Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles
13 Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. 14 Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles.[b] They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, 15 giving them authority to cast out demons. 16 These are the twelve he chose:
Simon (whom he named Peter),
17 James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”[c]),
18 Andrew,
Philip,
Bartholomew,
Matthew,
Thomas,
James (son of Alphaeus),
Thaddaeus,
Simon (the zealot[d]),
19 Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).
Jesus and the Prince of Demons
20 One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat. 21 When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said.
22 But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan,[e] the prince of demons. That’s where he gets the power to cast out demons.”
23 Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. “How can Satan cast out Satan?” he asked. 24 “A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. 25 Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 26 And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive. 27 Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.
28 “I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, 29 but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.” 30 He told them this because they were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.”
The True Family of Jesus
31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them. 32 There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and someone said, “Your mother and your brothers[f] are outside asking for you.”
33 Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 34 Then he looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. 35 Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.
HELP QUESTIONS: Apostle is a word meaning "one sent out." Jesus picks 12 (maybe for the 12 tribes of Israel) from those following him to send out preaching. Has he called you to do something to further his kingdom? Are all called to be Apostles?
Jesus says he is stronger than Satan. In the book of Job, Satan works for God. When did Satan get so powerful that he or his demons could possess someone or go to war against God? Do you believe in Satan?
Jesus talks about his Mother and brothers as if they are just part of his following. How does this make you feel about Jesus?
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Are all called to be Apostles? That is a tough question. Calvin's doctrine on predestination wasn't that God already decided who was getting into heaven - his students developed the theology into that after his death. Calvin's theology was that the predestined are the apostles, the ones called to a task - God knew who they were. Those who aren't called don't have that responsibility. I'm not sure what they are called to then with their life, but it's one of the reasons I am not a Calvinist - I believe that we are given a calling on our life. We just choose whether or not to follow it.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, that was a very simplistic answer to a HUGE question. I am sure it was not done justice, so please add your thoughts.
Before I read the above comment, I saw the question asking if we were all called to further God's kingdom as a really simple one with a very simple answer: yes. Isn't that what we are here to do as believers...to help share the love of God with others? Maybe I didn't get the question? I think we are all called at differnt times and different ways...not all of us have been called to drop our fishing nets, leave the dishes in the sink and not even bother to forward to mail while we march off into the New Testament sunset. But, if we listen, we all have a journey waiting, I think. Even if we DON'T listen, that path is still there, full of donkey droppings, Pharisees, Roman tax collectors, rotting olives, broken garbage disposals, car with an oil leak and never-ending orthodontist appointments.
ReplyDeleteOne more (not very serious) comment about Jesus referring to the whole crowd as his mother and brothers...
ReplyDeleteIf I were Mary, I'd be thinking...well, did this whole crowd stay up with you all night when you had a tummy ache and help you with your fractions homework and get up early to fix you pancakes before you marched off to the carpenter workshop?
That's funny, Pam. I had the same reaction. I thought first, in my humanness, had I heard my son say in so many words that all these people are my family and that my mother was not necessarily of any more significance, I'd be hurt. I do understand the point he is making that we are all part of God's family. Its hard, though, to remove that human aspect and believe that the parent-child relationship isn't worth more or somehow more significant.
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