Mark 3:13-21

Mark 3:13-21  Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.  He appointed twelve — designating them apostles — that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.  These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.  Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat.  When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” 

Although many wanted to travel in Jesus' most intimate entourage, He chose only twelve as members of this group that would accompany him throughout his ministry.  They would assist him by helping to provide for his physical needs: housing, transportation, food.  They also were his protectors or body guards when the huge crowds crushed in on Jesus, attempting to get close to him or to touch him.  His disciples also provided fellowship, and He taught them the words of life.  The twelve were just a small part of his followers who went from place to place to see Jesus perform divine works.  But many did not believe in these miraculous deeds: the religious teachers and leaders and as we see in today's passage, even his family, thought Jesus was mad.  Those without faith in his work saw him as a man of delusions, out of his mind.  At various times the Pharisees said Jesus was demon possessed, a foolish idea, since he delivered people from demon possession.  Once when they said he was possessed of a demon, Jesus answered, I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.  I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.  I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.  (John 8:49-51)  Even today, sometimes the people closest to a person whose life has been changed by God's presence will not believe divine intervention has changed the person's life.  The secularist will not believe in a God who loves his creation so much He sent his Son to die for our sins and supernaturally intervenes in people's lives.  They believe perhaps there is a God, but they will not believe that God is active in the daily affairs of mankind or that we need a Savior.  Jesus' own family was troubled by his actions and thought they needed to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”  Is it any wonder, when Jesus went into his own town many would not believe.  Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.”  He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.  And he was amazed at their lack of faith.  (Mark 6:4-6)  

When we gather as believers today, do we still believe that God is active in our lives and that He performs supernatural acts for his children?  Do we believe in the Christ who said, The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor?  (Luke 4:18-19)  Are we still praying for our loved ones and friends or are we like the religious teachers who mocked our Lord and Jesus' family with a lack of faith and full of doubts?  We may think we have faith, but faith is active.  James says, As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.  (James 2:26)  So often we tell a friend with a sickness or a difficulty in life, "I am so sorry for your need.  I will be praying for you."  What the person needs is the prayer of faith right at that moment.  We know what the Bible says, but sometimes we do not put our faith into practice.  Remember Christ's words: “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.  (Matthew 18:18-20)  God is sovereign--the answers to our prayers are in his hands, his domain.  But we are told to pray without ceasing in faith believing.  Prayer is our privilege, our inheritance as children of a loving, caring Father who sent his Son to shed his blood on the cross.  But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 

All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.  (Isaiah 53:5-6)

As we write these breakfasts, we believe the Holy Spirit is in the room, within us and hovering over us, asking us to be true to the Word, true to the Spirit of the Lord.  We must be true to the voice of Jesus who called twelve men to forsake everything and to follow him.  He called them to help him minister to hurting people, to help him to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor to a people hard of hearing.  We know that your ears attend to the Spirit's call: you want to take up the cross daily and follow your Lord.  Today, the Lord is asking us to let the Holy Spirit stir up our faith, to remember who we are in Christ and who He is in us.  When the man who had been lame since birth approached Peter and John for money at the gate called Beautiful, Peter answered, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”  And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.  (Acts 3:6-8)  Peter lacked money, but he was not empty-handed.  He gave what he possessed, the power of the living Lord.  When the man was healed, he was leaping and shouting and praising God with the greatest joy of his life.  No amount of money could have given him such a gift of life.  This is life!  People are steeped in sin and sickness, lost in the darkness.  Lead us to those who are ready to hear the Good News, dear Lord; lead us to those we can talk to and say, "May I pray for you?"