Choosing Apostles

Main Idea: Jesus calls each believer into His community, reminding them that they are chosen to belong, live in purpose, and advance His mission.

Mark 3:13–21 ESV

And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

Introduction

At this point in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ ministry is exploding. Crowds are everywhere. Opposition is growing. Expectations are rising. And in the middle of the noise, Jesus does something deeply intentional—He withdraws to a mountain and calls people to Himself.

Before He teaches them. Before He sends them. Before they understand anything at all— He calls them to be with Him.

That’s where discipleship always begins.

1. Called to Communion

Mark 3:13–15 ESV

13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons.

This moment is rich with meaning.

A. The Initiative Belongs to Jesus

Mark is clear: He called those whom He desired. Not those who applied. Not those who impressed Him. Not those with religious résumés.

Discipleship begins with divine initiative, not human achievement.

That’s comforting for us. Our relationship with Christ isn’t rooted in how strong our faith feels today, but in the fact that He wanted us.

B. Before Mission, There Is Presence

Verse 14 tells us why He appointed them:

“That they might be with Him”

“And that He might send them out”

Order matters.

Jesus does not first call us to do things for Him—but to be with Him. Communion precedes commission.

So often we reverse this:

We try to serve without abiding

We attempt obedience without intimacy

We burn out because we skipped the “being with Him” part

Christian life flows from relationship, not performance.

C. Shared Authority, Not Independent Power

Jesus gives them authority—to preach and to cast out demons. But this authority is never detached from Him.

The disciples don’t carry power in themselves; they carry authority from their proximity to Jesus.

Application:

-Our witness has power when it flows from closeness to Christ

-The church’s strength is not strategy, but submission

2. Unity in Diversity

Mark 3:16–19 ESV

16 He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); 18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

A. A Surprisingly Mixed Group

Look at who Jesus chose:

Fishermen (working-class laborers)

A tax collector (collaborator with Rome)

A Zealot (a political revolutionary)

Ordinary men with no formal religious training

This group should not work. Politically, socially, and culturally—they clash.

Yet Jesus doesn’t unify them by sameness. He unifies them by shared allegiance to Himself.

B. Grace Over Qualification

Jesus doesn’t choose them because they are impressive. He chooses them because He is.

Even Judas is named here—“who betrayed Him.” Mark reminds us that Jesus’ call is real, even when human response later fails.

That doesn’t excuse betrayal—but it magnifies grace.

Application:

No background disqualifies you

No weakness surprises Jesus

The church is not a gathering of the qualified, but the called

Unity in the church is not about agreeing on everything—it’s about belonging to the same Lord.

3. Facing Family Friction

Mark 3:20–21 ESV

20 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

A. Even Jesus Was Misunderstood

Those closest to Him don’t get Him. They’re not hostile—they’re concerned. But concern still becomes resistance.

Following God’s call sometimes creates tension with the people we love most.

B. The Cost of Obedience

Jesus’ obedience to the Father disrupts expectations:

Family expectations

Cultural expectations

Social norms

Faithfulness may lead to misunderstanding. Commitment may be labeled obsession. Calling may be mistaken for recklessness.

But Jesus does not retreat from His mission to preserve comfort.

C. A Deeper Belonging

This passage prepares us for what Jesus will soon say—that His true family is defined not by blood, but by obedience to God.

That’s not rejection of family—it’s redefinition of belonging.

For those who feel isolated, questioned, or unsupported because of their faith: You are not alone. Jesus understands. And He gives you a new community—a people who walk the same road.

Conclusion:

This passage reminds us of three anchoring truths:

— Jesus called you because He desired you You are chosen

— before you are sent to do anything You are invited to be with Him

— even when others don’t understand You belong to His people

Discipleship is not about being extraordinary. It’s about being available. Not about perfection—but proximity.

Jesus still calls people to Himself. He still forms community. And He still sends ordinary believers to carry His extraordinary grace into the world.

And the invitation remains the same:

Come be with Me. Then go in My name.