Mark 3:16-21

Passage

Jesus appointed twelve people as His primary disciples: Peter (Simon, Cephas), Andrew, James, John, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew (Levi), Thomas, James (Son of Alphaeus), Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.  Judas Iscariot is the one who eventually hands Jesus over to the Jewish leaders.  After appointing the Twelve, Jesus went back home – apparently with His disciples.  Once more the crowds gathered around Him.  There were so many people and intrusions that they could not even eat.  When Jesus’ own family hears about what is going on they go out to seize Jesus thinking that He is out of His mind.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jesus appoints the Twelve.  We need to be a little careful.  These are the named disciples.  These are the ones who leave everything and follow Jesus day-by-day.  For that they absolutely deserve a special recognition.  But they are not His only disciples (Lazarus, Mary, Martha, Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea – just to name a few off the top of my head).  The Twelve are simply the chief disciples.  These are the Twelve that Jesus is pouring Himself into almost every moment of His life.  Therefore, while we need to understand that there are other disciples, we need to see that there are the chief disciples, too.  These are the ones that Jesus is counting on to take the message to the world.

What does it mean to be a disciple?  What did it take to be one of the Twelve?  Why is it important to think about this distinction?  How willing are you to do what it takes to become not just any disciple but a chief disciple?

Second Thought:

Now that Jesus has His Twelve, He goes back home.  But the crowds are still watching Him.  Even though Jesus just wanted to go home and hang out with the Twelve, the world has other plans.  They won’t leave Jesus alone.  In a sense, they won’t let Jesus have the time to disciple His newly appointed Twelve.  They are interfering with the process of discipleship.  For that matter – they are interfering with normal life, too!  Not only can the Twelve not have the intimate time with Jesus that disciples need, they cannot even find the time and space to eat!

How easy is it to let the cares of the world overtake our calling?  What does this passage tell us about the importance of needing to be diligent in our discipleship?  Why is it easy to let our discipleship backslide?

Third Thought:

Jesus’ family hears what Jesus is doing.  They are absolutely indignant.  They come out to seize Him and drag Him back home.  Remember that they knew Jesus for 30 years prior to the mantle of His mission being placed upon Him.  They knew Him as a simple carpenter.  Imagine now all the crowds and attention.  Imagine as they look on, realizing how His simple life had turned chaotic – so much so that He cannot even find time to eat.  No wonder they thought Him insane!  On the other hand, Mary knew He was the Son of God.  Certainly she would have told His brothers and sisters.  So while it is reasonable for them to think that His life had gotten out of control, they still should have known that it was God’s plan.  After all, Jesus is Jesus.

Can you sympathize with the thoughts and feelings of Jesus’ family?  Can you see where they lacked faith?  How is this related to our human experience as we interact with God?  How easy is it for us to look at someone of whom God has gotten a hold and think they are insane?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 3:22-23