He Appointed Twelve--Designating Them Apostles

Mark 3:1-19

Key verse 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.

In this passage, Jesus sees the obstinate, calloused hearts of the religious leaders and the great need of the crowds and then prays about this problem and selects new leadership. May the Lord be pleased to appoint as his “apostles” our Bible students who received grace at the Spring Conference.

I. Jesus healed the man with the shriveled hand (1-6)

1. Read verses 1-3. 

ANSWER:

Mar 3:1-3  Another time he went into the synagogue, 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 to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.  3  Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone."

Who was in the synagogue on the Sabbath? (1)

ANSWER:

Mar 3:1  Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there.

A man with a shriveled hand was there. 

The man’s hand was withered, shrunken and paralyzed so that it was of no use to him. Luke says that it was his right hand (Luke 6:6), which was so much the worse.

The man's hand was withered, but God's mercy had still preserved him the use of his feet: he could use them to walk to the public place of worship so that he could meet Jesus and be healed. 

What was the motive of the Pharisees who were watching Jesus closely? (2) 

ANSWER:

Mar 3:2  Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.

They were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus. According to the oral tradition of the Pharisees, healing on the Sabbath was permissible only in a life and death situation. And breaking the Sabbath was a capital offense (Num 15:32-36 and Exo 31:14-17). 

The reason the Jewish leaders opposed Jesus is revealed by the four questions they asked him in chapter 2:

“Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (2:7)

“Why does he eat with tax collectors and `sinners'?” (2:16)

“How is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?” (2:18)

“...why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” (2:24)

This time the Pharisees (Luk 6:7) were expecting him to heal this man with the withered hand. By their expectation, they admitted that Jesus had the power of God to work miracles.

They knew what Jesus could do, yet their knowledge didn't draw them to Jesus. They also knew Jesus would do something when he saw this man in need.

What was Jesus’ response? (3) 

ANSWER:

Mar 3:3  Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone."

Jesus said to the man, “Stand up in front of everyone.”

Jesus knew "what they were thinking" (Luk 6:8), their reasoning and designs. He knew it was a trap. Yet he still wanted to help the man.

Jesus commanded the man to stand up before everyone so that all who were gathered there in the synagogue could see his shriveled hand. He might have wanted the religious leaders to be moved with compassion toward the man as he appealed to them.

2. Read verses 4-6. 

ANSWER:

Mar 3:4-6  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 how they might kill Jesus.

What did Jesus ask them? (4)

ANSWER:

Mar 3:4  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.

He asked, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?”

The details of his appeal are found in Mat 12:11-12. Jesus reasoned with these religious leaders, pointing out how they did works of mercy on the Sabbath even for their animals. He declared that, if they themselves did works like that for their lowly animals on the Sabbath, it was certainly lawful to do it for a human being who needed help.

In his question to the religious leaders, Jesus emphasized the truth about the Sabbath: there is never a wrong day to do something truly good.

To do evil and to kill are not lawful at any time, but to do good, and to save life, must be right at all times

Jesus left it with them to consider what was most agreeable to the law of God, the nature of a Sabbath, and the good of mankind. 

They remained silent probably because they were convicted of their guilt and could find no way to justify themselves before him.

They were so obstinate that, when they could say nothing against the truth, they chose to remain silent rather than admit their wrongs.

Why was Jesus upset and deeply distressed? (5)

ANSWER:

Mar 3:5  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.

Because of their "stubborn hearts".

This is one of the few places where Jesus is described as having anger.

We know what anger is, but we are rarely angry for the same reason Jesus was angry. 

This was a perfect opportunity for these critics of his to change their mind about him and their traditions. But they refused to change their minds, and rejected Jesus instead. Consequently, he was angry with them. This anger was from out of his holiness and love of mercy.

Our Lord never became angry at the tax-collectors and sinners, but he did express anger toward the self-righteous Pharisees (Mat 23). They would rather protect their traditions than see a man healed!

When self-righteous people obstinately hinder the spiritually sick from coming to Jesus for healing, it is a great distress to him, for he desires that no one should perish. This is a good reason why the hardness of our own hearts and of the hearts of others, should be a grief to us.

What did Jesus ask the man with the shriveled hand? (5)

ANSWER:

Mar 3:5  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.

He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand”. 

The man, of course, knew little about this spiritual conflict.

When the man stretched out his hand, it was instantly and completely restored. His enemies could not charge Jesus with having violated the Sabbath since he performed the healing without having done anything except speak his word.

What can we learn from Jesus and the man?  

ANSWER:

How can you stretch out a paralyzed hand? But as the man put forth effort, God did the rest. God worked according to his faith (Mat 9:29). 

This could have thought, 'Heal me first, then I will stretch it out.' This may have seemed reasonable, but in his case, it would have been foolish. 

"At the command of the Lord he made the effort, and in making it the cure was effected!. Faith disregards apparent impossibilities, where there is a command and promise of God. The effort to believe is, often, that faith by which the soul is healed."

