Mark 3:13-19 - Jesus chooses the Twelve.

Mark 3:13-19 - Jesus chooses the Twelve.               July 8, 2017 

The Twelve Apostles – This section, is He our Master 

Jesus' selection of 12 disciples which became Apostles was an important plan in His ministry. These men would be the ones who will receive one on one for leadership to carry out Jesus mission. The plot to take His life made the training of disciples important. 

Mark 3:13  And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. 

Notice:  They came unto Him 

Luke 6:12-13 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.  (13)  And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named Apostles: 

Our Lord’s response was to go to a mountain alone and spend the night in prayer. When He came down the next morning, He selected twelve men and named them apostles: “one who is sent with a commission.” 

The exact mountain is uncertain. It was probably somewhere in Galilee, since this whole section describes Jesus' ministry there. Jesus first called His disciples to join Him. Then, from that larger group, He selected 12 men as apostles. Jesus selected 12 apostles for leadership over Israel's 12 tribes in His messianic reign.   Word Apostle is introduced – one who is sent 

Matthew 19:28  So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

Jesus was not afraid to identify himself with business men, laboring men, optimists, pessimists, philosophers, skeptics, publicans, politicians, and patriots.  This is who he called.

We are also called and chosen 

Romans 1:6-7 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;  (7)  To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

(14)  Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, (15) and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:  

Matthew 10:1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.  Differences? 

That they might be with him: This hints that they were first to be trained for their work. The best preparation for doing Christ’s work is being with Christ, constantly, in private and in public and they are familiar to all of Jesus messages and miracles.  

He confers his authority on the Twelve and sends them out with the 4 main responsibilities.    Jesus gave them powers to do these things. Miracles, Heal 

Ten times in his Gospel, Mark refers to “the Twelve”. These men would live with Jesus, learn from Him, and go out and serve under His authority.  

"Mark's list of the apostles contains more of the loving personal nicknames, naturally Aramaic, than do any of the lists in the other Gospels." 

Was the Apostles Married:  We know Peter was married. The other Apostles does not say, except what Paul said.  A hard life for the wives. 

1 Corinthians 9:4-6 Do we have no right to eat and drink?  (5)  Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers (?) of the Lord, and Cephas?  (6)  Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?

Residence:  The all lived by the Sea of Galilee, except Judas

Education:  All were trained in the ordinary education of Jewish youth.

Birth:  All were born a few years after Jesus birth, in Galilee, except Judas.

Witness:  All were a witness of the Ascension, except Judas. 

(16)  Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter;   

Meaning of Peter’s name: Simon means "hearing;" Peter means "rock/stone" (Greek) Cephas means "rock/stone" (Aramaic) 

Peter was the first to call Jesus the Son of the Living God – the Messiah

Matthew 16:16-18 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  (17)  Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  (18)  And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 

Death:  died around 64-68 AD, aged 62-67, Tradition says he was crucified upside down 

Occupation:  A fisherman in partnership with James and John.   

Important fact about Peter’s life:

·      Gave first major sermon at Pentecost Acts

·      Peter 3 times denial of Jesus, then repented

·          He was one of the innermost circle of 2 or 3 others with Jesus

·      He was present at the transfiguration;

·      Peter went to the home of Cornelius to open the gospel to the Gentiles,

·      Peter was always listed first in the Scriptures. 

Circumstances of death:  

John 21:18-19 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish."  (19)  This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me." 

In the year 656 Pope Vitalian decided the Catholic Church was not interested in the remains of the apostles Peter and Paul. THE POPE THEREFORE ORDERED THEM SENT TO OSWY, KING OF BRITAIN!  

Here is part of his letter to the British king: 

"HOWEVER, WE HAVE ORDERED THE BLESSED GIFTS OF THE HOLY MARTYRS, THAT IS, THE RELICS OF THE BLESSED APOSTLES, PETER AND PAUL, AND OF THE HOLY MARTYRS LAURENTIUS, JOHN, AND PAUL, AND GREGORY, AND PANCRATIUS, TO BE DELIVERED TO THE BEARERS OF THESE OUR LETTERS, TO BE BY THEM DELIVERED TO YOU (Bedes "Ecclesiastical History", bk. III, ch. 29). 

