Appointed an Apostle
Mark 3:13-19
Very soon into Jesus’ public ministry he began to gather around him persons who wanted to learn more of his way. Among the many who followed him, there were twelve that he called into a special relationship with him. We often call these the 12 disciples.
However, there were others that were also his disciples: Mary Magdalene, Joseph of Armaithiea, Nicodemus, etc.
Though we often sing, There Were 12 Disciples, the Twelve were in actuality more than disciples. We see that here in the passage before us.
Twelve of Jesus’ disciples were called and appointed or designated apostles.
There is a difference between disciple and apostle.
Disciple means follower and learner, somewhat like student.
Apostle refers to one who has been commissioned as an official representative and sent forth on a particular mission.
The Bible does not really have recorded for us an ordination service. We have several events that lay a foundation for what we today call ordination.
Here in Mark 3 (and the parallels in Matthew and Luke) were 12 of Jesus many disciples (learners, followers) are appointed apostles (representatives).
In Acts 13:1-3 when the church “set apart” Paul and Barnabas as their missionaries to new lands.
In 1 Timothy 4:14, in a reference to the body of elders laying hands on timothy and commissioning him for a specific work through a prophetic utterance.
What we do in the ordination service is much the same as what Jesus did here in Mark 4. From among the many who are called into a discipleship relationship to Jesus—from this body—a few are called forward into leadership as representatives and are thus commissioned or appointed to specific ministry.
We do not normally, in our tradition, refer to these persons as apostles—nor should we—but this is the foundation for our act here today.
There two ways this word is used in Scripture:
First, in the sense of an Apostolic Office that was unique to the first century. One of the requirements, according to Acts 1:21-22, was having been an eyewitness to the life of Jesus.
You might think of this as the capital “A” use of the word.
Second, apostle is also used in Scripture in a more general sense to designate persons set apart by the church into a recognized area of ministry. For example, Epaphoditus (Philp. 2:25).
You might think of this as the small “a” use of the word.
I do not imply that a person when ordained becomes an apostle in this unique NT sense. Rather, that in the sense of being set apart by the church for official ministry.
I believe the call that Jesus laid upon the life of the twelve is instructive for us today, especially those of us called into leadership within the body of Christ.
JESUS CALLED THE TWELVE TO TWO CLEAR PURPOSES OR TASKS.
These two purposes are true of our calling as leaders today.
Just two things.
Out of all the responsibilities that leading a church brings to our platter today, we must continually go back to these two basic things and insure that they never get lost in the press of contemporary responsibilities.
Purpsoe One: Jesus called the twelve to be with him.
The disciples went on to spend nearly every waking minute (and even some sleeping ones) with Jesus.
He taught them; they asked him questions.
He trained them; they sometimes failed or made mistakes.
He prayed for them; they learned how to pray from him.
Basically, Jesus wanted his disciples to know him, to be in a relationship with him. The same desire stands today. If we are to be serving Jesus, we need to spend time with him so that we might know him fully.
It often comes as a surprise to congregations how little time their pastors spend with Jesus.
Recent surveys I’ve read indicate 8 to 12 minutes a day in focused prayer time. (Which is twice that of the laity—but still far too little.)
Several reasons:
1. Some Pastors have little desire to be with Jesus.
2. Pastors do not feel they are “working” if they take a time to pray.
3. congregations do not make it clear to the pastors that time to prayer is part of the job description.
Give your pastor permission to spend time with Jesus and hold him accountable to it.
Purpose two: Jesus called the twelve to himself so that he might send them out.
The disciples were trained and eventually sent out on their own. (See Matthew 10 and Luke 9 and 10).
Those of us called into leadership need to spend time with Jesus, but we also need to get out—out of the study, out of the church, out into the world.
Ministry is people. We are called to spend time with people, imparting our life of faith into them.
Every Christian is a little Christ—a representative of him in this word.
Christian Leaders, are doubly blessed in that we are disciples and apostles—representatives of Jesus and of his church.
We come along side of Jesus to be equipped to go out and work for him.
A good portion of a pastor’s time should be spent with people, and not only Christian people, but with non-Christians as well. How else will they be reached.
Jesus did not send the twelve out to work among the crowd that was already following him, but rather to those who needed to hear the message.
Give your pastor permission to spend time with people, and not just your own people, and hold him accountable to it.
JESUS EQUIPPED THE TWELVE WITH TWO THINGS
First He gave them a message. He sent them out to preach. Preach in Scripture is usually connected with the word gospel or good news..
The Good News (the Gospel) is the news that Jesus came, lived among us, died for our sins, was buried, raised from the dead for our salvation, ascended to heaven, is coming again and in the meantime, is redeeming his fallen creation one heart at a time.
We have been sent to preach the gospel. There are many other noble things in this world, but none of them is equal to the preaching of the gospel.
Preachers can be very busy—but if they are not busy with message of the gospel, busy is all we are.
I say this message equips us because first of all it brings forgiveness and new life to our own hearts.
Pastor give yourself to the message; allow God’s word, his gospel, to master your life, to continually refresh and transform you into the person he wants you to be.
Second, he gave them a power. The apostles would have authority over demonic forces.
We dare not fool ourselves into thinking that the work we are doing is merely social in nature. We are called into spiritual conflict.
Paul said it best,
Ephesians 6:12
12 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. NIV
Satan, the enemy of our souls, is out to get us,
especially those of us who are called to this task of ministry,
and especially those who take the calling to be with Jesus and with people seriously.
BUT WE NEED NOT WALK IN FEAR OR DEFEAT!
God has given us power—his Holy Spirit—authority over the forces of this evil world.
This reference to authority over demons is not just about direct spiritual conflict with the forces of the enemy—though it most certainly does include that.
It is also about the subtle ways Satan destroys our influence—our effectiveness in the ministry.
Pastoral leaders are falling around us:
sexual sins
mishandling money
burn out
giving in and giving up (treading water till retirement)
neglecting the work
Pastor, give yourself to the Holy Spirit in full surrender and walk daily in his power, and he will keep you from falling.
We are all called to go from learning to doing, from being only disciples to being representatives engaged in the work.
Today, we are ordaining this brother; officially designating him a minister of the Gospel, an apostle in the small “a” sense of the word.
May God make these two purposes clear in his life and may these two resources continue to empower him with ever-increasing greatness.
