And Then There Were Twelve

Mark 3:13-19

      If you could pick a group of friends to bring on an all expense paid vacation to a destination of your choosing, who would you pick? Let’s make the vacation three months long. Does that make a difference in who you would invite? Would the group change if you were going to be the only humans left alive? If you were going to repopulate a devastated planet after a disaster?

      Who we choose as friends says as much about us as it says about our friends. It speaks about our values and our decision making abilities. If you asked each one of those you chose prior to their choosing if they thought they would be chosen, would they know they were going to be part of the group? And of course by choosing some, you reject some as well. Could you explain to them why they were not chosen, if asked the question?

      Jesus goes up on a mountainside. Mountains were often the place where the LORD would show up to begin new chapters in life. Moses went up to the mountain to receive the LORD’s commands for His people. They had already seen Him working mightily, guiding and protecting from the pillars of fire and cloud. The LORD called him up to the mountain.

      Jesus makes a choice to select twelve disciples. Groups at time in Jewish history often choose twelve as the number of leaders. There were twelve tribes in Israel, after all. This was Jesus’ choice. He picked those He wanted to pick.

      Notice that they were picked as individuals to be part of the group. They lose their individual identities and become one of “twelve.” Who they were before is not as important as who they are now. They are one of the twelve. They are wanted in this unique way by Jesus. They are to collectively be with Jesus.

      Christians exist as a group. When we begin our journey with Jesus we leave our past behind, and take on a new identity in Him. We are called to live a life together. For the disciples, many of whom had already left family and careers, it meant a more focused life. They began accomplishing a new purpose. They were no longer fishermen or tax collectors. They became one of the twelve.

      This is a large contrast with the Pharisees. They very name Pharisee means separate one. They were not called to be separate, but to be part of the twelve. They were called to be together.

      We are called to be together. How together are you with your fellow Jesus-followers?