In these passages, we see the increasing popularity of Jesus, and perhaps it was because of these increasingly great crowds and their needs that Jesus decided to choose 12 people as his trained disciples.
As a man, Jesus was limited to one place at one time. As a result, to minister more effectively, he needed people around him to share in his work.
It truly was a motley crew he chose.
You had fishermen, a former tax collector and collaborator of the Roman government, and a former zealot who was highly nationalistic.
You also had a variety of personalities. You had the brash and bold (Peter), the skeptical (Thomas and Nathanael), and the short-tempered (James and John).
They were all quite different people. But there were three things that Jesus wanted of them. It says in Mark 3:14-15,
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.
First and foremost, Jesus wanted people that would be with him. People who would spend time with him, and to learn from him.
Jesus still desires that today. He desires that we share in his life. That we might know him. And that we might grow to be more like him.
Second, Jesus wanted people that would go out and share the message he had given them.
So often, people read their Bibles, and they grow in their relationship with God. But it’s not enough to just know the Word. God wants us to share that message with others so that they can share in what you have.
Third, Jesus wanted people who would fight spiritual warfare. You may or may not drive out demons from people as the disciples did, but you will have to fight the spiritual forces that are out there.
As Paul wrote,
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)
Jesus calls us to fight. Not against people, but against Satan and his spiritual forces that would blind people and doom them to eternal hell. He calls us to fight for the souls of men and women everywhere.
Every day, people are dying and going to hell. But God doesn’t want that. He wants us to go and fight that they may be saved.
That’s what it means to be a disciple of Christ. To be with Jesus. To go out and share the good news with others. And to engage in spiritual warfare.
How about you? As Christ’s disciple, are you doing these things?
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 