Called Up

Main Idea

We are called up to the high and holy purpose to become like Christ and to make Christ known.

When Samuel went to the house of Jesse to anoint Israel’s next king, it must have been exciting to see such a great pool of candidates. Jesse had many sons, and each of them looked like a strong, capable, impressive young man. Any one of them could have looked the part of a king. But with each one, God said, “Not him.” Finally, Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?”

Jesse hesitated— “Well… there’s still the youngest. He’s out tending the sheep.”

David wasn’t the obvious choice. He wasn’t the most experienced, the most powerful, or the most qualified. But he was God’s choice. And that makes all the difference.

When Samuel anointed him, David didn’t suddenly become worthy—he became chosen. That’s how God works. He calls whom He wills, not because of their greatness, but because of His. He raises the humble, uses the ordinary, and exalts the unlikely so that no one can boast in themselves, only in the Lord who calls.

That’s what Jesus does here in Mark 3. Out of the crowd, He summons those He wants. Not the elite, not the influential, but fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots—men the world would have overlooked, but God would use to turn the world upside down.

And that’s still how He works today. God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called. When He calls you up, it’s not because you’ve earned the right to serve—it’s because He delights to display His power through His vessels of mercy.

Just like David was called from the fields to the throne, Jesus calls unlikely people from all walks of life—and as His influence spreads across the region, we see that His reach, like His grace, knows no bounds.

Passage

Mark 3:7–19 CSB

7 Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee, and a large crowd followed from Judea, 8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to him because they heard about everything he was doing. 9 Then he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, so that the crowd wouldn’t crush him. 10 Since he had healed many, all who had diseases were pressing toward him to touch him. 11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!” 12 And he would strongly warn them not to make him known. 13 Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, to send them out to preach, 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 He appointed the Twelve: To Simon, he gave the name Peter; 17 and to James the son of Zebedee, and to his brother John, he gave the name “Boanerges” (that is, “Sons of Thunder”); 18 Andrew; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

I - Range of Impact

Jesus is at the Sea of Galilee, and it turns out that the impact of His ministry has spread in all directions.

North - Tyre and Sidon

South - Judea, Jerusalem, and Idumea

East - beyond the Jordan: Perea and the Decapolis

West - Region of Galilee

Even at the start of Jesus’ ministry, His influence far exceeded that of John the Baptist, because John was merely the messenger; Jesus is the Messiah. His reputation drew eager people from all around to meet Him on the shores of the Sea of Galilee… so much so that the crowd was beginning to box Him in and crush Him.

And these crowds weren’t just made up of Jews. Judea was a Jewish region, but Tyre and Sidon weren’t… nor was the Decapolis east of the Jordan River. Jesus’ miracle-performing power and the message of His Kingdom were spreading to both Jewish and Gentile towns!

II - Managing the Crowd

Because this wasn’t Jesus’ first time facing large crowds, He already had a plan. Since it can be physically dangerous to stand in the middle of a huge crowd, Jesus had His current disciples prepare a small boat that He could step into. This would help prevent Him from being crushed and give Him a better position to address everyone. Besides the logistics, Jesus had to handle two things about the crowds.

The crowd’s expectations. Jesus had to manage their expectations of Him. Mark mentions that because Jesus had healed many (presumably in the past and not just at that moment), then that is who came. Everyone with diseases was pressing deeper into the crowd to touch Him. It doesn’t specifically say here that Jesus healed them. All Mark provides are the types of people making up this crowd. Jesus may have healed many of them, or He may not have. At the end of the first chapter, we saw Jesus walk away from a crowd that wanted to see His miracle-working power. The day before, He healed all who came to Him. We must allow Jesus to respond according to the will of the Father and the purpose of His mission. If people came only to see miracles, then Jesus has already shown He has no time for such selfish motives. As we’ve seen, this motivation was common among the crowds so far. That said, miracles happened that day, which brings us to the second element of the crowd Jesus managed.