About a century and a half earlier Constantius of Lyons took the relics of all the apostles and martyrs from Gaul and buried them in a special tomb at ST. ALBANS IN BRITAIN. (Life of St. Germanus.) 

(17)  James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, "Sons of Thunder";   

Jesus gives them a nickname, Sons of Thunder.  They were in a fishing partnership with brothers Peter and Andrew.  These were fishermen, hard and strong, even by their nickname.  They had servants, not poor. 

James: known as James the Greater or James the Great 

First Apostle to Die for Jesus 

Acts 12:1-2 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.  (2)  Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 

Meaning of his name: "Heel catcher, supplanter"

Death:  First Apostle to be martyred under Herod, around 44 AD in Jerusalem, was executed by sword.

Occupation:  A fisherman on the Sea of Galilee 

Important fact about James’s life:

·          He was one of the innermost circle of 2 or 3 others with Jesus

·      He was present at the raising of Jairus's daughter 

John: known as the beloved disciple 

John was given Jesus mother Mary as his own to take care of. 

John 19:26-27 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!"  (27)  Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. 

Meaning of his name: "The Grace of Jehovah"

Death:  Died around 100 AD, aged 93 or 94 at Ephesus

Occupation:  A fisherman  

Important fact about John’s life:

·      He was present at the transfiguration;

·      He was present at the raising of Jairus's daughter

·      Jesus told John to take Mary as his mother.

·      Probably the youngest of the Apostles (sit beside Jesus)

·          Known as the disciple that Jesus loved

·          He was one of the innermost circle of 2 or 3 others with Jesus 

(18)  Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite;  

Andrew:  

Andrew was the first disciple of Jesus. 

John 1:40-41 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.  (41)  He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ). 

Meaning of his name: "Manly" 

Death:  Tradition says he was martyred in Greece, crucified on an x-shaped cross, Patrae in Achaia

Occupation: fisherman  

Important fact about Andrew’s life:

·      Brother of Simon Peter

·      Disciple of John the Baptist

·     One of the earliest converts and brought his brother Peter to Christ

·          He was one of the innermost circle of 2 or 3 others with Jesus

·     Traditions said he preached Scythia, Greece, Asia Minor 

Philip: 

Meaning of his name:  "Lover of horses" 

Philip found Nathanael and brought him to Jesus 

John 1:45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 

Death:  Tradition says died at Hierapolis around 80 AD, either died on a cross or beheaded, near Laodicia. 

Occupation: Unknown, Apostle  

Important fact about Philip’s life:

·      Mix him up with Philip the Evangelist

·      Philip brought Nathanael to Christ. 

Bartholomew: (some identify with Nathanael) 

John 1:46-47 And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."  (47)  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" 

Little is known of him. Also probably known as Nathanael.

Meaning of his name:  "Gift of God" 

Death:  Was beheaded in Persian 

Occupation: Unknown  

Important fact about Bartholomew’s life: 

·     Philip and Bartholomew are always mentioned together

·     Philip and Nathanael are always mentioned together

·      "Bartholomew" is not really a name, but with a meaning "son of Talmai (Ptolemy)." He may have had another name, but the disciples consistently referred to him as Bartholomew.  

Matthew, Matthew's other name was Levi.   

Accurate record keeper and keen observer of people, Matthew recorded a detailed account of Jesus' life, the story, his message and his many deeds in the Gospel of Matthew.   Not a whole lot about him in the Scriptures. 

Matthew 9:9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him. 

Meaning of his name:  Matthew means "gift of God" Levi means "joiner" 

Death: Tradition says he died in Ethiopia, Dorotheus declares Matthew was buried at Hierapolis in Parthia.

Occupation: Tax Collector  

Important fact about Matthew’s life: 

·      James the less (one of the 12 Apostles) may have been his brother

·      He authored the book of Matthew, written about 20 years after Jesus.

