A Multitude at the Seaside
7 Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; 8 hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon. 9 He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him, 10 for he had cured many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. 11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, “You are the Son of God!” 12 But he sternly ordered them not to make him known.
Jesus Appoints the Twelve
13 He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve[a] to be with him and to be sent out to preach 15 and to have authority to cast out demons. 16 So he appointed the twelve:[b] Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 17 James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder), 18 and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who handed him over”
Mark 3:7-19.
When Jesus called twelve of his followers apart from the crowds and gave them special status and a special commission, nobody who heard of it could miss what He was doing. He was saying, more clearly than any words could have done: I am not here for simply a great healing mission. This isn’t even simply a time of spiritual renewal. This is the restoration we’ve all been waiting for. It’s happening at every level: spiritual, physical, social and – inevitably – political.
You and I have been called to join the Apostles. It was never just their mission to be “heralds” or witnesses to the Gospel of Christ. It is all of our responsibility. but remember this: more good will come from you and I being faithful to God than anything we ever say or do. We don’t have to worry about what we say, nor do we have to remember to quote the right text from the scriptures. We have to be faithful and loving and merciful in the presence of God.
So today pray that — today — you will be faithful to God.
Just before Jesus chose the twelve apostles He asked them this question: “What are you looking for” John 1:38. This question is for you and for me to answer as well. And the answer is the same for all of us: “I wish to follow You and to live a faithful life so long as there is time. Use me to help others do the same.”
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” Matthew 16:24.
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” 1 Peter 2:21.
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” John 8:12.
“And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people” Matthew 4:19.
댓글