1 Corinthians 4:8-21
March 1, 2010
Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, You are the Son of God. But he gave them strict orders not to tell who he was.
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 Beaneries, which means Sons of Thunder); Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him - Mark 3:7-19.
Only Mark includes the detail about the boat. Its purpose was, of course, to provide escape for Jesus in case the crowd began to get unruly. Great numbers of people were pressing forward just to touch Jesus in the hope that they might be healed. The crowd seems to have had little interest in Jesus other than as a miracle-worker. Despite all this, Jesus graciously healed many of them. His concern runs far deeper then their present circumstances. He commissions and appoints His disciples to reach out into the community, to be witnesses for Him. As we begin a new decade may the Lord give us compassion to reach the lost and the vision to identify those who are in need of the healing touch of the Savior.
The purpose for which the Twelve were appointed was twofold: they were to be brought into close association with Jesus, live with Him, travel with Him, converse with Him, and learn from Him. This training was not an end in itself--they were to be sent out to preach the Good News and to drive out demons. These elements are closely associated. The salvation Jesus brings involves the defeat of Satan and his demons. To God be the glory – great things He has done.
O Lord, we beseech Thee, mercifully hear our prayers and having set us free from the bonds of sin, defend us from all evil; through Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord.[1]
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 Beaneries, which means Sons of Thunder); Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him - Mark 3:7-19.
Only Mark includes the detail about the boat. Its purpose was, of course, to provide escape for Jesus in case the crowd began to get unruly. Great numbers of people were pressing forward just to touch Jesus in the hope that they might be healed. The crowd seems to have had little interest in Jesus other than as a miracle-worker. Despite all this, Jesus graciously healed many of them. His concern runs far deeper then their present circumstances. He commissions and appoints His disciples to reach out into the community, to be witnesses for Him. As we begin a new decade may the Lord give us compassion to reach the lost and the vision to identify those who are in need of the healing touch of the Savior.
The purpose for which the Twelve were appointed was twofold: they were to be brought into close association with Jesus, live with Him, travel with Him, converse with Him, and learn from Him. This training was not an end in itself--they were to be sent out to preach the Good News and to drive out demons. These elements are closely associated. The salvation Jesus brings involves the defeat of Satan and his demons. To God be the glory – great things He has done.
O Lord, we beseech Thee, mercifully hear our prayers and having set us free from the bonds of sin, defend us from all evil; through Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord.[1]
[1] Collect for Quuinquagesima Sunday The Lutheran Hymnal © 1940 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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