to train men to recognize Him and His will. Jesus wanted these apostles to have His authority to do what they had seen Him do and teach.
Jesus sent out these men. This mission of being sent out—being apostles—has an object. What would these men do when Jesus sent them out? The objects in this sentence explain it. Jesus sent the twelve out to preach. “Preaching” means to proclaim or herald. For the apostles, Jesus sent them out to proclaim what they witnessed from Jesus while traveling with Him. John the Baptist’s disciples wanted to find out if Jesus was the “Coming One” (Matthew 11:2). Jesus answered their questions and told them to report to John what they listened to and saw, that “those who are blind receive sight and those who limp walk, those with leprosy are cleansed and those who are deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:4-6). These things are what the apostles would see and listen to and about what Jesus wanted them to proclaim. These apostles would testify to who Jesus is.
Jesus wanted these apostles to do more than proclaim about Him as His apostles. The infinitive after “to have authority” tells for what Jesus gave the apostles His authority and power. Jesus sent them out with His authority to cast out demons and heal the sick. “Authority” comes from the Greek word exousia. It means to possess or hold authority and power to do or say something and know it will be effective. This power did not exist in the twelve as a personal attribute. These twelve men could not go out and be a messenger of Jesus without His calling, training, power, and authority. Jesus conferred (bestowed) His power on the apostles. He appointed them to go with His delegated authority and power for the mission for which He prepared them. In their own strength, these twelve men could not heal or cast out demons. Without Jesus’ authority, the words the apostles spoke carried no power. When Jesus gave the apostles authority over illness and evil spirits, He authorized them to act for Him. The apostle’s words would not draw people to Jesus, just to themselves. After walking with Jesus throughout each day, these twelve apostles would carry within themselves the love of Jesus for unsaved people. They would have the heart of Jesus for unsaved, hurt, and demon possessed people.
Jesus modeled rapid evangelism with His appointing and sending out the twelve apostles. He would exponentially increase the number of people who trusted in Him for salvation by commissioning these men. Jesus’ purposes for appointing the twelve revolved around them being with Him and sharing in His mission to reach each person with the gospel. The apostles’ ability to heal and cast out demons confirmed their authority from Jesus.
Jesus commissions each person who believes in Him to go tell others, make disciples, and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20). Is each person an apostle? Each believer is a disciple. The apostles were those twelve men Jesus called and appointed. Jesus gave them power and authority to do two things—be with Him and be sent out by Him.
Appointment
16And He appointed the twelve; Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter), 17James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”); 18 and Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. (Mark 3:16-19 [NASB])
Who did Jesus appoint as His apostles? Were they deeply religious and already trained to be His apostles? Were each of them successful in the mission Jesus gave? The twelve men Jesus called came from across the spectrum of careers, families, and commitments. A few were fishermen. One was a tax collector. Two sets were brothers. Three were in Jesus’ inner circle of friends. One was called the “one Jesus loved.” Two received a nickname from Jesus. One was a zealot. Three others shared the same first name. One never trusted in Jesus and betrayed Him. Who were these men?
Mark introduced four men in chapter one of his Gospel. They comprised two sets of brothers: first, Andrew and Simon, and second, James and John. The gospel writers always listed Simon’s name first (Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, and Acts 1:3). His name means “hear and obey.” Simon listened to and obeyed Jesus many times. He was the first apostle who preached at the Pentecost. The church in Jerusalem began with the people who became Jesus' followers before, during, and after Pentecost. Jesus foretold Simon being the rock when He gave him the surname of Petros, meaning rock. Simon Peter became the rock about which Jesus foretold in His renaming. Upon Simon Peter, Jesus built His church starting at the Pentecost.
Simon Peter’s brother was Andrew. His name means “manly.” Andrew had been a disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:35-42). He later became Jesus’ disciple. After Jesus left the wilderness and then walked around the Sea of Galilee, He saw Andrew. Andrew went to get Simon (both fishermen) and took him to meet Jesus. Jesus told these two fishermen to follow Him. While following Jesus, Andrew showed faith in Jesus to do what was necessary. He found the young boy with the five small loaves and two fish (John 6:5-9). Though the Bible does not record many actions and words of Andrew, what it records shows Andrew’s devotion and faithfulness to Jesus known.
