David Bahn – Reflections

Then Jesus went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. ²¹ And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

²² And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” ²³ And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? ²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. ²⁶ And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. ²⁷ But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

²⁸ “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, ²⁹ but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— ³⁰ for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

³¹ And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. ³² And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” ³³ And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” ³⁴ And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! ³⁵ For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” – Mark 3:20-35

“You need to get Jesus into as much trouble as you can, keep him there for as long as you can, before finally resolving the tension with the sweet news of the Gospel.” This was the essence of a talk on preaching that used jazz as a metaphor. I love music. My natural bent is toward classical or Christian Contemporary. But once I learned this secret, I broadened my horizons to appreciate Jazz a bit more. Jazz is like that: getting into as much trouble as you can before finally resolving the song.” I love it when the chord resolves.

Play only octaves on the piano and you’ll be able to share a tune, but there will never be that sweet sense of resolve, and no anticipation of the dissonance fading: That’s uniformity. Play a simple tune, a hymn in four-part harmony, and most often the results will be pleasing. That’s unity. Harmony happens when the chords are bent, the notes are suspended but only for a time.

There is a time for each in life or in music. Not every note will resonate well with the others in the song. Not every situation we face will be in the category of “lines drawn for me in pleasant places.” But the perfect resolution of all things will come and it will be sweet indeed.

Satan’s reign is one of discord and accusation, sin and conflict that is never resolved. His is a house divided. It will fall. There will be no sweet resolution. He will implode under the weight of his own evil. Darkness has no power to generate light. Sin and evil cannot sustain themselves. Jesus is clear here: a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.

Jesus’ kingdom is a reign and rule of grace and peace, truth and righteousness. There may be moments, and even eras of discord and disharmony in our lives. Whether at home, work, or even at church, sin can fracture the beautiful harmony we have in Christ. That’s why we must make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). Disharmony within the body of Christ or in personal relationships is never a good thing. But we can work toward resolution into sweet harmony that God’s Holy Spirit provides. That’s something Satan cannot hope for. But it is our truest hope and a precious gift of God. That’s one jazz chord that will be beautifully and eternally resolved.

Then Jesus went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. ²¹ And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

²² And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” ²³ And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? ²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. ²⁶ And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. ²⁷ But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

²⁸ “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, ²⁹ but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— ³⁰ for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

³¹ And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. ³² And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” ³³ And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” ³⁴ And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! ³⁵ For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” – Mark 3:20-35

You can say whatever you want to about me, but you better not insult my mother! Such an interesting sentiment. Such an important insight. Maybe you feel that way about your mother, sister, father, or brother. Perhaps it’s your best friend, or your favorite teacher.

Jesus felt that way about the Holy Spirit and his work in the world and people’s lives. You can blaspheme Jesus. That can be forgiven. But don’t blaspheme the work of the Holy Spirit. That’s unforgivable. 

Lots of ink has been spilled about this unforgivable sin. The idea of such a sin strikes fear in the hearts of the weak believer. It is also dismissed too readily by those who ought to worry about committing it. 

I learned, at seminary, that the pastor – in almost every situation – is to disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed. Those who are worried about their sin, who are weak in faith, and who are in Jesus’ words, “poor in spirit” (cf. Matthew 5:3) are to be comforted. Those who are secure in their own righteousness, need to be troubled. Mary’s song says it this way: “he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate.” 

But that prerogative is reserved to God alone. And there is the issue we must consider. Sinning against the Holy Spirit is ascribing to Satan that which the Holy Spirit does. The Holy Spirit works faith. So if someone says that faith is a work of the devil, that is a sin against the Holy Spirit. Fears about having committed this sin are appropriate. But seldom do we think of it as accusing a person who believes in Jesus of being influenced by Satan.

Want to avoid sinning against the Holy Spirit? Never accuse anyone who believes in Jesus to be deceived by Satan!

Then Jesus went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. ²¹ And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

²² And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” ²³ And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? ²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. ²⁶ And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. ²⁷ But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

²⁸ “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, ²⁹ but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— ³⁰ for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

³¹ And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. ³² And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” ³³ And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” ³⁴ And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! ³⁵ For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” – Mark 3:20-35

Theft! I saw the back door of my car open, papers scattered across the driveway and yard, and – of all things! – my communion kit missing. Let me explain: the car was parked outside in a carport, not a closed garage. The communion kit is a small container for wine and four individual communion cups, and some wafers. It was in a dark purple velvet bag together with my pastor’s companion personal agenda book.

