The Bible teaches us that the twelve apostles are in an important sense foundational to the Church. We are the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Himself as the cornerstone (Eph.2:20). We too often think of only the cornerstone, forgetting the rest of the foundation.
The crowd grew. After this series of controversies, Jesus followed a typical pattern, and withdrew to the sea (v. 7). The mob followed Him there. This crowd was from all over — Judea, Jerusalem, Idumaea (Edom), TransJordan, and even from as far away as the cities of Tyre and Sidon, which were outside Israel (v. 8).
This was a great multitude, and so Jesus had a tiny boat put out to sea, so that He could address the crowd without being mobbed (v. 9). He had to do this because He had healed many of them, and the afflicted would press forward just to touch Him (v. 10). As we meditate on this, we must take care not to think that simply touching Christ brings automatic blessing. Those who arrested Him touched Him. Judas touched Him. We must touch Him in faith, and by faith.
Unclean spirits, following their pattern, tried to manipulate Christ by crying out His identity (v. 11), but He silenced them with a word (v. 12). He did not want His identity preached until after God had declared with power who He really was (Rom. 1:4), and that would not be done until the resurrection.
Jesus had already called some of His disciples individually, as we have seen. But He now forms them into a body of disciples, the foundation of the new Israel (v. 13). He ordained twelve of them, and of course the number is not a coincidence. Their ordination was so that they would travel with Him, and preach for Him (v. 14). In addition, they were given authority (through and from Him) to heal the sick and cast out demons (v. 15).
So let us consider for a moment who these men were.
James, son of Zebedee (Mk. 3:17); [3] James (Matt. 10:2); [3] James (Lk. 6:14); [2] James (Acts 1:13). Brother of John.
John, son of Zebedee (Mk. 3:17); [4] John (Matt. 10:2); [4] John (Lk. 6:14); [3] John (Acts 1:13). Brother of James.
Andrew (Mk. 3:18); [2] Andrew (Matt. 10:2); [2] Andrew, Simon’s brother (Lk. 6:14); [4] Andrew (Acts 1:13). Brother of Peter.
Philip (Mk. 3:18); [5] Philip (Matt. 10:3); [5] Philip (Lk. 6:14); [5] Philip (Acts 1:13).
Bartholomew (Mk. 3:18); [6] Batholomew (Matt. 10:3); [6] Bartholomew (Lk. 6:14); [7] Bartholomew (Acts 1:13). This is probably Nathanael.
Matthew (Mk. 3:18); [8] Matthew the publican (Matt. 10:3); [7] Matthew (Lk. 6:15); [8] Matthew (Acts 1:13). Also known as Levi (Mk. 2:14).
Thomas (Mk. 3:18); [7] Thomas (Matt 10:3); [8] Thomas (Lk. 6:15); [6] Thomas (Acts 1:13).
James, son of Alphaeus (Mk. 3:18); [9] James (Matt. 10:3); [9] James (Lk. 6:15) [9] James (Acts 1:13). Possibly the Lord’s cousin, son of Clopas and Mary (Mk. 15:40). Brother of Judas. Possibly also the brother of Levi or Matthew, who is also son of Alphaeus.
Thaddaeus (Mk. 3:18); [10] Lebbaeus, called Thaddaeus (Matt. 10:3); [11] Judas, brother of James (Lk. 6:16) [11] Judas (Acts 1:13).
Simon the Canaanite (Mk. 3:18); [11] Simon the Canaanite (Matt. 10:4); [10] Simon the Zealot (Lk. 6:15); [10] Simon the Zealot (Acts 1:13).
Judas Iscariot (Mk. 3:19); [12] Judas Iscariot (Matt. 10:4); [12] Judas Iscariot (Lk. 6:16). Matthias replaced this Judas (Acts 1:26).
And last of all, Paul, as one untimely born (1 Cor. 15:8-9).
After the Lord called the Twelve, they retired to a house (v. 19). But the crowd was not so easily dissuaded, and they converged on the house to such an extent that our Lord and the disciples were not even able to eat in peace (v. 20). At this juncture, certain friends of the Lord (the term is ambiguous) came to fetch Him, because the whole situation was rapidly spinning out of control (v. 21). Christ had to be out of His mind. This incident begins a different kind of opposition to Christ; the opposition of dismissal. First, His friends. Then His enemies, in the section coming up, said He had a demon. And then, lastly, His family, mother included, came to talk to Him.
The world understands zeal in most areas of life. Pursue anything you want, with all your heart if you like. Money, sex, power, influence, comfort, and the world will applaud your dedication. But do this in the name of the Lord of hosts and you are a serious head case. Take note, that a servant is not greater than His master. You are not greater, and thus exempt from the consequences of zeal. But neither are you exempted from the zeal.