06:34 Worship
25:58 Announcement
31:21 Message
“The Servant’s Disciples”
Mark 3:1-35
"And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons.” – Mark 3:13-15 From the many to the few, the “great multitude” to the Twelve; that is what is described in these verses. And notice, Jesus “called to Him those He Himself wanted.”
From the many to the few, the “great multitude” to the Twelve; that is what is described in these verses. And notice, Jesus “called to Him those He Himself wanted.”
He had been serving the Galilee area, and they were long days ministering to the needs of the people. But here is a transition; from ministering to the many to discipling the few. It is not that Jesus ceased ministering to the multitude; but we see here an emphasis on pouring into handpicked servants that would carry on the work when He’s gone.
This is an important aspect of ministry. There is evangelizing the many and discipling the few. It is the different foci of preaching and teaching. And in our text this morning we see reference to both: “He appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach…” [v.14].
But notice the latter in v.14. They were given “power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons.” This word “power” is exousia in the Greek. It means “to have the authority or right of.”
When Jesus sends out disciples, He sends them out with authority. He does not send someone out with only knowledge and a degree; He imparts Spirit-filled authority. The Servant delegates an anointed power to serve. And so, when you see servants serving in this manner, you know that they have been called [and chosen] by the Servant. And the Servant’s anointing is certainly what we need to make disciples of all nations.
Remember, however, that a disciple chooses to follow. Notice in v.13 when Jesus called the twelve, “they came to Him,” so “that He might send them.” They responded. They came and they followed, to go and be sent. And I think we sometimes get comfortable with the coming and following, and struggle with the going and being sent.
But you know what, as great as the coming and following is, the serving and going and being sent is even better!
The time of Jesus’ Return is near. It is time to serve and go and be sent.
