Mark 3:7-19

Raising children, teaching students, or molding the minds of young people in any positive capacity can present the most enjoyable, yet challenging experiences. Parents set good examples for their children to follow, so that when their time comes to be responsible, they’ll be prepared to face adulthood with the necessary tools required to be prosperous in life. In the same sense, good teachers take pride in shaping the minds of their students, in order that they become equipped to face life’s challenges, and use the knowledge they acquire, to become successful. Unfortunately, parenting and teaching are two of the most unappreciated and undervalued virtues in this life. Good parents get labeled as strict and mean for preferring the safety and wellbeing of their children, over trying to be their best friend, and good teachers are criticized for pushing their students to rise above mediocrity, and do their best. The time will come when children will grow up, and students will graduate, and what was instilled in them will be presented with the inevitable challenges of life. A few knicks and bruises from stumbling in the real world, will send a reminder to those who felt they were pushed too hard by teachers, or sheltered by parents, and will humble them to a point where they’d wish they had embraced those teachings more back then.

Our text presents a similar situation where the disciples who were handpicked to study under Jesus’ wing, would soon be ordained to spread their own wings and share the Gospel under the power and authority of their teacher. These twelve men were witnesses of the sinless life Jesus lived, as well as partakers in His miraculous healing, deliverance, and restoration missions. I think it’s safe to assume that the disciple’s ordination came at the most appropriate time, when they were aware of most things involved in following after Christ, and immediately after Jesus felt the immense pressure of multitudes of hurting people pressing hard just to touch Him, so that they could be healed. Placing His power in those He taught and trained, would allow for Jesus to shy away from the spotlight a bit, as it was mentioned in verse twelve, “And he straightly charged them that they should not make him known. Stick a pin in that thought for a moment. Jesus, the only begotten Son of the omnipotent God of all creation, left Heaven, came to earth to die for the sins of men, yet refused to be made known among the earth. How many “preachers” do you know off the top of your head, whose names are known around the globe? I’d bet anyone three dollars and my new box of toothpaste that everyone reading this came up with about five names in less than a minute. Why do Christians want to be so popular on this earth, when we were commissioned to walk in humility? We see the faces of pastors and leaders on book covers, magazines, and always appearing on television shows. We are to walk in the light and knowledge of God’s Word, and not in the spotlight of wicked and selfish men. Now don’t judge my words prematurely, as I commend those who are on platforms, and are using it effectively for the kingdom of God, but to those who want to be relevant by the world’s standard, I shake my head at you, and pray you change before this world consumes you. Notice, that none of the disciples promoted themselves, but were elevated by Jesus, who obviously felt they were ready for such responsibility.

Ok, unpin that pin, and I’ll leave you with these two scriptures: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6).

Walk in love,

Ell