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What Do the Lists of Apostles Teach Us about Intimacy with Jesus? (Mark 3:13-19)

by Wayne Davies  
10/25/2014 / Bible Studies

Mark 3 is a pivotal chapter in the book of Mark. Verse 6 concludes the last of five consecutive conflict episodes between Jesus and the Pharisees, who are so upset with Jesus that they begin to plan for his execution. But Jesus knows that this is not the right time for him to die, so he moves to a more remote location temporarily to allow the fury of his enemies to subside (verse 7).

It is during this change of venue that Jesus makes another monumental decision it is time to choose twelve men to be his apostles ("sent ones"). And so in Mark 3:13-14 we read that "Jesus went up into the hills and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve designating them apostles".

Matthew and Luke also record the choosing of the twelve apostles (see Matthew 10:1-4 and Luke 6:12-16). And after the resurrection of Jesus, the apostles gather in Jerusalem, so Acts 1:13 gives another list of the apostles. Altogether there are four lists of the apostles, and these lists provide some important information about these men.

In all four lists, Peter is first.
No doubt this is because he was the leader of the group. We see his raw and immature leadership ability demonstrated throughout the gospels, yet by the time the early church begins to minister in Christ's absence, he is ready for the role of primary spokesman. This is evident in the early chapters of Acts as Peter does much of the gospel preaching that leads thousands to salvation.

In all four lists, there are three groups of four.
Group 1 consists of the two sets of brothers: Peter and Andrew, James and John. Group 2 is always Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas. Group 3 is James, Simon the zealot, Thaddaeus and Judas Iscariot (who is always last, along with mention of his betrayal).

Within these three sub-groups, the same person is always listed first: Peter, Philip, and James. We know that Peter was the leader of the entire group, and it may be that Philip was the leader of Group 2 and James the leader of Group 3. Within these three smaller groups, the order isn't always the same, but the leader of the sub-group is always the same, and the four men in that sub-group are always the same.

So we see normal group dynamics here. Within any group of people, even a small group of twelve, leaders emerge and relationships develop involving two, three or four people.

In all four lists, there are degrees of intimacy with Jesus.
What I find most intriguing about the lists is that there is a progression. The best-known apostles are in the first group: Peter, James, John and Andrew. And within that group, there is an "inner circle" of three: Peter, James and John are the apostles who were most intimate with Jesus. When Jesus raised the girl from the dead in Mark 5, only Peter, James and John were permitted to accompany Jesus in the home to see him perform this miracle. When Jesus climbed a mountain to meet with Moses and Elijah and display his divine glory (see Mark 9:2-13), only Peter, James and John were chosen to experience this event.

And after the last supper, right before the betrayal and arrest that led to his crucifixion, Jesus and the disciples went to the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus wanted to spend time in prayer, so he told eight of his followers to "sit here while I pray". Then he took the other three (Peter, James and John) with him to a secluded place where Jesus bared his soul to them by saying, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death" (Mark 14:32-34).

This is amazing: Jesus singled out three of his apostles to experience special times of ministry and intimacy. I wonder about this why these three? Why did Jesus pick Peter, James and John over the others?

Could it be that these three men had a greater desire to be with Jesus, to know Jesus, and to serve Jesus? Could it be that Jesus sensed their willingness to have a more intimate relationship with him than the other apostles?

And as you think of your own life and your own network of friends don't you know people who seem to have a more intimate relationship with Jesus than you do? Why is that? Why are there degrees of intimacy with God among believers?

I think it comes down to this: Jesus wants to be as close to you as you want to be with him. Even if you've been a Christian for many years, Jesus wants to continue to reveal himself to you more deeply than ever before. He wants to draw near to you and satisfy you with his presence and glory, just like his did with the inner circle on the mountain of transfiguration. He wants to shower you with his grace, mercy and love by satisfying your greatest and most important desire the desire to be with him, to worship him and to love him with all you heart, soul and mind.

Are you ready to join the inner circle of Jesus most intimate followers? Jesus would love to have you do just that. Here's right there waiting for you just open his Word and spend time with him today get to know Jesus by reading about him, studying him, beholding him and treasuring him. The journey of greater intimacy with Jesus is available to every believer including you!

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