Come and Follow Me

Mark 3:7-19a

In the Gospels, we see Jesus meeting and ministering to people – often to crowds of people at the edge of the sea. He taught, He healed and He even called some of the disciples in this location. In this passage we witness a large number of people desperate for him to meet their needs. Can’t you hear them calling his name and pleading their case? The crowds were closing in, so Jesus heads to the mountains – a place we often find him when he needs relief from so many demands. Often, he chose this place to pray, and Jesus had realized that the time would soon come when he would turn to Jerusalem and to the cross. Though he had many followers, he knew that he also needed to single out some that would become part of his inner circle and who would continue his work.

The gospels do not agree on the names of the twelve. In Luke 6:13-16 the list includes Judas, son of James and Judas Iscariot, but there is no mention of Thaddaeus. Matthew 10:2-4 and Mark 3:16-19 names the twelve and Thaddaeus is included in this list. The chosen twelve were given authority to preach, heal and to cast out demons, the work that Jesus was entrusting them with after his death.

Most importantly, we read in the book of Acts that their future work was to guide the churches. The twelve disciples were chosen to become the representatives of the twelve tribes of Israel, and they were being commissioned on the mountain to carry the New Covenant to the world. Through the years to the present time, we too are being called as his chosen followers to lead others to Him, and to share his message of love to all the world. Sally, James, Mark, Jane, Peter . . . . Do you hear him calling your name to “Come and follow me?” What has been or will be your response?

Written by Jeannie Hamrick