The crowd was not interested in Jesus' brand of discipleship.
This morning we come to Mark 3:13-19. Remember what is going on. Thousands of people from as far south as Judea, Jerusalem and Idumea, from asfar east as the Jordan River, and from as far west as Tyre and Sidon, are clamoring after Jesus.
But we must not misunderstand Jesus’ popularity, in either his day or ours. The crowds were not interested in Jesus' distinctive form of discipleship. For them, Jesus was a blank screen on which they could project all their hopes and dreams. The zealots wanted Jesus to lead a political revolution. Some in the crowd just wanted to be healed and then return to their daily business. Some had heard rumors about Jesus' miracles and confrontations with evil spirits. Some wondered if Jesus was a prophet, orjust a popular teacher.
Jesus' priority was the salvation of many.
Jesus wasn’t interested in riding a wave of popularity. His priority was the salvation of men and women. He came to seek and save the lost, including the tax collectors and sinners. He continually sifted the crowds, calling upon people to come out of the crowd, count the costs of discipleship, and deny themselves.
Whenever the dynamics of the crowd became hostile to Jesus' purpose of preaching salvation, he would leave. We saw this back in Mark 1, where the disciples confront Jesus over why he eluded the crowds under the cover of night. In Mark 1:38 (NIV) Jesus tells his disciples, "Let us go somewhere else— to the nearby villages— so that I can preach there also. That is why I have come."
Jesus came to preach! If only we could have the same clarity of purpose. We don’t exist to build crowds or enjoy waves of popularity. We must preach salvation. We must call people to repentance. We must invite people to be reconciled to God at once. Jesus didn’t come to be popular.He came to be our Lord and Savior. When the crowds would not embrace Jesus as Lord and Savior, he’d go to the next village.
Jesus came to call the twelve Apostles to preach and teach.
But there was another reason Jesus would leave the crowds. We see it in Mark 3:9 as the crowds press against Jesus. He instructs his disciples to ready a small boat. And then a few verses later, we read these words in Mark 3:13-19 (NIV).
"Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve— designating them apostles— that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter);James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder);Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealotand Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him."
In addition to preaching salvation, it was our Lord’s highest priority to raise up preachers. The word in our text is apostle. Jesus, "appointed the twelve-- designating them apostles..." In a general sense, an apostle is a commissioned representative, or ambassador. In this general sense, we are all considered to be apostles, apostles with a lower case "a".2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV)says, "We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us."
But the chosen twelve were Apostles with a capital "A". They were called to be with Jesus physically. They were personally trained and sent out by Jesus. They were given authority to drive out demons. In Acts 1:21-22 (NIV) just days after Judas committed suicide, Peter describes another qualification needed to be an Apostle. "Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection."
In every age Jesus calls to himself those who’d represent the interests of his kingdom in his world. The chosen twelve would be eyewitnesses of Jesus' death, burial, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. These are the facts of the gospel. Thecore of our preaching is that Jesus died for our sins and rose again from the grave. Strip these facts from the gospel, and our preaching is useless. 1 Corinthians 15:14 (NIV) says, "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith."
We are also apostles, and we play a role in God's story of redemption.
The twelve as Apostles would play an absolutely vital role in God’s story of redemption. Many of them would later die proclaiming Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. In the same way, we too play a vital role in God’s story of redemption. No, we aren’t Apostles with a capital "A",but we are apostles nonetheless.
In Romans 10:14-15 (NIV) says, "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!' "
The selection of the twelve disciples was not an impulsive decision. Luke tells us that Jesus spent the night in prayer before he called to himself those he wanted. There were particular qualities that motivated Jesus selection of the twelve. Again, the process was bathed in prayer. The same is true when the Apostles replace Judas, after Judas betrayed Jesus.
Something that really caught my attention is the word "might" in Mark 3:14 (NIV)."He appointed twelve— designating them apostles— that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach."
The Apostles, like us, are fallible.
These Apostles were not perfect men. They were fallible men, capable of failure in their ministry. Notice Mark 1:19 (NIV) which says, "...and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him." Judas wasn’t the only one. Peter would disown Jesus three times on the night of crucifixion! All of this is to say that our faith never rests on men, or on the preacher.
In 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NIV) the Apostle Paul writes, "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power."
As ambassadors, our job is to get out of the way. Preaching is never about us. It's about Jesus Christ. Jesus is the substance of our preaching. Hismission must be central in our lives. His kingdom, our need for repentance, our need for forgiveness, and God’s offer of eternal life all must be central!
Our message isn’t to get out of debt, have a great life, raise a perfect family, find joy and happiness, fireproof your marriages, or be successful. Jesus says that you can gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul. Jesus is our gospel. We must talk about Jesus and his offer of salvation to all who believe. We must preach repentance, and baptism, and forgiveness, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the necessity of surrender/self-denial.
In order to preach Christ, we must become available to God.
Speaking of self-denial, these men took dramatic steps to be available to be used mightily of God. Peter’s mother-in-law was sick, perhaps dying, yetPeter chose to be with Jesus. And you know what? Jesus took care of Peter’s mother-in-law. Peter, Andrew, James, and John had a prosperous fishing business, but they laid down their nets to become fishers of men and preach the gospel. Matthew the tax collector left his tax booth. Preaching always comes with personal cost. What price are you willing to pay in order to tell others about Jesus?
To preach Christ, one of the things you have to give up is your trump card. What is your trump card? It’s the card you always play when Jesus calls you to preach. "I’m busy with my wife,my kids, andmy job.I’m retired. I just bought some oxen.I just bought a piece of property down south. My past, my fears, my failures, my circumstances, my health, andmy lack of education all make me ill-equipped to serve." I see all of these trump cards played out in members of our congregation.
In order to preach Christ, you have to give up your trump card and become available. You have to trust God to provide. You must be willing to look to the interests of others, instead of to your own interests.
Jesus appointed the twelve so that they might be with him, and he might send them out to preach. What is the variable? It’s you! It'swhether you’ll play your trump card, or surrender it forever. Jesus invitation still stands."Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."