MARK 3:13-19
LIKE THE TWELVE
Life of Christ #19
We are studying the Life of Christ chronologically.
Last week we saw Jesus allow his disciples to pick and eat grain on the Sabbath. He also healed a sick man on the Sabbath. He stirred up a hornet’s nest! Some scribes and Pharisees persecuted him for, what they said was, a violation of the Sabbath.
As we continue this morning, we learn that Jesus chose twelve Apostles.
· There was Peter who was impetuous, who denied his Lord, but after the resurrection and after Pentecost became the bold spokesman for Christianity.
· There were the “Sons of Thunder”, who had fiery personalities and were very ambitious at first. James ended up being the first apostle to be martyred. John ended up being a prisoner on the Isle of Patmos and author of a Gospel, 3 epistles and the Book of Revelation.
· There was Andrew who faithfully brought others to Jesus.
· There was Philip who simply followed Jesus by faith when called.
· There was Bartholomew, or Nathaniel, who was guileless.
· There was Matthew who had such a dramatic change in life, that he left his lucrative tax collection business to follow Jesus. He, too, wrote a Gospel.
· There was Thomas who is remembered as “the doubter”.
· There were, …James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, men who we know little or nothing about, but faithfully followed Jesus and spread His Gospel.
· There was Judas who betrayed our Lord.
Now I have a question for you. How much are you like the twelve?
Now I don’t mean, are you impetuous like Peter, or fiery like James and John, or a soul-winner like Andrew.
But there were characteristics true of the twelve who Jesus called Apostles. The exception, of course, was Judas, but he was replaced with a faithful man named Matthias. These same characteristics should be true of you and of me.
THEY WERE CHOSEN
THEY WERE CALLED
THEY WERE COMPANIONS
THEY WERE COMMANDED
THEY WERE COMMISSIONED
THEY WERE CHOSEN
Luke 6:12-13 - And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. [13] And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
While on earth, Jesus as a man limited his own abilities as God. He did not exercise all of His qualities all the time as God. Instead he acted as the perfect man who was in total submission to His Heavenly Father.
I believe that Jesus spent the whole night in prayer because He was going to chose twelve men who would impact the world. He needed to make the right choice, and therefore prayed it through.
When we have important choices to make, we should spend protracted times in prayer.
And remember some key words from the Lord’s Prayer as you pray. “Thy kingdom come, they will be done”.
We should want God’s kingdom furthered, not our own kingdom of selfish interest.
We should want God’s will to be done, not ours.
Every one of these twelve men was chosen of God, even Judas.
For Scripture to be fulfilled there needed to be a Judas.
How do you think the twelve felt when they were chosen?
They probably felt special.
They probably felt separated.
They were probably sobered, by the great responsibility that was being placed upon them.
Every true Christian is chosen.
Before I explain that statement, let me explain what a true Christian is.
· A true Christian is one who understands that he or she is a sinner not worthy or Heaven but worthy of punishment.
Romans 3:10-12 - As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: [11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. [12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Ezekiel 18:4 - …the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
A true Christian is one who realizes that somebody had to bear our punishment for sin in order for us to have forgiveness and eternal life in Heaven.
That someone is Jesus, the sinless Son of God. He “took the rap” for us. He died in our place.
Colossians 2:13-14 - And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; [14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
A true Christian, at a specific moment in time, has put their trust in Christ alone for salvation in Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
A true Christian has had his life changed by Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Are you a true Christian because your faith is in Christ alone? Every true Christian is chosen.
Ephesians 1:3-4 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: [4] According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Imagine yourself walking on the road of life. Over to the side you see a gate saying, “Whosoever will may come.” You come through the gate placing your faith in Christ.
On the other side of the gate, you see something else written, “Chosen in Him before the foundation of the world.”
This should make you feel special – you are “in him”, you are securely placed in the Lord Jesus Christ as God’s Son.
This should make you feel separated - that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
This should make us feel sober or serious. God has chosen you to be His! Therefore we should strive to live accordingly.
The twelve were chosen, for the 11 that were truly Christ’s, they were chosen in him before the foundation of the world, and so were you if you have trusted Christ as Savior.
The twelve were also chosen to a life of good works. The Lord Jesus had a plan for their lives that involved doing good for the honor and glory of God.
He has that same plan for you.
Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Jesus plan for the twelve was the doing of good works.
In their case the good works included healing the sick and casting out demons.
I believe that Jesus’ plan for us includes some of the following as good works:
· Helping those with financial needs - James 2:15-16
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, [16] And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
MARK 3:13-19 - PAGE 6
· Doing good works also involves Visiting in hospitals and prisons. Matthew 25:34-40 - Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: [35] For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: [36] Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. [37] Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? [38] When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? [39] Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? [40] And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
· Doing good works involves encouraging others.
Hebrews 10:24-25 – And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: [25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
· Doing good works involves helping others.
Titus 2:13-14 - Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; [14] Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Another thing that I want you to note about being chosen is that God had chosen The Twelve to a specific job, that of Apostle.
God has a specific job for each of us.
He has chosen you to do certain things at certain times in your life.
It is up to you to be sensitive to know when and if it is:
· Time to teach
· Time to lead
· Time to be a missionary
· Time to be a pastor
· Time to lead a Bible Study
· Time to be involved in evangelistic outreach
· Time to help in ministry
God has chosen you with a specific plan for your life.