·      Matthew was a tax collector and customs official

·      He would have been skilled in shorthand; thus, the detailed discourses which characterize his Gospel.  

Thomas,  

Doubting Thomas because he doubted Jesus' resurrection when first told. 

John 20:25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." 

Meaning of his name: Thomas means "twin" (from the Greek); Didymus also means "twin" (from Aramaic),  

Death: Tradition says he died a martyr, killed by arrows as he was praying, in India Dec 21, 72 AD at St. Thomas Mount, India.

Occupation: Apostle  

Important fact about Thomas’s life: 

·      Thomas had an unnamed twin brother

·   A spirit of skepticism regarding Christ’s resurrection known as doubting Thomas.  Meaning, prove it to me. (John 20:24-25)

·      He was full of love for Jesus, his Master

·      Jesus told him to put his finger where the nails had been and put his hand into His side.

·      He said, My Lord and My God 

Thomas displayed zeal for Jesus 

John 11:16  Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him." 

James the son of Alphaeus, (James the Less) 

Meaning of his name: Supplanter 

Death:  Tradition: died in Jerusalem around 62 AD.

Occupation: Unknown  

Important fact about James’s life: 

·      Was James the brother of Matthew (Levi), both had same father name.

·      “James the Less” possibly because he was shorter in stature than James, the son of Zebedee.  (Mark 15:40) 

Thaddaeus, 

Know as Judas Thaddeus, also Lebbaeus (Aramaic for Heart):  

Meaning of his name: Judas means "praise"; Thaddaeus means "courageous" a nickname to avoid confusion with Judas Iscariot. 

Death:  Tradition:  died in Persia around 65 AD.  Ministry in Assyria

Occupation: Apostle  

Important fact about Thaddaeus’s life:  He was the last of three apostles who asked Jesus a question during the final Passover in the upper room The brother of James 

Simon the Canaanite,  

Meaning of his name: Hearing  

Birth:  Born a few years after Jesus birth, Galilee

Death:  Tradition - buried in the heart of Africa

Occupation: Apostle  

Important fact about Simon the Canaanite’s life: 

·      He was the political conservative among Christ's 12 disciples.

·      Simon had been a member of an extremely nationalistic sect of Judaism.

·      The word “Canaanite” comes from the Heb. and means “a zealous one.” Before his conversion, Simon belonged to a Jewish “underground” group, the Zealots, who tried to overthrow Rome   

·      Tradition: Simon the Zealot carry the gospel toward Egypt and Africa  

It is interesting from this group of men that Jesus chose men of such diverse background to be his disciples.  

Four of them were fishermen, one a hated tax collector, another a member of a radical and violent political party. Of six of them we know practically nothing. All were laymen. There was not a preacher or an expert in the Scriptures in the lot. Yet it was with these men that Jesus established his church and preached Jesus Good News to the end of the earth. 

(19)  and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.  

Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus and handed him over to be arrested. 

Meaning of his name: Praise  

Birth:  Born a few years after Jesus birth, Judean City of Kerioth

Death:  Hanged himself in or near Jerusalem

Residence:  Unknown

Occupation: Unknown  

Important fact about Judas Iscariot’s life: 

·     Judas: the Greek form of Judah.

·                    Greedy and ambitious,

·                    Chose to deny Jesus

·                    In charge of the moneybag (John 12:4-6)

·                    He was a thief

·      He was the apostle who betrayed Christ for money (30 pieces of silver) with a kiss for the Jewish Leadership.  Matthew 2614-16, 47-49. 

Matthew 26:14-15 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests  (15)  and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. 

Jesus just picked His Apostles, notice how many brothers are called together.   

·       Simon (known as Peter) and Andrew (Peter’s brother)

·       James (son of Zebedee) and John (James’ brother)

·       Matthew (Levi - the tax collector) and James (son of Alphaeus) father same name

·       Phillip and Bartholomew seems to be close friends 

We will pick up next time, starting at  Mark 3:20