Dark velvet bag: easily mistaken for perhaps a Crown Royal bag. I wonder how disappointed the thief was when the contents turned out to be 2 ounces of wine and half-dozen communion wafers. I doubt the book was opened or read…though one could hope. 

Jesus uses a rather earthy object lesson as he describes his dominance over Satan. Satan is the strong man. Jesus is the one who binds him and plunders his house. I love the imagery here! Satan: stong, secure, second-to-none in his own mind. Jesus weak, meek, being accused and on his way to death. But Satan is now bound, and his house is being plundered.

What is Jesus finding there? He’s finding prisoners of fear, condemnation, death, and sin. He’s finding people who have lost faith in God for they haven’t seen how God is at work in their lives; they’re blind. He’s finding people who have been deceived that might makes right, and into living as though all that matters is the here and now, the bright and shiny trinkets of worldly wealth, and whatever momentary glory or excitement they can experience. These are the same people who have discovered the sharp barbed-hook of death and bondage hidden in these things that are a delight to the eye, good for food, and desirable for attaining wisdom. 

Jesus method of plundering is quite different from Satan’s. Satan has had his run. He’s taken, overcome, overpowered, and deceived his way through time up until now. He’s been the one who binds. Now Jesus is binding him with grace, truth, love, faithfulness, and the sheer reality of his word. Remember this: when God speaks, things happen. 

Satan doesn’t even realize what is happening. He is oblivious that his ploy to accuse and undercut Jesus’ ministry is playing into God’s plan for our redemption and Satan’s defeat. But that’s exactly what is happening. And Satan is being plundered in spite of himself. In fact, he’s making it happen. Satan’s kingdom will not stand. Jesus will be victorious. The thief will be robbed of his ill-gotten gain. 

Then Jesus went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. ²¹ And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

²² And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” ²³ And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? ²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. ²⁶ And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. ²⁷ But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

²⁸ “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, ²⁹ but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— ³⁰ for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

³¹ And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. ³² And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” ³³ And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” ³⁴ And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! ³⁵ For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” – Mark 3:20-35

My foray into sports was in my early twenties at seminary. It was short-lived and not particularly stellar. I did manage to save a few goals as goalie for our sem soccer team; though I was switched to fullback when we played better teams. And my experience playing pick-up basketball was a one-off. I didn’t like the shirts-skins uniform drill. But everyone knew who was on his team and who wasn’t. 

Raise the stakes infinitely higher and the question of whose team Jesus is on becomes much more impactful. The pharisees accused Jesus of being on team Beelzebul:  a corruption of ‘Baal-Zebul’ and may refer to the god of Ekron (2 Kings 1: 2 f.) (Oxford Biblical Studies Online). They were accusing Jesus of being a tool of Satan. If Jesus is Satan’s tool then he can not only be dismissed, but opposed and thwarted on legitimate religious grounds.

Only trouble with this accusation is that Jesus is ruling Satan’s house. He is casting out demons. He is exerting his power and authority over Satan. He is robbing Satan of his illegitimate power and sway. He is freeing captives from Satan’s grasp. He is replacing death with life. He is rebuilding his kingdom. He is rescuing people from the one who steals, kills, and destroys. He is not Satan’s tool; he is Satan’s undoing. 

Interestingly enough Jesus undoes Satan by taking on the false accusations of the Accuser (Satan literally means Accuser). This is not the first time Jesus has been accused of evil. This will not be the last time. And he will take it all upon himself, offering various defences, but in the end being crucified because of the false accusations against him. 

There is so much irony here. When Jesus is crucified a sign was hung over his head: King of the Jews. The Pharisees told Pilate that the sign should have said, “He said he was king of the Jews.” And that was exactly their accusation. They accused him of false claims: Son of God, King of the Jews, Savior, Messiah – all of which were actually true. This is who Jesus is.

On this occasion he points out the folly of their accusation:  “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand,” he says.

Sometimes we want to make sure God is on our side. That’s not totally wrong, though a dangerous question to ask. The better question is whether or not we are on God’s side. Jesus is God in the flesh. He is not opposed to his own mission to seek and save the lost. Our calling it to be on his side, seeking and saving lost people however we may, and rejoicing that God really is on our side: he came to seek and save us. 

Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Psalm 53
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;
there is none who does good.
God looks down from heaven
on the children of man
to see if there are any who understand,
who seek after God.
They have all fallen away;
together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
not even one.
Have those who work evil no knowledge,
who eat up my people as they eat bread,
and do not call upon God?
There they are, in great terror,
where there is no terror!
For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you;
you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of his people,
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Psalm 83:1-2
O God, do not keep silence;
do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
For behold, your enemies make an uproar;
those who hate you have raised their heads.