What did the Pharisees do after this event? (6)

ANSWER:

Mar 3:6  Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. 

This verse climaxes the section on Jesus’ conflicts in Galilee with the religious establishment (2:1-3:5).

It is Mark's first explicit reference to Jesus' death, which now began to cast its shadow over his mission. 

The Pharisees and Herodians were probably mutual enemies, but the Pharisees conspired immediately with the Herodians in an unprecedented common effort to destroy Jesus. 

They persisted in their evil intentions, though Christ had so fully and clearly exposed their wickedness.

II. Crowds follow Jesus (7-12)

3. Read verses 7-12. 

ANSWER:

Mar 3:7-12  Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed.  8  When they heard all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon.  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, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.  11  Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God."  12  But he gave them strict orders not to tell who he was.

Why did many people come to Jesus? (8,10-11)

ANSWER:

Mar 3:8  When they heard all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon.

Mar 3:10-11  For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.  11  Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God."

Because they heard of his power to heal, people came in great numbers to touch Jesus and receive healing. 

What did Jesus do for these people? (10)

ANSWER:

Mar 3:10  For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.

He healed them.

This crowd was attracted to Jesus more because of his miraculous works than because of his message. 

It is wonderful for people to be attracted to Jesus. But if their focus is on what he can do for them instead of who he is, they will not follow him for long.

These crowds were dangerous to his cause, because they were not spiritually motivated and the authorities could accuse him of leading a popular revolt against the Romans. Yet Jesus received the people, healed their sick and drove out demons. 

What happened whenever the evil spirits saw him? (11)

ANSWER:

Mar 3:11  Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God."

They fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”

They recognized Jesus' true status as the Son of God and were greatly threatened by his presence. 

Why did he give them strict order not to tell who he was? (12)

ANSWER:

Mar 3:12  But he gave them strict orders not to tell who he was.

Mar 1:34  and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

Jn 6:15  Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

The demons gave Jesus the title “Son of God” because they knew he was in very nature God and that he had divine power over them. But the Jewish people misunderstood this title. To them, “Son of God” meant nothing more than ‘Messiah’ (whom they regarded as strictly a human, not divine, figure). And they thought of the Messiah as political king whom God promised to send from David’s line (Mat 22:43-46; Mat 20:20-23; Acts 1:6; Jn 1:49; 2Sa 7:12-16) who would restore their nation to the glory, power and prosperity it had in the times of David, overthrowing Rome and regaining its dominion over the surrounding Gentile nations. If Jesus allowed the demons to freely broadcast the news that he was the Messiah, the Jewish people would attempt to make him king by force (Jn 6:15) in a surge of nationalistic enthusiasm and thereby obstruct and derail him from his work and mission as Savior (to the glee of the demons).

III. The Appointing of the Twelve Apostles (13-19)

4. Read verses 13-15.   

ANSWER:

Mar 3:13-15  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.

What do you think Jesus did on the mountain? (13; Luke 6:12) 

ANSWER:

Mar 3:13  Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.

Luk 6:12  One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

He spent the whole night in prayer (Luk 6:12).

Jesus was at a critical point in his ministry. 

The religious leaders did not care for the people. This was illustrated by the way they dealt with the man with a shriveled hand (5). They only burdened people with rules (Mat 23:4). Now they were offended by Jesus and were plotting his destruction (6).

Great crowds came to receive help but Jesus was shorthanded; there was one Jesus and thousands of needy people (Mat 9:36-37). Because so many were coming and pressing him to get his help, he needed to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him (9).

His prayer, as is very probable, was chiefly concerning the great and important work, which was upon his mind, and he was about to do: the selection of twelve disciples to be his apostles, to preach in his name, and work miracles:

Jesus continued all night in prayer to God, notwithstanding the great fatigue of the day past. 

Who did he call? (13) 

ANSWER:

Mar 3:13  Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.

He called to him those he wanted and they came to him.

The choice and call of the apostles to office were not according to their will, works and merits, but according to the sovereign will and grace of Christ, who chose them, and not they but him (Jn 15:16). 

Why did Jesus appoint them? (14-15) 

ANSWER:

Mar 3:14-15  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.

He appointed them to be his apostles. The term “apostle” means ‘one sent forth,’ ambassador, delegate, or messenger. As his apostles, they needed to know him intimately in order to correctly represent him and his teachings in their preaching. So, Jesus chose them to be with him: 

That they might be the ones closest to him and live with him and follow him and hear all his public discourses and see his miracles and learn from him and know him.

That they might be influenced by his glorious character, Spirit, love and power and be privately tutored and trained by him and fitted for the great work he designated them for.

The first job of the Twelve was simple to be with Jesus, to learn from being around Him. Then, in a secondary sense he chose them that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.

In one sense, there was nothing in Jesus' three years of ministry before the cross more important than this.  These were the men who would carry on what he started.  

