Divine Discipleship
Mark 3:7-19
Michael Abela
8 September 2024
Mark’s very testimony of Jesus
“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Mark 1:1
John the Baptist’s testimony of Jesus
“There comes One after me who is mightier than I, … He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Mark 1:7-8
God the Father's testimony of Jesus
“… “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Mark 1:11
Even the unclean spirits had to admit
“…I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” Mark 1:24b
The irrefutable deity of Jesus Christ, the unquestionable divinity of Jesus Christ is testified as …
He taught with authority, Himself being the source of those very words.
“And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Mark 1:22
He commands evil spirits, and they obey.
“…What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority, He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” Mark 1:27b
He has the power to heal.
“As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.” Mark 1:43
He has the authority to forgive all sins of all.
“But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Mark 2:10-11
He identified Himself with the Sabbath, affirming His Lordship and His mission as the promised Messiah.
“…The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27-28
Many a religion consider Jesus as a messenger of God, others recognize Jesus as an enlightened man with great influence but not divine, still others say he is an archangel, or even claiming that Jesus and lucifer were brothers! And some even have the audacity to say, that He is just an early, rudimentary religious heritage.
In just 2 chapters, Mark is saying:
Jesus is the Son of God.
Jesus is deity.
Jesus is the Messiah.
“But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him.” Verse 7-8
But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea. From where He withdrew Himself? If memory serves you right, Jesus had just healed a man in a synagogue, on a Sabbath. We left the account in our last preach, in verse 6 “Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.”
Jesus with his disciples, withdrew to the sea from the ‘interior’ of Galilee. The chief city in Galilee named Sepphoris, known as ‘the jewel of the Galilee’, which Herod Antipas made as his capital city. So Herodians and Pharisees were in numerous numbers in this city.
So, Jesus withdrew to the Sea of Galilee, away, to the lonely regions which surrounded the sea, of which Capernaum was one of them. Knowing the evil plans of the Herodians, Pharisees and others, who were plotting against His life, he went into obscurity. Not out of fear, but because His time had not yet come.
Still, a great multitude from Galilee, and the surrounding regions, followed Him, when they heard how many remarkable things He was doing.
People came from Jerusalem, the capital of wealth, honour and power. Vast numbers from other parts, who had now heard of his fame, flocked to him from everywhere. Even from beyond Jordan – from the eastern side of the river Jordan and from Tyre and Sidon in the northern region.
You would say, this is great! Jesus is getting popular! He is a crowd puller. People are turning to God. Jesus thought otherwise.
“Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.” John 2:23-25
People were following Jesus for the wrong reasons. Heads were turned by these wonderful works, people believed that this man was out of the norm, this man will amass an army and oust out the Romans. But hearts did not follow suit. They did not recognise the deity of Jesus. They did not recognise the promised Messiah.
Why are you following Jesus?
Jesus Himself said, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me” (John 12:26).
Following Jesus means trusting, believing, obeying and imitating the Master. To live a life where our thinking, speech, and conduct reflect the life of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithfulness, dedication and loyalty are asked of anyone who commits himself to follow Jesus. God is not looking for half-hearted disciples, but for people who commit themselves to Jesus wholeheartedly.
“So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him.” Verse 9
The multitude was so great, that he was not able to stand properly and preach to them. There was no room, as this fervent crowd was pushing on Him from every side. To distances Himself from such a dangerous situation, He told His disciples to quickly prepare a boat, so that he could go into it and free himself from such a situation.
“For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him.” Verse 10
The situation was unbearable, agonizing insomuch that they pressed upon him with great eagerness and violence. Some biblical texts say, ‘they pressed so hard to get to him, that they fell upon one another’. Just try to imagine the chaotic scene, very troublesome indeed, for the sake of touching him.
As many as had afflictions, referring to plagues, scourges, painful disorders in the original language (due to the fallen human nature) – they threw themselves on Him, fell upon Him, hoping, that the very contact with him might heal them.
“And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.” Verse 11
In the prior verses, we are told that people ‘fell upon’ Jesus to be healed, but, as for the unclean spirits, they ‘fell down’before Him. These unclean spirits, knew Jesus, unlike the ‘ignorant’ mob i.e. who lacked the knowledge of the glory of Jesus, as the only begotten Son of the Father.
The demons, out of fear prostrated themselves before Jesus. Demons know that judgement is closing in, and Jesus the Eternal Judge, could any moment, before their time, drive them out of the "possessed," and send them to their destined torment.
Sadly, the people failed to prostrate themselves and bow down before Jesus. The crowd did not see, the light of the knowledge, of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ. They were only interested in a physical healing, a temporary quick fix.
Who is Jesus for you?
“But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.” Verse 12
Jesus strictly charged the unclean spirits, boldly rebuking them, not to make him known. Likewise, many that were healed of their diseases were charged not to speak.
For the time being, Jesus did not want news to travel abroad that he was the Messiah. There was still work to be done, teachings to be taught; instructions to be given, everything in its appointed time.
Secondly, Jesus was not looking for sensationalism, he sought no vain glory, fame and popularity, which would deviate people from seeing Jesus for Who He was.
Thirdly, and even more so, he did not want the testimony of demons. He wanted to prevent the religious community from speaking ill of Him, as one having familiarity with the evil spirits.
