March 14, 2022 (Lent Week 2)

 

The 12 apostles receive their Commission

 

Mark Chapter 3, verses 13-19

Jesus Appoints the Twelve

13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

 

This passage arrested me. Matthew expands on this a bit in Chapter 9 and 10. Here he tells how Jesus told his crowds of disciples to go out and tell all they meet of the words of Jesus. And then he chooses 12 Apostles to whom he gives the authority to drive out evil spirits and cure illnesses.

Some of the Apostles are well known to us in scripture, John by tradition is credited with a gospel, three epistles and Revelation but most modern biblical scholars disagree. Peter is known from his epistle. Others we only know from tradition and legend.

Collectively this group of men were instrumental in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ, his Life, his Death, and his Resurrection. May we, in some humble way, contribute to their mission.

 - Len Robinson

 


Music: You know I would have to pick a choral work. One of my favourite hymns, ‘My Song is Love Unknown’. Especially appropriate for Good Friday but for me it works anytime.

 

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