Mark recorded Jesus appointed and sent out two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Jesus first met these men while walking around the Sea of Galilee. They, with Simon Peter, were part of Jesus’ inner circle. “James” means supplanted. It comes from the Hebrew word “Jacob.” Three men were named James in the retelling of Jesus’ life. James, the brother of John and apostle of Jesus, carried the title of James the greater. As part of Jesus’ inner circle, this James witnessed major events that others did not. He saw the Transfiguration of Jesus. James the greater was the first apostle martyred for his faith in Jesus. Herod Agrippa I of Judea decreed James’ death by the sword in Acts 12:2.
John was the younger brother of James the greater. His name is related to Jonah and Jonas. The gospel writers recorded John as “the one whom Jesus loved” when he leaned on Jesus’ chest (John 13:23). John seemed closest to Jesus of the twelve apostles. Jesus put the care of His mother, Mary, on John, not His own brothers (John 19:25-27). John was the last apostle to die. Jesus nicknamed John and James Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder.” This nickname remains unexplained. Scholars think this nickname occurred because John and James zealously and boldly told the gospel and stood up for Jesus.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell us nothing about Philip. From John’s Gospel, people can learn about Philip. Jesus sought Philip and said, “Follow me,” in John 1:43. Philip rushed to tell Nathanael that he found the one whom Moses foretold (John 1:45). John mentioned Philip again in John 6:5. He wrote Jesus questioned Philip about how to feed the five thousand people who followed Him. From these passages, Philip appeared faithful, wished to learn, and wanted people to trust in Jesus.
Bartholomew’s name means “son of Tolmai.” “Bar” means son and “Tolmai” was the father’s name. His name appears only in the lists of apostles of the New Testament (Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, and Acts 1:1-13). Though the Bible tells little about Bartholomew, people realize Jesus appointed him to be His apostle—to be with Him and be sent out by Him to proclaim the gospel and cast out demons. Jesus trusted Bartholomew would be a bold apostle. Bartholomew did not betray Jesus like Judas Iscariot.
Matthew and Levi were the same person. Matthew is the Greek name for Levi, a Hebrew name. Levi was the tax collector Jesus called to follow him when He walked to Capernaum from the east side of Jordan. Jesus ate with Levi, other tax collectors, and other sinners (Matthew 9:9, Mark 2:14, Luke 5:27). His name means “gift of God.”
Thomas’ name means “twin.” In Arabic, his name is Taoma, which translates to Hebrew as Thomas. The Greek version of Thomas’ name was Didymus, which means “twin.” Besides where the twelve apostles are listed, Matthew, Mark and Luke wrote about when Thomas responded to Jesus when Jesus planned to walk to Bethany to raise Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-3, 16). Thomas struggled with doubts. One instance for which he is famous is when he would not consider the man in the upper room was the risen Jesus. Thomas refused to trust unless he saw and touched the scars in Jesus' hands and saw the scar on His side (John 20:19-29).
James, the son of Alphaeus, had the label of James the lesser. This set him apart from James, the son of Zebedee, and James the just (the brother of Jesus). The New Testament writers did not mention James the lesser anywhere except the four lists of the apostles. Even then, the Gospel writers wrote his name near the end of the list.
Thaddeus (Thaddaeus) was the ninth apostle Mark listed as appointed by Jesus. His name means “heart.” The gospel writers record little about Thaddeus. Matthew 10:3 and Mark 3:18 spell his name without the second “a” as in Thaddeus. In the King James version of Mark 10:3, Thaddeus is the surname of Lebbaeus. In Luke’s list of apostles in Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13, he replaced Thaddeus with “Judas son of James.” John noted Thaddeus in his Gospel as “Judas (not Iscariot)” in John 14:22. Some scholars conjecture Lebbaeus and Thaddeus were nicknames. In just one other passage in the New Testament is Thaddeus mentioned. When Jesus told His apostles He was going to prepare a place for them, Thaddeus asked why Jesus would only show Himself to His apostles (John 14:22).
