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“He Wants You” Tuesday Meditation. 5/5/20. Alan Neale.
Trinity Church,Newport, RI

Mark 311 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.
13 He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, 15 and to have authority to cast out demons. 16 So he appointed the twelve: 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 betrayed him.

Towards the end of this little meditation I will say a few words about the so-called “Messianic Secret” in Mark, referred to in v. 12 “He sternly order them not to make him known”.

But first the calling of the twelves disciples/apostles which occurs in all four Gospels and yet (intriguingly) not with the same names.

Maybe it’s best first to consider briefly the words disciple and apostle. A disciple (mathetes) is one who learns, an apostle (apostollos) is one who is sent. These two attributes, dispositions are crucial for effective Christian ministry and maybe also for healthy and functional relationships. We are called to be people eager to learn, to resist closed and bigoted minds; we are called to be people who have a sense of calling whether that be in the person of Jesus or in the name of love (authentic, costly, selfless love).

In verses 16-19 the motley crew, the ragbag cast of characters is gathered by the Good Shepherd. One commentator says that in Mark the disciples are generally clueless and this, though a little harsh, is not far from the truth.

Over the years the exponents of church growth theories have argued that it is best for growth that churches tend to be homogenous, of the same social background. Pshaw!
This may be good for numerical growth but it is not good for spiritual growth… the disciples portray an incredible breadth of personal experience and character. They include a political zealot (Judas not Iscariot) with a quisling, a traitor (Matthew) to the Jewish people. They include a mystic (John) with a theological “action-man” (Peter) who seems unable to keep his body nor his mouth still. They include irascible “sons of thunder” (James and John) with the gentle and hesitant Philip and Andrew – and the list of incompatibles goes on but notice… in the presence of Jesus they find a gradual letting down of defences and a stretching out of hands.

Jesus calls the ones he wants to himself (for this particular purpose). And the word for “want” is commonly used of Jesus as he extends his “best-offer” to the believer, somehow wanting to “birth” in his hearers the gift of faith and the strength of calling.

Time permits just one more comment on the call… “he appointed twelve”. The word for appointed suggests that the very call creates the response and readiness to serve. It is like the word simply spoken in Genesis 1 creates that of which it speaks. The word is used in John 9:6 when Jesus “creates/nominates” clay of the spittle and earth and by so doing brings sight to the blind.

Do you hear and sense this tremendous news? It is by his call to us that we become empowered; “nothing in my hand I bring simply to the Cross I cling”… “just as I am without one plea… but that thou bidst me come to thee, O Lamb of God I come.”

The call to ordination was not one I sought nor desired, I responded slowly and hesitantly. But ultimately I could not resist the call… and ever since when I have mused on “what might have been” I remember what I consider my ordination verse (John 15:16) “You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit… the kind of fruit that abides forever.”

Dear listener (whoever you are) the same Lord who “wanted” the disciples… wants you to be a companion with Him and others on the path of life. “Just as I am, I come.”

Oh, the Messianic Secret? Postponed again until Friday! Watch this space.