Saturday 26 October 2024
He [Jesus] went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. (v. 13)
Background
This paragraph in Mark’s Gospel stands alone and tells of Jesus' appointment of his 12 disciples.
It follows from yesterday’s passage (Mark 3:7-12), which emphasised that people were drawn to Jesus from all over the place. People from the whole nation came to follow him, and now we have a group in number symbolic of the 12 tribes of Israel. Some biblical scholars have suggested therefore that today’s section may be an artificial construct, a reading back into the story of Jesus’ ministry from later understanding. There is evidence in the gospels that Jesus had a much wider and looser following than the small, close group of 12.
However, the inclusion of Judas and the evidence from Acts and the New Testament epistles that the 12 disciples didn’t play a significant part in the Early Church points the other way, suggesting that the appointment of the 12 disciples is truly part of the Jesus story.
Today’s paragraph begins “He went up the mountain”, another aspect of the story with loud echoes from the history of Israel, most notably the giving of the Law at Sinai (Exodus 19 and 20). (The best-known example of going up a mountain in the New Testament comes in chapter 5 of Matthew's Gospel at the start of the Sermon on the Mount.) Mountains provide the most common setting in biblical narratives for divine presence and action.
This group of 12 had two functions: firstly, to be with Jesus and, secondly, to be sent out to proclaim Jesus' message, and to have authority to cast out demons. We have to wait until Mark 6:7 before anyone is sent out; for the present the 12 stay with Jesus.
The word 'apostle' means one sent out. It doesn’t figure much in Mark’s Gospel; Luke and Paul use the term a lot. Its appearance in today’s passage (v. 14) is, perhaps, a little surprising, especially as Jesus didn’t send them out until three chapters later.
The names of the disciples differ quite a bit from other lists of the 12 in the New Testament. Even within Mark’s Gospel the identity of the disciples is fluid. A tax collector called Levi is recruited earlier (2:4 – see Monday, 21 October A Word in Time), but is not in today’s list and is not identified with Matthew, usually thought also to have been a taxman. The version of the Bible Word in Time links to (The New Revised Standard Version) lists 'Simon the Cananaean', but 'Simon the Zealot' may be a better translation (see the New International Version, the Revised English Bible and the New Jerusalem Bible) although the Good News Bible calls him 'Simon the Patriot'. Such is the complexity of translation! In any case, it is unclear whether this Simon belonged to the extreme 'terrorist' Zealot movement, or the term was simply applied to describe his character as an enthusiast.
To Ponder:
- What have been your 'mountaintop' experiences?
- How important is it to you to know the names of Jesus’ disciples?
- Read the psalm for today (22:1-18). What is your experience of feeling abandoned (verse 1) and of being held in God’s care (verses 9-11)?
Prayer
God who calls people to be disciples of Jesus, touch those who feel lost and abandoned with your welcome and care. Amen.
Bible notes author: The Revd Alan Bolton
Alan Bolton is a supernumerary presbyter in the High Wycombe Circuit, having sat down in 2018. He preaches regularly round the Circuit and edits the ministerial obituaries for the Conference. His other occupations are family, music, model railways, walking and reading, with a close interest in politics.