Mark 3:13-15

In all the gospels there is a distinction drawn between the crowds that gathered wherever Jesus went and the disciples who really followed him. I’m always concerned for the crowds. It seems like they are interested in Jesus, but he always speaks to them in parables. They follow him around at a distance, but never really know him or get close to him. He has compassion on them and heals them, but they never really give their lives to him. In the great commission Jesus does not command us to go out and make crowds, but to go out and make disciples of all nations. This makes me ask, “what exactly is a disciple?” I think this verse in Mark 3 shows that disciples are meant for three things: intimacy, mission and power.

Verse 14 in this passage tells us that Christ appointed the disciples for a purpose. The words “so that they might” shows his reasons for calling them. I think the order of these reasons is important and shows us a little bit about the heart of God. The first reason that is given is “so that they might be with him.” The primary goal in the discipling process is intimacy with Christ. Jesus tells his disciples in John 15:1-11 to abide in him. This is absolutely necessary if we are to live the life of a disciple. We must walk every moment of our lives in his presence.

The second reason is so that “he might send them out to preach.” If you have been with Christ and have been transformed by his presence, then pretty soon you will be sent out to build the kingdom of God. Jesus never draws his disciples away from the world for long. He is always sending them to preach the kingdom and feed the people. A true disciple of Jesus Christ does not live in isolated Christianity.

The third reason is so that they might “have authority to cast out demons.” If you are deeply connected to the King of Kings you will realize that we are not slaves but sons. If you have been sent into the world by the Only Living God, Jesus Christ, you need to realize that there is no other authority, no other power that can possibly overcome the Lord. I believe this is an important message that the Church needs to hear. Too often I see people who love Jesus and know that they are called to change the world, but they are too afraid of the waves that keep spilling into the boat. Our eyes are too often fixed on this world rather than the power of Christ. He gave his disciples authority to heal the sick (power over the physical) and cast out demons (power over the spiritual). The question then is “what is stopping you from doing the mission that Christ has sent you on?” The only answer left is you.

I think these three things are important attributes that distinguish a disciple from someone in the crowd. If you look around you, there are tons of people that are very interested in Jesus Christ. They flock around miracles and spiritual things. They love to talk about it and listen in. There are tons of people who have been healed by Jesus simply by touching his outer garment, but Jesus doesn’t want you to simply touch his clothes, he wants you to give up everything, get on the cross with him and be his disciple.