Don’t miss God’s best.
THEY WERE CHOSEN
THEY WERE CALLED
Vs. 14 – All the disciples were called together by Jesus and He appointed or ordained twelve. The ones who were chosen were called and appointed. Jesus had chosen The Twelve He revealed it to them.
We are called as well. Whatever God has chosen you to do; He will call you to do it. He will let you know what it is.
Some calls from God are obvious.
You are called to be a loving husband or an obedient wife.
You are called to be a responsible parent or a dutiful child.
You are called to be an honest employer or a reliable employee.
You are called to love your neighbor as yourself.
Some calls are less obvious, but God will lead you to them.
He will guide you from within by the Holy Spirit.
He will guide you from above with the reading and preaching of the Word.
He will guide you from without with the encouragement and suggestions of others.
Sometimes, when God calls you do to something, you will wonder how you will ever accomplish this. But if God calls you, he will enable you.
For those of you who didn’t attend last night you missed a great concert featuring our own Randy Quinn and a man named Dan Schall.
Dan has been singing Gospel concerts and talking before audiences for 35 years. You may say, “Well, so what?”
Dan stutters when he talks and sometimes stutters badly. He has a physical handicap. And yet God called Him, and God uses him.
My friends, if God has called you to do something don’t use a handicap of any kind as an excuse. Trust that God will use you in spite of the handicap.
THEY WERE CHOSEN
THEY WERE CALLED
THEY WERE COMPANIONS
Vs. 14 – I doubt that the Apostles fully appreciated this, but they were to learn from Jesus being with Jesus.
They were to be His companions.
· They walked with the Son of God.
· They talked with the Son of God.
· They were taught by the Son of God.
· They witnessed the Son of God at work.
· They were protégés to the Son of God
I remember a pastor by the name of Herrmann G. Braunlin.
He pastored the same church in Hawthorne New Jersey for over 60 years. It was a good sized church. One night when I was visiting, Rev. Braunlin sat down and spent time with me. That was absolutely amazing that he would take the time for a college kid when he had so many other things to care for.
And do you know what is even more amazing?
The one who holds the universe together has time for me!
The one who reigns in Heaven has time for me.
The King of Kings and Lord of Lords WANTS to spend time with me! He wants me to be His companion.
He not only wants to talk to me, he wants to listen to me!
John 15:7 - If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Only a fool would not spend time with the Lord Jesus as His companion, if he could.
Oh, how foolish I’ve been!
Oh, how foolish you’ve been!
THEY WERE CHOSEN
THEY WERE CALLED
THEY WERE COMPANIONS
THEY WERE COMMANDED
Vs. 14 – Jesus was going to send them forth to preach. He would command them.
Jesus’ position before The Twelve was Lord and Master.
Jesus’ position before you and I is Lord and Master.
John 13:13 - Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
Jesus had authority over the Apostles and expected them to obey.
Jesus has authority over you and me if we have claimed Jesus as Savior.
If you have claimed Him to be Savior, He is to be your Lord.
Obeying the Lord Jesus is more important than obeying anyone else.
John 14:15 - If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Luke 6:46 - And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Chuck Swindoll - Imagine, if you will, that you work for a company whose president found it necessary to travel out of the country and spend an extended period of time abroad. So he says to you and the other trusted employees, “Look, I’m going to leave. And while I’m gone, I want you to pay close attention to the business. You manage things while I’m away. I will write you regularly. When I do, I will instruct you in what you should do from now until I return from this trip.”
Everyone agrees. He leaves and stays gone for a couple of years. During that time he writes often, communicating his desires and concerns.
Finally he returns. He walks up to the front door of the company and immediately discovers everything is in a mess--weeds flourishing in the flower beds, windows broken across the front of the building, the gal at the front desk dozing, loud music roaring from several offices, two or three people engaged in horseplay in the back room.
Instead of making a profit, the business has suffered a great loss. Without hesitation he calls everyone together and with a frown asks, “What happened? Didn’t you get my letters?” You say, “Oh, yeah, sure. We got all your letters. We’ve even bound them in a book. And some of us have memorized them. In fact, we have ‘letter study’ every Sunday. You know, those were really great letters.”
I think the president would then ask, “But what did you do about my instructions?” And, no doubt the employees would respond, “Do? Well, nothing. But we read every one!”Charles Swindoll, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity, p. 242, http://www.bible.org/illus.asp?topic_id=982
THEY WERE COMMANDED
THEY WERE COMMISSIONED
When Jesus rose from the dead he gave the twelve the ultimate commission:
Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
This commission was not only for the Twelve but it is for the Church.
· The Twelve have started the work, but you and I must continue.
· Who in your family needs to hear the Gospel?
· Who in your neighborhood needs to hear the Gospel?
· Who on your job needs to hear the Gospel?
· Who in your state and in this country needs to hear the Gospel?
· Who in the world needs to hear the Gospel?
Jesus commissioned us to go to someone with the Gospel.
Who has He commissioned you to go to?
If you are a true Christian, you are like the twelve:
YOU ARE CHOSEN
YOU ARE CALLED
YOU ARE COMPANIONS
YOU ARE COMMANDED
YOU ARE COMMISSIONED