Psalm 113:1-3
Praise the LORD!
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD!
Blessed be the name of the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the LORD is to be praised!

Psalm 143:1-2
Hear my prayer, O LORD;
give ear to my pleas for mercy!
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
Enter not into judgment with your servant,
for no one living is righteous before you.

Jesus went out to the lake with his disciples, and a large crowd followed him. They came from all over Galilee, Judea, ⁸ Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far north as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him.

⁹ Jesus instructed his disciples to have a boat ready so the crowd would not crush him. ¹⁰ He had healed many people that day, so all the sick people eagerly pushed forward to touch him. ¹¹ And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of him, the spirits would throw them to the ground in front of him shrieking, “You are the Son of God!” ¹² But Jesus sternly commanded the spirits not to reveal who he was.

¹³ Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. ¹⁴ Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, ¹⁵ giving them authority to cast out demons. ¹⁶ These are the twelve he chose:

Simon (whom he named Peter), ¹⁷ James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”),  ¹⁸ Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), ¹⁹ Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). – Mark 3:7-19

I grew up in a motel. My mom and dad ran a mom and pop independent motel and we lived there for the early formative years of my life. The motel business is a come-to-us business. We would wait for customers to see our sign, turn off the highway, and come through the door of the office and ask, “Do you have a single?” Better yet: “Do you have a family room?” Sometimes we would have to sell them a bit: We’re the nicest non-chain motel in town. Or, Yes, we have air conditioning, color TVs, and a pool. More often than not it was a simple matter of renting the room to them. They came to us.

I also spent some time as a real estate broker. A very short time. That’s a go-to-them business. You go to various people seeking to list their homes or sell them a home. You don’t do much business in the office. The best real estate agents are out and about, going to others, offering to help find or sell a home.

Jesus was both a come-to-me as well as a go-to-them teacher; though primarily and overwhelmingly a go-to-them servant. People came to him in droves. They were impressed by his teaching, preaching, and miracles. So they came and witnessed the grace of his teaching and healing touch. 

But let’s not miss something: Jesus traveled through eternity into our time and space to come to us first. He is the first Sent-One. He was sent from heaven on high and made his way to be with us. He did not wait for us to look up and seek him. He sought us even when we were not only lost, but very happy to be far away from God.

People came to Jesus, seeking him and desiring the gifts he offers (cf. John 12:18-21). Jesus even invites people to come to him (cf. Matthew 11:28-30). But in order for that invitation to come, he first had to come to us (cf. John 1:9-13). He chooses us (John 15:16).

Now Jesus sends out the twelve. They are not to rely on a come-to-us approach to God’s mission. They are to be his emissaries, going and seeking the lost. They are to go. They are sent. So, too, are we. And lest we miss the complete inclusive nature of this charge, look at this passage from Revelation 22:17, “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”

The Holy Spirit is ever calling people to faith in Jesus. So is the church – the bride of Christ. And so are those who just hear the invitation to invite others to come with them to Jesus. He is sending you and me to invite others to come to him. Coming and going, Jesus sends and receives. 

Jesus went out to the lake with his disciples, and a large crowd followed him. They came from all over Galilee, Judea, ⁸ Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far north as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him.

⁹ Jesus instructed his disciples to have a boat ready so the crowd would not crush him. ¹⁰ He had healed many people that day, so all the sick people eagerly pushed forward to touch him. ¹¹ And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of him, the spirits would throw them to the ground in front of him shrieking, “You are the Son of God!” ¹² But Jesus sternly commanded the spirits not to reveal who he was.

¹³ Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. ¹⁴ Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, ¹⁵ giving them authority to cast out demons. ¹⁶ These are the twelve he chose:

Simon (whom he named Peter), ¹⁷ James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”), ¹⁸ Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), ¹⁹ Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). – Mark 3:7-19

“Does he have a plan?”

“A plan?”

Yes, a plan. Russians don’t take a dump without a plan, Son.” [Excuse the crude language, please.] 

It’s a scene from a favorite movie of mine, Hunt For Red October. Jack Ryan is convinced that the rogue Russian submarine captain is trying to defect to the United States with Soviet submarine. Ryan is right, and so is the US Navy captain questioning him about the Russian’s plan. The Russian had a plan. 

Jesus has a plan as well. As does God. On the one hand we can see it in bold relief in the life and ministry, the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. On the other hand it is ever unfolding around us in the days, moments, weeks and hours of everyday life. Often we are so caught up in our daily challenges and goings-on that we don’t see how we fit into God’s plans. Sometimes we wonder just how his plan is going to work out – especially if we’re trying to follow what we believe to be God’s plan.

