The Gospel of Mark: The Twelve

(Jesus) went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons. So he appointed the twelve:Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. ~ Mark 3:13-19


There is a lot that is significant/symbolic here and gives clues to Jesus' identity in this passage.

First, mountains are important places where God show God's self: Mt. Sinai, the Transfiguration. A mountain is also a symbol of authority.

And as his first act of authority, Jesus goes through the many people who have already followed him and brings twelve into an inner circle: as a leader would do.

Twelve is a significant number in general - think twelve months, twelve hours, etc. But for the Jews, twelve also meant fullness & wholeness. It demonstrated a completion of God's order. Twelve tribes were now exemplified by twelve disciples.

Or twelve apostles as they are also called here. It is interesting to note that they aren't called "disciples." They are the twelve. A disciple is one who follows. An apostle is one who is sent. (Some translations don't use the term apostles here, so it is perhaps and addition that edited in to Mark's text once these 12 followers DID become apostles). 

Finally, we have the names of the twelve. Four of them have explanations behind their names: Simon is now Peter, which, though we aren't told it here, means "stone" or "rock," (remember, we aren't using other gospels as sources!).

Then we have the brothers "J" who are 'sons of thunder," and finally Judas, who Mark (as the omniscient narrator that he is), tells us will betray Jesus. So, already have been told ahead of time who Jesus is, and now, at the official inauguration of his ministry and leadership, we've been given a taste ahead of what will happen to him.

How we get from here to there and what it all means now has to play out.


Holy God, thank you for the gospel - the good news - of your Son. Open my mind and heart to this good news and enliven me with your Spirit of servanthood that I might share this good news with a world in need. Amen



Engagement Question:


What do you make of the symbolism here? Given what you are told about the four disciples, what do you think they are like?

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