Simon the Zealot may have been part of the Zealots’ party who wanted Roman rule over Jews removed. They wanted independence from Roman. These zealots wanted to inflame the passion of the Jewish people to rebel and drive Rome from Israel. They wanted to reestablish the theocracy God mandated for Israel as His people. The added “Zealot” behind Simon’s given name may have been a way for people to separate the two Simons before Jesus renamed the first Simon as Peter. The second Simon’s nickname, the zealot, might have occurred because of his passion to preach the gospel, too. Simon’s name means hearing and obeying.
Judas Iscariot was the last and the only infamous apostle. The name Judas was a variation on the names Judah and Jude. In John 6:71 and 13:26, John referred to Judas as the son of Simon Iscariot. Iscariot may have been Judas’ surname or where he lived—Kerioth. Judas Iscariot became infamous because he betrayed Jesus to the Jewish religious leaders. He carried power since he was the treasurer of the group. That self-assumed power became part of his downfall. Judas Iscariot stole from the treasury and received payment from the Pharisees to betray Jesus (John 12:6).
Jesus chose these twelve men as His appointed and sent-out heralds to proclaim the gospel, to heal every kind of sickness, and to cast out evil spirits (Matthew 10:1 and Mark 3:15). They did not appoint themselves. Jesus did not send them out without power and authority. He authorized and anointed them with His own power and authority. These twelve men were simple men with ordinary jobs. They had no training to be an apostle. Jesus trained them. His two commands included staying with and being sent out by Him. Each of these men determined for themselves if they trusted in Jesus. They acted upon their belief in visible ways. Though each of them sinned, each believed in Jesus as the Messiah, except for Judas Iscariot. His action of betrayal showed his heart. For each of these men Jesus appointed, they showed Jesus’ power and authority with their lives.
Application and Conclusion
With Jesus’ calling and appointing His apostles, He gave them His authority to preach, heal, and cast out demons. Jesus started the worldwide spread of the gospel of salvation. His news spread outside the borders of Judea, Israel, Galilee, and Samaria. It spread to Arabia, Syria, and Phoenicia next. Jesus understood His task—His heart’s desire—was to save each person. He provided the example of exponential evangelism. Jesus appointed, empowered, and sent out with His authority.
The twelve men Jesus chose to proclaim and spread the good news around the world represent each person today. They symbolically represent the new Israel, in which Christian are. Each of us comes from diverse backgrounds and careers. Some of us have family members who already have accepted Jesus as their Savior. Others of us have a reputation we wish we did not have. Still others are quiet. Last, some of us may be wolves in sheep’s clothing who act like Christians but never accepted Jesus as God’s Son and our Savior. Whoever we are, Jesus came to save us. Whoever we are, Jesus commanded we proclaim the gospel we received from Him. Matthew recorded this command in Matthew 28:18-20.
Jesus spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (NASB)
Before Jesus’ command from Matthew 28:18-20 applies to a person, that person must come to a saving belief in Jesus as God’s Son, who lived a sinless life, died a criminal’s death though He had not sinned, and rose to life again after three days. He did this because of His love for each person. God’s love is so great that He does not want anyone to die forever separated from Him because of the stain and judgment of his or her sins. Only one way exists to receive eternal forgiveness and salvation so the person can live with God in heaven. That one way is belief in Jesus as the Son of God. John says this in his Gospel and in his letter. Paul wrote about it in his letters.
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. (John 3:16-17 [NASB])
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called the children of God. (1 John 3:1a [NASB])
We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us. (1 John 3:16a [NASB])
By this, the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (sacrifice) for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10 [NASB])
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 [NASB])
When Jesus called the twelve men to be His apostles, He denoted their significance. They were regular people like each of us. Jesus changed that when they trusted in Him. They became important. These twelve men carried no qualifications nor earned the right to receive salvation.
Nothing we do, have, or say makes us good enough to receive salvation. Each of us is significant to Jesus, even those of us who are the wolf in sheep’s clothing. Jesus loves each of us and calls us to come to Him just as we are. Today is your day.
Your goodness is
not good enough.
Jesus gives from His goodness and grace to save you.
You have no power
and authority for you to save people.
Jesus gives His
power and authority for you to proclaim He saves people.
