On Line Bible Study - For the week January 26 - February 1, 2009

Lesson 372

Mark 3: 13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve—designating them apostles^[—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter 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.

You remember that Mark's Gospel is only 16 verses long when Jesus begins to call the twelve apostles to "Come, follow me." In the passage from Mark 3 quoted above, we get the list of the "twelve". Let's consider several things:

1. Discipleship is every bit as important for Mark as his Christology. So write Harrington and Donahue in their commentary on this gospel. (Sacra Pagina.) Jesus wastes no time in gathering disciples around himself, with a clear intent to put them to work. The Gospel - Good News - is something they have to be taught; but it is also a reality (the kingdom of God - Mark 1:15) that demands full participation.
2. These twelve are have three functions: a) To be with Jesus; b) to be sent out by Jesus to preach; c) to confront the power of evil. In this simple line (verses 14 & 15), we learn the importance of contemplation - of being present with Jesus. Before we do anything in his name, we have to be with him. We have to be willing to be "sent" (the meaning of the word "apostle") for the purpose of proclaiming his message. The admonition given to Timothy - Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season . . . (II Timothy 4:3) - this word is for us as well. And I Peter 3:15 tells us: In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. Peter then reminds us ... But do this with gentleness and respect Proclaim the word! And finally, "drive out demons'. It is one of the characteristics of the kingdom of God that evil cannot survive in its midst. We lay claim to our Baptism vow - to repent of our sin, resist the evil power of this world, and renounce the spiritual forces of darkness. We resist evil on every front. That is what Jesus authorizes his disciples to do.
   

This section is introduced with Jesus going up a mountain. That is where we go when we need to communicate with God. Mark offers us this information with regard to the location of Jesus as a "heads-up" to the reader. Pay attention! The Lord is on the mountain. Remember in Matthew's Gospel - the Sermon on the Mount - reminiscent of Moses' conversation with God on Sinai.

One final note: the word translated in Mark 3:13 - "called" - in their translation of this same passage, Harrington and Donahue use the word "summon" to indicate that this word is stronger than the one found in Mark 1:20. This "call" in Mark 3:13 suggests a summons to receive teaching or instruction, a sense of getting prepared to perform some special task.

So - in this simple passage that looks like little else than a list of names, there is quite a bit going on! Be with Jesus; proclaim the good news; do not abide evil!

More on Mark 3 next week.