This short account of Jesus’ teaching and healing, calling and naming the apostles shows Jesus’ plan which continues on even today. Jesus has his disciples prepare the place for him and shows them in real time God’s power and authority over even the demons. Then he calls his disciples up on a mountain and designates 12 of them as apostles.

These he sent. The word apostle means “sent one.” They are named. They have been commissioned. And now they will go out. They go out under his authority. They will speak, heal, and cast out demons under his authority. They will announce the reign and rule of God. That’s his plan. 

Imagine, if you will, the angels in heaven speaking with God, looking down on these 12 and hearing Jesus send them out. Imagine them learning that Jesus was also going to die, rise again, and then ascend into heaven. Then they learn that Jesus will leave the Great Commission in the hands of these 12 minus one (Judas).

They look to God and ask, You’re going to leave the eternal salvation of the whole world in the hands of these 11 men? What if they fail? What is your backup plan? God would answer: I have no other plan. They will do it. It’s far too important to leave in the hands of only the most powerful, important, intelligent, and successful. They must rely on me. My plan is to use them to turn the world right-side-up again.

Do you have a plan? An exercise plan? A savings plan? A retirement plan? A daily plan? Have you considered how God might want to use you for his plan, blessing you and blessing others through you? You wouldn’t be the first to learn to rely on his power and authority. You won’t be the last unless Jesus returns first to restore all things to perfection, bliss, joy, and life – which is God’s ultimate plan.

Jesus went out to the lake with his disciples, and a large crowd followed him. They came from all over Galilee, Judea, ⁸ Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far north as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him.

⁹ Jesus instructed his disciples to have a boat ready so the crowd would not crush him. ¹⁰ He had healed many people that day, so all the sick people eagerly pushed forward to touch him. ¹¹ And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of him, the spirits would throw them to the ground in front of him shrieking, “You are the Son of God!” ¹² But Jesus sternly commanded the spirits not to reveal who he was.

¹³ Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. ¹⁴ Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, ¹⁵ giving them authority to cast out demons. ¹⁶ These are the twelve he chose:

Simon (whom he named Peter), ¹⁷ James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”), ¹⁸ Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), ¹⁹ Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). – Mark 3:7-19

We were so proud of our son when he finished his US Navy basic training. We went to the Pass and Review ceremony at the Great Lakes Naval Air Station. It was an impressive ceremony. At the end of it we were allowed to go meet him and congratulate him face to face. I was very excited and started toward the area he was at. Suddenly, however, I felt a strong tug on my shirt. My dear wife – sensitive as she was and perceptive, and gracious – realized that our future daughter-in-law would want to get to him first. She was excited to see him as well. I stepped aside and let her go first. We were all glad to see him…and very proud of him as well.

The demons and Jesus: not so much. Their reaction to seeing or encountering Jesus was to scream in terror. This encounter is certainly what James had in mind when he said, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” (James 2:19). They were not delighted to see Jesus. They were his sworn enemies: set in their ways. Determined never to acquiesce to his authority, even as they were forced to do just that. 

Are there some places you would not want to take Jesus? Are there some places where if he were to show up, you would scream in terror? Your bedroom? Your secret hideaway? Your computer screen? Your coffee klatch? Your financial statements? The deep dark secret room of your heart? That one stop on the way home? That one place when you’re out of town? That one store you know you should avoid…for any reason?

It is precisely where we might not want Jesus that we need him the most. Those who love Jesus, and who are called to faith in him will want him in every corner of their lives. But even we who do love him might not be so sure every moment and every place. Thankfully we need not scream in terror when Jesus shows up – even in the dark and ugly places of our lives. We can be thankful that he comes to release us and free us from their grip and fend off Satan’s accusing darts. 

The demons were not glad to see Jesus, but those who are released from their grip rejoice in his redemption and rescue. We sing, “Hallelujah!” We shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Blessed is the one to whom Jesus comes.

Jesus went out to the lake with his disciples, and a large crowd followed him. They came from all over Galilee, Judea, ⁸ Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far north as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him.

⁹ Jesus instructed his disciples to have a boat ready so the crowd would not crush him. ¹⁰ He had healed many people that day, so all the sick people eagerly pushed forward to touch him. ¹¹ And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of him, the spirits would throw them to the ground in front of him shrieking, “You are the Son of God!” ¹² But Jesus sternly commanded the spirits not to reveal who he was.