The reason why “Twelve” were chosen was:

Probably, that such a number would be deemed competent witnesses of what they saw; 

That they could not be easily charged with being excited by sympathy, or being deluded, as a multitude might; 

and that, being destined to go into all the world, a considerable number seemed indispensable. 

Because this is the foundation of the new chosen people, and as Israel had twelve tribes, Jesus would have twelve apostles.

In Genesis, God started with Jacob's twelve sons, and in Exodus, he built them into a mighty nation. However, the nation of Israel was now spiritually decayed and ready to reject her own Messiah. 

God had to establish "a holy nation, a peculiar (purchased) people" (1 Peter 2:9), and the 12 Apostles were the nucleus of this new "spiritual" nation.

5. Read verses 16-19. 

ANSWER:

Mar 3:16-19  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.

Who were the twelve apostles?  Who had nicknames?  What do you know about these twelve men? 

ANSWER:

The inner three disciples, Simon, James, and John, had nicknames which described their character.

Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter). Both Peter (Greek) and Cephas (Aramaic) mean ‘Rock’. 

This name “Peter” probably described how the impulsive and vacillating man would become,  by the power of Jesus and for his glory, a stable, rocklike leader of his church (Mt 16:16-20; Eph 2:20)

His name was given to him, not at the time of his mission as an apostle; nor when he made that noble confession of his faith in Christ (Mt 16:16; Luk 9:20; Mar 8:29), at which time this name was taken notice of; but when Christ first called him to be his disciple and apostle (Jn 1:42).

James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder). It is not known why this name was given to them. They are nowhere else called by it. But possibly the name was given because:

They maybe possessed a thunderous temperament. This was demonstrated in Luk 9:54 when they asked to call fire down from heaven and consume a certain village of the Samaritans. 

They maybe were remarkable for a loud commanding voice and Christ intended to use them as thundering preachers -- special eminent ministers of the gospel, whose voice would shake the earth and whose zealous and fervent spirit would make them active for God above the other apostles.

In the writings of Apostle John, we see flashes of his indignation against sin and we hear thunder in his denunciation of falsehood. For example, he writes in 1Jn 2:4, “The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” He writes in 1Jn 3:8, “He who does what is sinful is of the devil...”

Similarities and differences:

They are ordinary. 

not the noblest and the best

not the most educated or intelligent (Acts 4:13)

not the most gifted

not the most eloquent (as leaders)

They are a motley group. 

Four fishermen, one hated tax-collector, one radical member of a violent political party, one doubter, one betrayer (known to Jesus).  

We know virtually nothing about the other six, whose names never appear again in Mark’s gospel. 

All their fame is reserved for heaven, where their names are written on the twelve foundations of God's heavenly city (Rev 21:14). 

Why do you think he called the twelve from such ordinary men?

ANSWER:

Act 4:13  When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

1Co 1:26-29  Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.  27  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  28  He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things -- and the things that are not -- to nullify the things that are,  29  so that no one may boast before him.

Such ordinary men were chosen so that Jesus’ power and glory and mercy might be displayed. This was to show that any class of men could be purchased by his blood and made into a new creation and used for his wonderful purpose.

It is encouraging to see what Jesus was able to do with such a diversified group of unlikely candidates for Christian service. There is still hope for us!

 The Greek word for “shriveled” means “...to make dry, dry up, wither...” (Thayer’s Greek Definitions). The NET Bible subject note on this word reads, “Withered means the man’s hand was shrunken and paralyzed.” (Biblical Studies Press, New English Translation, 2006)

 "The background for this is the view that only if life was endangered should one attempt to heal on the Sabbath (see the Mishnah, m. Shabbat 6.3; 12.1; 18.3; 19.2; m. Yoma 8.6)." (Biblical Studies Press, New English Translation, 2006) The Mishnah contains the oral tradition of the Pharisees.

 From Adam Clarke, The New Testament...with a commentary and critical notes

 Who these Herodians were is not exactly known. They appear to have been a Jewish group sympathetic to the Herodian rulers and who supported them. That they were a sect of the Sadducees is suggested by comparing Mar 8:15 with Mat 16:12.

 “In the same way, the phrase “Son of God” is often quoted as if it meant, without more ado, “the second person of the divine Trinity.” It didn’t—at least, until the early Christians began to give it a new meaning that pointed in that direction. At the time, it was simply another epithet for the Messiah. The Bible had spoken of the coming king as YHWH’S adopted Son. A high rank for a human being, no doubt; but there was no thought of such a king being the very embodiment, or (to use the Latin word) incarnation, of Israel’s God himself.” (N. T. Wright, Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense, Pg 117) According to the strict monotheism of Jewish thought, the term "son of God" merely stressed the intimacy of the relationship between God and his messianic agent and carried no connotations of divine status.

 The Greek word for “apostle” means, “...a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”), (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent.” (James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D., Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, 1890.)