Mark 3:13-19 ESV
[13] And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. [14] And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach [15] and have authority to cast out demons. [16] He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); [17] James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); [18] Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, [19] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
https://bible.com/bible/59/mrk.3.13-19.ESV
Pastor Justin Kim
Who were these first twelve people that were called to follow Jesus? The passage doesn't cover them in depth, but we look to other passage about them. Some were fisherman. Hard-working, middle class kinda of people. Matthew, a tax collector, who were social outcasts and seen as ceremonially unclean. Phillip and Bartholomewal who were seekers, looking for the savior, dinner disciples of John the Baptist. One was known as the zealot, very prominently religious. A "doubter" who didn't initially believe in the resurrection. It was a patchwork of people. There doesn't seem to be a common denominator among these twelve. The only thing that was pointed out scripturally is that Jesus chose them.
This is something for us to be reminded about. If we are ashamed of being a Christian or we are not measuring up in some way, then take heart. If God has called us, that is sufficient. There is nothing else to be added to this.
What has Jesus called then to
What does it mean to be called? Why twelve? This is pointing back to the twelve tribes of Israel. He is rebuilding the nation of Israel. They are serving as the foundation of the new family of God, the church. He didn't pick a single super disciple.
Being a Christian isn't meant to be comfortable. We aren't just to stick with those who are in the same life stage, those with the same political views, those who live like we do. Differences between believers are meant to be beautiful. It's not easy or comfortable, but that is what we are called to. A community of very different lifestyle, perspectives, political views, power and status. This isn't a one and done sort of thing, but rather it is a project.
How does Jesus prepare them
Jesus appoints them. But just as important is that Jesus spent time with them. They listened to him, watched what he did and hope he ministered to those around him. They had to know Jesus. This is more important than the power to cast out demons.
The Greek for church means the ones who were called out. To be called out as an assembly for God. We are called individually out of sin and selfish living. We are also called out corporately to be a spiritual community. We need one another to experience Jesus fully. This isn't something that's meant to be only done individually.
