Word@Work 031 - Mark 3:13-15
Published: Wed, 01/02/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 3:13-15 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. (NIV)
There is a time to pull back from work and ministry - to be with Jesus. On this occasion, the retreat from the pressures of serving, healing and teaching may have been misunderstood by the disciples. Perhaps they hoped for a day off ... instead it was a sort of graduation. So soon after their initial call to follow, Jesus now appoints them as apostles.
Some use the words 'disciple' and 'apostle' interchangeably, but they are different. Disciple means 'pupil' and apostle means 'sent one'. Sent - as an ambassador, or representative of the company. Again the key is in the authority of Jesus. If He had not commanded them to go in His Name - they could have no power against evil demons. But with His command (like the police warrant or military commission) they had the same authority that Jesus had. They never lost their responsibility to be disciples (being with Him, to learn from Him) but, in addition, now could also act on His behalf.
The two key areas of ministry were preaching (to announce Jesus and invite people to believe in Him) and exorcism (to signal that Satan is not all powerful - on the contrary, Jesus is infinitely stronger).
Some Christians think that the call of Jesus begins and ends with a prayer of commitment and infusion by the Holy Spirit. That is the start: after that - we become disciples. We are at the beginning of a training course with our tutor, Jesus. Soon it becomes clear that we are also being sent out as His messengers. Although this can sound scary, the key to confidence is the authority of Jesus ... it was He who called us to come to Him, and He will teach us all we need to know (through the Bible). That way, we can go out into an unbelieving world and announce that He is Lord.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to understand my responsibility to learn from You. Please let me know Your personal authority as you send me to act on Your behalf, that I may have confidence in Your strength and wisdom. For your Name's sake. Amen
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
There is a time to pull back from work and ministry - to be with Jesus. On this occasion, the retreat from the pressures of serving, healing and teaching may have been misunderstood by the disciples. Perhaps they hoped for a day off ... instead it was a sort of graduation. So soon after their initial call to follow, Jesus now appoints them as apostles.
Some use the words 'disciple' and 'apostle' interchangeably, but they are different. Disciple means 'pupil' and apostle means 'sent one'. Sent - as an ambassador, or representative of the company. Again the key is in the authority of Jesus. If He had not commanded them to go in His Name - they could have no power against evil demons. But with His command (like the police warrant or military commission) they had the same authority that Jesus had. They never lost their responsibility to be disciples (being with Him, to learn from Him) but, in addition, now could also act on His behalf.
The two key areas of ministry were preaching (to announce Jesus and invite people to believe in Him) and exorcism (to signal that Satan is not all powerful - on the contrary, Jesus is infinitely stronger).
Some Christians think that the call of Jesus begins and ends with a prayer of commitment and infusion by the Holy Spirit. That is the start: after that - we become disciples. We are at the beginning of a training course with our tutor, Jesus. Soon it becomes clear that we are also being sent out as His messengers. Although this can sound scary, the key to confidence is the authority of Jesus ... it was He who called us to come to Him, and He will teach us all we need to know (through the Bible). That way, we can go out into an unbelieving world and announce that He is Lord.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to understand my responsibility to learn from You. Please let me know Your personal authority as you send me to act on Your behalf, that I may have confidence in Your strength and wisdom. For your Name's sake. Amen
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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