The demonic influences on the crowd. The only interaction Mark confirms and expands upon is between Jesus and the demons. This doesn’t mean that every disease has a demonic origin, but we receive more details about the ones that do. It’s important to remember Jesus’ purpose and mission. He is on a journey to the cross. He has already stated that His goal isn’t to be a popular influencer that wows the crowd. His mission is to preach the good news of the gospel (the coming of the Messiah) and the establishment of God’s Kingdom (where the Messiah will reign). Therefore, it makes sense that Mark focuses not on temporary relief from physical ailments but on a local confrontation with the opposition. Jesus is claiming territory from Satan’s domain for Himself. Remember, any ground gained for God’s Kingdom is ground lost for Satan’s. In this brief encounter, several fascinating events unfold:

The demons recognize who Jesus is. In one sense, this shouldn’t be confusing. Jesus is the eternal God, whom they should immediately recognize. We saw this happen in an earlier exorcism. What’s fascinating is the contrast between their awareness and the Pharisees' ignorance. The men who are the spiritual leaders of the community and experts in the law should have recognized and acknowledged Jesus, but they didn’t. However, the literal enemies of God…the demonic forces of darkness, did! Whether their intention was to mock, discredit, demean, gain leverage, or they were forced to speak truthfully, they had no choice but to acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God. What a shame to see demons do the job of God’s covenant people!

The demons fell before Him. Jesus has authority over the demons, and they fall down before the Son of God even before a single word is spoken. His very presence demands submission. I don’t know who needs to hear this, but regardless of the strongholds the enemy may have over us—whether that is pornography, lust, bitterness, anger, envy, past wounds, condemnation for things done in the past, insecurity, or any other issue or sin—the enemy is still under the authority of the King of Kings. Everything that seems to have influence and power over us must still bow the knee to King Jesus. Therefore, there is always hope to overcome them!

The demons submitted to Jesus’ rebuke. While on their knees, Jesus then rebukes and censures them, as He did in the previous demonic encounter. The demons may have influence over other human beings, but they have no authority at the foot of Jesus. It is here that every knee will bow, whether in heaven, on earth, or under the earth. Every being will eventually bow, whether willingly or, like these demons, unwillingly… but they will bow.

This first section draws out some important applications for us today.

1. Jesus has authority over everything that binds you. The demons fell, trembled, and submitted at Jesus' presence—no debate, no resistance. Whatever holds you—sin, shame, addiction, anxiety, spiritual strongholds—it's not stronger than Christ. He not only has the power to confront darkness but also to set captives of darkness free. You don’t have to live in defeat. What bows to Him doesn’t have to reign over you.

2. Be honest about why you’re following Jesus.

It’s easy to come to Jesus for what He can do for us—answers to prayer, healing, provision, help in crisis—but never truly desire Him. We need to see the crowd for what it is. Though they came with genuine need, they also arrived with a sole focus on themselves and having their needs met. That is what the crowd represents in Mark’s gospel. They want what Jesus has but not Jesus Himself, and they often hinder the person or people who genuinely seek Him. The crowd came to get something fromJesus, not to be with Him. We must examine our hearts and ask: Am I seeking His hand, or His face? Don’t let selfish expectations distort your relationship with your Savior. Come to Him because He is worthy—not just because you’re in need.

III - Calling Up His Chosen

What is crucial to understand as the story progresses is how Jesus transitioned from addressing the crowd to the called. He managed the crowd, but He specifically called individuals up from the crowd to become His disciples. And, when He did this, it was in a very particular way.

Jesus prays. This isn’t found in Mark’s gospel, but Luke records how Jesus went up alone to pray. Choosing whom He will invest Himself in over the next three years and entrust with the future of the gospel is no small decision. Jesus demonstrates how we should approach every choice we face. We submit to and seek guidance from our Heavenly Father and act accordingly. Jesus didn’t just want people to follow Him; He wanted to choose the right people. The same should be true for us today. If we want to influence others for Christ, we must pray first and then act in accordance with God’s will.

