Mark 3:13-19: a reflection

13He went up into the mountain and called to himself those whom he wanted, and they went to him. 14He appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach 15and to have authority to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: 16Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 17James the son of Zebedee; and John, the brother of James, (whom he called Boanerges, which means, Sons of Thunder); 18Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot; 19and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. Then he came into a house.

When Jesus appoints the twelve apostles, the first purpose named is not their work but their being with him. He appointed twelve, the account says, that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach. Before the sending out, before the preaching and the casting out of demons, comes this: that they might be with him. The first calling of the apostles was to be with Jesus; the being with him came before, and was the ground of, the doing for him. Their work would flow out of their being with Christ. This orders things rightly: being with Christ comes first, before the work we do for him. Being with Christ comes before working for him. The first calling is to be with Jesus, then to be sent. Our doing for Christ flows from being with him. To be with Christ comes before doing for him.

Notice the order of purposes in the appointing of the twelve: that they might be with him, and then that he might send them out. The being with Jesus comes first. Before they were sent to preach, before they were given authority to heal and cast out demons, they were called simply to be with him, in his company, learning from him, sharing his life. Their work of preaching and healing would flow out of this being with Christ; it was the ground and source of all they would do for him. This orders our own discipleship rightly. We can be so focused on the work we do for Christ, the serving, the doing, the activity, that we neglect the first and deeper calling: to be with him. But being with Christ comes first. Our doing for him is meant to flow from our being with him, from time in his company, from communion with him, not to replace it. When we let the doing crowd out the being with Christ, we lose the source. To be with Christ is the first calling, from which our work flows. Do not let doing for Christ crowd out being with him. The work for Christ flows from communion with him. Being with Christ is first; the sending follows.

That is worth taking to heart, for being with Christ comes first, before the work we do for him, and our doing flows from our being with him. We can be so focused on serving and doing for Christ that we neglect the first calling, to be with him; but Jesus appointed the twelve first that they might be with him, and then that he might send them out. The being with Christ is the ground of the doing. Do not let your work for Christ crowd out being with him; give first place to being with Christ, and let your doing flow from it. Give first place to being with Christ, from which your work for him flows, rather than letting the doing crowd out the being with him, for when Jesus appointed the twelve apostles the first purpose named was that they might be with him, and only then that he might send them out to preach and to heal; for the being with Jesus came before, and was the ground of, all they would do for him, their work of preaching and healing flowing out of their communion with him, so that we order our own discipleship rightly when we give first place to being with Christ, in his company and communion, letting our doing for him flow from our being with him rather than letting the serving and activity crowd out the deeper calling to be with him, from which alone the work draws its source.

Lord Jesus, when you appoint the twelve apostles, the first purpose named is not their work but their being with you. He appointed twelve, the account says, that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach. Before the sending out, before the preaching and the casting out of demons, comes this: that they might be with him. The first calling of the apostles was to be with you; the being with you came before, and was the ground of, the doing for you. Their work would flow out of their being with you. This orders things rightly: being with you comes first, before the work we do for you. Show me the order of purposes in the appointing of the twelve: that they might be with you, and then that you might send them out. The being with you comes first. Before they were sent to preach, before they were given authority to heal, they were called simply to be with you, in your company, learning from you, sharing your life. Their work would flow out of this being with you. This orders my own discipleship rightly. I can be so focused on the work I do for you, the serving, the doing, the activity, that I neglect the first and deeper calling: to be with you. But being with you comes first. My doing for you is meant to flow from my being with you, from time in your company, not to replace it. When I let the doing crowd out the being with you, I lose the source. Take that to my heart, for being with you comes first, before the work I do for you. Keep me from letting my work for you crowd out being with you; help me give first place to being with you, Lord, in your company and communion, and let my doing for you flow from my being with you, rather than letting the serving and activity crowd out the deeper calling to be with you.