This very same thing we see in the life of Apostle Paul in Acts 16
“Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most-High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.” Acts 16:16-18
Again, we have a foul spirit proclaiming a truth; ‘servants of the Most-High God, proclaiming salvation’ and yet Apostle Paul, silenced the slave girl by delivering here from bondage.
Just like Jesus rebuked the demons, Paul silenced the demon, for he did not want anyone making a false association between his preaching and divination. He did not want anyone to think, that there was some kind of alliance between her and him, light and darkness, or that his motives were just like hers, for profit!
“And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons.” Verse 13-15
He went up on ‘the’ mountain, meaning a specific mountain. The use of the definite article points to a particular mountain in this region of Galilee.
Something similar, we see in Luke 6:12
“Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God”. Luke 6:12
Many scholars suggest that this is the same mountain from which Jesus preached the beatitudes, the sermon on the mountain. In fact, if we look for a place in Gospel of Mark where the Sermon on the Mount belongs, chronologically, it is at this point. This is the moment the sermon was preached.
Jesus called to Him several disciples. So, out of those who were following him for some time, he narrowed down the crowd as he deemed fit.
Following, He continued narrowing down the list, by appointing 12 out of the chosen disciples. The choice and call of the apostles to office, was not according to their will, works and skills, but exclusively according to the sovereign will and grace of Christ.
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit...” John 15:16a
Jesus chose these apostles to be constantly with him, as his attendants, both in private and in public. To be aware of all his affairs; hear His teachings, see His miracles; in order that they might be trained up and be equipped, for the great work that was ahead of them.
Bear in mind, that up till now Jesus ordained, made them Apostles, but power was not yet given to them. They were still not sent out to exercise such powers. In fact, Mark 3:19 ends “…And they went into a house”.
But, after months with Him, they were qualified for the task, and Jesus sent them out to preach and perform miracles in His name.
We get a better insight in the Gospel of Matthew.
“And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.” Matthew 10:1
This time, contrary to what we have read in Mark 3:19 (after being appointed went in the house), in Matthew 10:5 we read:
“These twelve Jesus sent out…” Matthew 10:5
Between Mark 3:14 (when the Apostles were ordained) and Matthew 10:1 (when the Apostles were sent out with power) there is a time lapse of roughly 12 months. A whole year of preparation! Again, everything at its appointed time.
But you might ask, why are these Apostles so unique? Apostle means “one sent on a mission”.
What qualified these 12, for the apostleship were 3 important factors (1) they were called and commissioned directly by Christ (2) they heard His teachings, and saw mighty works, during His earthly ministry (3) they saw the resurrected Jesus.
Ok but what about apostle Paul? He was not one of the 12. Paul never claimed to be one of the original twelve, but the Apostles and believers, recognized that Jesus appointed him as His special apostle to the Gentiles.
“But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you” Acts 26:16–17
“Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead)”. Galatians 1:1
At this point it is worth mentioning, that there are others in the early church referred to as “apostles” (apostles so to speak with a small A) but only in the sense that they were appointed, authorized, and sent by churches on special errands. These individuals bore the title “apostle” in a limited sense, they did not possess all the qualifications of apostleship that the original twelve did.
“Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter;” Verse 16
The name Peter was given to him by Jesus when Christ first called him to be his disciple and apostle.
“Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).” John 1:42
Meaning, it was not given to him at the time of his mission as an apostle. Also, contrary to a general misguided believe, he did not receive the name when he made the noble confession of his faith in Christ, as the Son of the living God.
Jesus call Peter, a stone, simply because of his courage, strength and fortitude. Nothing less, nothing more. [there is only one Ancient Rock on which the Church stands; Jesus Christ]
“James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder” Verse 17
John and James were named by Jesus as “Sons of Thunder”. This title said much about their character, which was full of zeal and fervency, but also at times extreme. This nature is simply shown in their desire to bring down fire from heaven, upon the Samaritan village, and on another occasion, their ambitious request to sit on the right- and left-hand side of Jesus in His coming kingdom.
Surely, it was the zeal and passion of James, for Christ, which costed him his head as Herod ended his life abruptly by decapitation. Surely, it was the spiritual boldness of John the Beloved, when he opened His Gospel with a thundering voice, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
“Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.” Verse 18-19
A zealot i.e. a fanatic Jew, a tax collector (despised by Jews), a handful of fishermen and farmers. No scribes, no Pharisees, no Sadducees, no Herodians, and yet, Jesus accomplished amazing things through these simple men.
“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty” 1 Corinthians 1:27
These were 12 everyday man, plain, prideful, weak in faith, subject to sin, fearful, but God can do great things with anyone, who is totally committed to Him.
They received divine revelation, as testified in the New Testament, they were the bullwork of sound doctrine, they were the foundation of the early church, they were bold for Jesus, their message was confirmed by signs and wonders.
I do not know where you are this morning. But know this, that Jesus Christ is the anointed one of God, the Son of God, the divine, awesome and might God. He turns people and events around, by the might of His power and wisdom.
So let us be encouraged, by the testimony of these 12 men, for what is impossible with man, it is possible with God.
Prostrate yourself before Him. Let Him work in you. And may the Great Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ, do great and might things in your life, for His glory.