Jesus summons those He wanted. The first thing to recognize is how Jesus chose His disciples. What He didn’t do was issue a broad call to the crowd, saying that whoever comes should be willing to stand up. No… just as God knew He wanted David instead of his brothers to be crowned king, Jesus knew exactly whom He wanted to select from the crowd. How do we know this? Because Mark tells us that Jesus summoned exactly who He wanted! He called the Twelve Disciples through a special selection and invitation—knowing full well their character flaws, by the way. I want you to see the intensely personal nature of this interaction. Jesus knows each of these men personally and initiates the relationship, just as He had already done with Peter and Andrew, James and John, and Levi (or Matthew).

This was true of all 12 of His disciples, and it is true of all of us today. Ephesians 1:4 tells us:

Ephesians 1:4 CSB

4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.

This is a profound theological truth that should lead each of us to fall at the feet of Jesus, but unlike the demons, it is in praise and adoration of the Son of God, not in spite and anger. If you have a personal relationship with Jesus, it is because He saw you first and called you to come and enjoy Him forever. Praise His holy name for such a gracious gift that God has lavished on us in Christ!

They came to Him on the mountain. This is a clear parallel to Moses—the leader and savior figure of the 12 tribes of Israel who was called by God to ascend Mount Sinai and receive the law, which would become a key part of the Old Covenant. Now, as God, Jesus calls 12 disciples to follow Him up a mountain to be named apostles and to become the seed of what will later be the New Covenant church. Like Moses, they are instructed in the ways of God’s Kingdom in what the other gospel accounts describe as the Sermon on the Mount. Even in His call of the disciples, Jesus is announcing foundational truths of the kingdom that’s like new wine being placed into new wineskins. And these men are the foundation for the growing church of living stones that you and I are part of today!

He calls them by name. Mark provides us with the official list of twelve disciples. These are the ragtag group of men that God chose to build His kingdom with, and they are each known by name. Some, however, especially the three who would become Jesus’ inner circle, are given special names. Simon is called Peter, ‘the rock.’ James and John are called ‘sons of thunder.’ Jesus not only knows who they are now but also what they will become.

This reveals another beautiful theological truth. Not only are we called by God from the foundation of the world to be His sons and daughters, but we are also created as a unique and special workmanship in Christ Jesus for a specific purpose and function. Every believer, as Paul describes in Romans 8, is fully secured by God’s golden chain of redemption. We are predestined, called, justified, and glorified. Therefore:

Romans 8:31–39 CSB

31 What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? 33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. 35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And we see the spark of Jesus’ entire kingdom movement ignite in this very passage of scripture because He commissions His newly called disciples to action.

IV - Appointing with Purpose

From the very first moment, Jesus appointed His people to two functions.

Become a disciple.

Be sent to make disciples.

First, Jesus called specific people from the crowd to follow Him. That is what it means to be a disciple: you follow the way and teachings of your Rabbi. But, along with the call to discipleship comes apostleship. He named the 12 apostles, which means ‘sent ones.’ To learn from Jesus and fail to go for Jesus is to be half-formed and partially obedient to the call.

So, the nouns Jesus uses (disciple and apostle) clarify this point, but so do the verbs. The twelve were called followers and sent ones, and then Jesus appointed them to the same two tasks:

To be with Him - a relationship with Jesus in which they know Him and He knows them deeply and intimately.

To send the out - because they are filled with Christ’s teachings, truths, and power to support the gospel they proclaim—they are empowered to go and do as Jesus did.

To preach.

To have authority to cast out demons.

His purpose was to preach. His mission was to establish and expand God’s Kingdom. One way He achieved this was by taking ground from Satan’s kingdom to establish His own. He then equipped, empowered, and sent His hand-picked apostles to do the same.

First, Jesus instructs and fills His people, then He models what He wants His followers to imitate. We are called up to this high and holy purpose—to become like Christ and to make Him known.

Be-come and Be sent. That is the Christian life.