Ministering Like the Master: Lessons from Mark 3:13–19

At this point in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ ministry had gained considerable momentum. Men and women from all over Israel and beyond flocked to this man for aid. Wherever he went, he was noticed. At this juncture, he sets apart twelve men—custodians of the gospel—who would serve as the foundation of a new movement. The number twelve is not coincidental: In the Old Testament, it represented the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus was deliberate. The twelve apostles represented a new Israel in embryo form—a nucleus of the new covenant community, the mustard seed of the New Testament church.

For that reason, this text has significant application for us today. We recognise that not every detail of it will translate directly to our lives today, since these men were given a unique role in the formation of the church, but the passage offers abiding lessons for every follower of Christ.

The text begins by telling us the reason that Christ chose twelve out of his many followers.

In Luke 6:12, we are told that Jesus spent the night in prayer before appointing the Twelve. These men were not self-appointed leaders. They did not determine, by themselves, to launch a new religious movement. Their call, just like ours today, came from the sovereign will of God.

The act of Christ praying before appointing them underscores the significance and foundation of their calling: He sought the Father’s will for those who would carry the message of the kingdom. Their call became the bedrock of their perseverance. Consider what they were being called to: preaching the kingdom, facing rejection, opposition, and eventually martyrdom. And yet, through these men, the church would be established.

What enabled them to persevere? And what enables the church they established to persevere today? Knowing this: They are called, commissioned, and empowered by Christ. Our call as Christians is the result of the sovereign will of God. And we persevere and fulfil this call from beginning to end, only through Christ.

Before Christ sent the apostles to preach, their first calling was to be with him. They were called to be with him so that they could learn from him. They were to hear his prayers, listen to his preaching, receive his instruction, and witness his gentleness and compassion. This is how they would learn what ministry looks like.

When Jesus departed, they were meant to be his representatives on earth. The only alternative philosophy of ministry in their day came from the scribes and Pharisees. The only way to avoid their error was to commune with Christ himself.

And it is important for us today to note that true communion with Christ is not, and never has been, a subjective, dreamy state of mind. The disciples spent three years with him. Being with Christ was their seminary training. They learned to preach by listening to him. He equipped them with tools to address the heart issues in counselling, to unpack the redemptive themes of Scripture. He taught them how to craft illustrations and how to be led by the Spirit—all so that they could faithfully minister the word when he was gone.

In our day and age, communion with Christ will look different, but it is just as real. When God gives you a new heart in salvation, that heart will beat with a desire to know its Saviour, Jesus Christ, in the way that he has revealed himself in the written word. We come to know and commune with Christ through knowing and obeying his word, prayer, and fellowship with the saints.

When Jesus sent his apostles, he granted them authority to expand his kingdom. Again, though their sending (i.e., as apostles) will look different from our sending as Christians today, we, like the apostles, have the same mission of and authority for expanding the kingdom of God—claiming space from the dominion of sin and Satan. We, like them, have been given the responsibility to preach the gospel and oppose evil in our generation.

However, as I pointed out above, communion with Christ always precedes ministry for Christ. Whatever you do in the way of ministering for Christ requires a deep knowledge and love for Christ. Do you want to speak like Jesus—with both authority and affection? Do you want to love like Jesus—sacrificially and tenderly? Do you want to be patient like Jesus? You must spend time with him. Are you setting aside time for this? Do your friends, family, and church members see you becoming more like Christ—or are they seeing you becoming more like the world?

Having described their commission, the text goes on to detail the names of the Twelve, which itself contains some lessons for us.

Imagine being tasked with building an international organisation meant to last for decades, reaching millions, with endless resources at your disposal. Who would you hire? 

You’d probably look for the best, most educated, most experienced candidates. But look at whom Jesus chose:  four fishermen; a tax collector; a zealot (radical political party member); and six others we know almost nothing about. By all human standards, this was a recipe for disaster. Why did Jesus do this? Because the building of the church doesn’t depend on the calibre or prestige of men, but on God, who displays His power and wisdom through weak vessels (1 Corinthians 1:26–29).

One major problem in today’s church is our infatuation with men. We idolise the innovative, the creative, the visionary. But what we need are men who are called by Christ, who commune with Christ, and who minister for Christ. These are the men who will shepherd you like Christ. As J. C. Ryle once said, “The names of a few Jewish fishermen are known and loved by millions, while the names of kings are lost and forgotten.”

The true disciple is called by Christ, communes with Christ, and ministers through the empowerment of Christ. Let us not be enamoured with prestige or innovation. Let us instead examine ourselves and ask: Are we truly his?