JESUS CALLED THE TWELVE, Ron Ward
JESUS CONTINUES HIS MESSIANIC MINISTRY
Passage: Mark 3:1~19  
Key verse: 14,15
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
3 Another time Jesus went into the synagogue,(A) and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely(B) to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.(C) 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”
4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.
5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians(D) how they might kill Jesus.(E)
Crowds Follow Jesus(F)
7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed.(G) 8 When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon.(H) 9 Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. 10 For he had healed many,(I) so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.(J) 11 Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”(K) 12 But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.(L)
Jesus Appoints the Twelve(M)
13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.(N) 14 He appointed twelve[a](O) that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.(P) 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter),(Q) 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Footnotes
- Mark 3:14 Some manuscripts twelve—designating them apostles—
Cross references
- Mark 3:1 : S Mt 4:23; Mk 1:21
- Mark 3:2 : S Mt 12:10
- Mark 3:2 : Lk 14:1
- Mark 3:6 : Mt 22:16; Mk 12:13
- Mark 3:6 : S Mt 12:14
- Mark 3:7 : 3:7-12pp — Mt 12:15, 16; Lk 6:17-19
- Mark 3:7 : Mt 4:25
- Mark 3:8 : S Mt 11:21
- Mark 3:10 : S Mt 4:23
- Mark 3:10 : S Mt 9:20
- Mark 3:11 : S Mt 4:3; Mk 1:23, 24
- Mark 3:12 : S Mt 8:4; Mk 1:24, 25, 34; Ac 16:17, 18
- Mark 3:13 : 3:16-19pp — Mt 10:2-4; Lk 6:14-16; Ac 1:13
- Mark 3:13 : Mt 5:1
- Mark 3:14 : S Mk 6:30
- Mark 3:15 : S Mt 10:1
- Mark 3:16 : Jn 1:42
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
While the religious leaders tried to discredit Jesus' work, people followed him as a large crowd (8). Despite the hindrance, Jesus revealed the glory of God through his ministry so that anyone would see who he was (11).
Away from all distractions, Jesus went up to a mountain and called twelve men from among his followers (13). They were to stay with Jesus and learn from him and go out to preach the gospel with spiritual authority (14,15). Jesus' time on earth was limited (2:20), but the work of God's ministry would continue through his disciples as they preached the gospel to the whole world.
Prayer: Father, thank you for sending Jesus, who is our Messiah. Help us to come to know you better every day as we follow Jesus and do your will.
One Word: Jesus came to save lives