He Called and They Came

Scripture – Mark 3:13-21: ¹³Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. ¹⁴He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach ¹⁵and to have authority to drive out demons. ¹⁶These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); ¹⁷James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); ¹⁸Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot ¹⁹and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. ²⁰Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. ²¹When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

Reflection: Wow! There are a lot of interesting dynamics here. It looks like Jesus finally found a place away from the crowds. He went up on the mountainside, and then He “called to him those he wanted.” I wonder who those people were. How many were there?

However many, He called and they came. There’s a snapshot of discipleship. They didn’t ask what He wanted. He just called and they responded. I can learn from that.

Then, out of that group, “he appointed twelve” for special assignment. What was that like for the others? How do I react when Christ calls someone next to me to serve in what seems to be a higher, more important position?

Lord, however you choose to use me, I am ready. Teach me to humbly offer myself openly to you. On my good days, I don’t care how big or small a thing you have for me to do. I’m just ready to serve. So please, Lord, may this be a good day.