¹³ Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. ¹⁴ Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, ¹⁵ giving them authority to cast out demons. ¹⁶ These are the twelve he chose:

Simon (whom he named Peter), ¹⁷ James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”), ¹⁸ Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), ¹⁹ Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). – Mark 3:7-19

I hated the dreadful moment when the playground captains got to the last two people to choose for their team. I was almost always one of those last two. I remember the feeling of being chosen either as the lesser of two evils, or the last one of all. Some captains tried to make the best of it. Others didn’t hide their disgust at having to take me. And with good reason. I was never a good athlete. JJ Watt, Alex Bregman, James Harden, or David Pastrnak have nothing to worry about from me!

A look at the 12 disciples whom Jesus chose as his apostles (sent-ones) might reveal a different approach than the playground team captains took. Jesus wasn’t trying just to win a ball game. He was setting out to win the world. He was establishing an approach to discipleship that defies current common perceptions of church workers, Bible characters, and missionaries. He didn’t want superstars on his team. He wanted devoted followers, men and women who would eventually be accused of turning the world upside down (cf. Acts 17:6).

But it was not their intellect, persuasive powers, charisma, or charm that Jesus was looking for. He was looking for people who needed purpose and direction, who had a willing spirit, and who had experienced his grace for themselves. Matthew – a tax collector – was tapped by Jesus and given a better way to live. Peter the fisherman left his nets and began fishing for men. Thomas in the end proclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” Each were chosen by Jesus and sent out to proclaim the presence of God’s rule and reign in Jesus of Nazareth.

A mock letter from the make-believe Galilee HR Consultants Group takes each of the disciples in turn and shares with Jesus why they should not be chosen for his team – with one exception. They rank Judas high on their list because they saw in him a strong desire to succeed, his savvy ways of handling money, and his ability to relate to the religious leaders of his day. Sometimes the most obviously-qualified persons are least effective servants of the King. And sometimes fishermen who have a tendency to say the first thing that comes to their minds have a leadership calling from God.

Jesus’ choice, and God’s, is by grace. There is nothing in us that makes us more valuable to him than anyone else. There is nothing in us that sets us higher than others in the economy of God. And while some may be given greater or lesser talents and responsibilities, we are all recipients of his grace and trust in whatever measure it is given, and whenever he chooses to give it. He never chooses us under duress or as a last resort. 

Jesus went out to the lake with his disciples, and a large crowd followed him. They came from all over Galilee, Judea, ⁸ Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far north as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him.

⁹ Jesus instructed his disciples to have a boat ready so the crowd would not crush him. ¹⁰ He had healed many people that day, so all the sick people eagerly pushed forward to touch him. ¹¹ And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of him, the spirits would throw them to the ground in front of him shrieking, “You are the Son of God!” ¹² But Jesus sternly commanded the spirits not to reveal who he was.

¹³ Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. ¹⁴ Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, ¹⁵ giving them authority to cast out demons. ¹⁶ These are the twelve he chose:

Simon (whom he named Peter), ¹⁷ James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”), ¹⁸ Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), ¹⁹ Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). – Mark 3:7-19

I have been known to spend some time watching Fool Penn and Teller videos on YouTube. Amateur and professional magicians would come on the show and perform for these two masters hoping to fool them. They seldom succeeded. Penn and Teller would unmask them using coded language and ask, after the commentary, “Did I get that right?” Most of the time they did. They know the tricks of the trade. 

I didn’t know the tricks of the trade. Sometimes I was completely fooled. Other times, although I could never do the trick or explain how the magician did it, I saw through the trick. It was entertaining. But I knew it was a trick.

Jesus is no magician. He is not using sleight of hand. He is God in the flesh and is able to do what no magician does. He is able to heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise people from the dead. He is able – and will show this – to calm storms, walk on water, and feed a multitude with two fish and five loaves of bread. 

It is clear that Jesus is not just an entertainer for two important reasons. First of all he is not interested in mere notoriety, fame, or showmanship. His miracles are in response to people’s actual needs. He has an impact on evil that undercuts their influence. He has nothing to do with the deceitful schemes of the evil one. 

Second, he will send his disciples to do as he has done. They will be charged with casting out demons, healing diseases, and proclaiming the Good News of God’s reign and rule. Jesus’ purpose and goal is not to entertain, it is to release, heal, forgive, and save. He has no desire to set up a YouTube channel to let people try and fool him with their miracles and faith. 

Jesus is no mere entertainer. He is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the King of kings. For now there may be a flurry of followers looking for a show. When they encounter Jesus, however, they will not find a show, but they will find a Savior.