Sermon #11                                                               Series: Mark

 

          Title:           THE FIRST TWELVE PREACHERS

          Text:           Mark 3:13-21

          Readings:  Office: Mark Henson Auditorium: Bobbie Estes

          Subject:     The Calling of the Lord’s Apostles

          Date:          Sunday Evening - February 16, 1997

          Tape #       T-41

 

          Introduction:

 

          The passage before us tonight describes the calling of the twelve Apostles by our Lord Jesus Christ. This is an event which ought to always be remembered and studied with deep gratitude. No twelve men in history have been so important as these twelve. Noone have done so much good. None have been of such benefit to us.

 

J.C. Ryle wrote, “What a vast amount of benefit these few men have conferred upon the world! The names of a few Jewish fishermen are known and lived by millions all over the globe, while the names of many kings and rich men are lost and forgotten.”

 

          It is not the mighty, the wealthy, or even the worldly wise who are remembered by men. Few people remember doctors, lawyers, educators, or even politicians, once their time of sparkle and glitter is gone. Fewer still remember the most famous of athletes or highly decorated war heroes. But here are twelve humble, righteous men whose memory shall stand forever. They died nearly two thousand years ago; but their names are known the world over. Their names are household words around the world. If you young people are looking for role models, I suggest you pay attention. I set before you tonight the story of these twelve men (Mark 3:13-21).

 

(Mark 3:13-21)  "And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. {14} And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, {15} And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: {16} And Simon he surnamed Peter; {17} And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: {18} And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, {19} And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house. {20} And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. {21} And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself."

 

          These apostles were a special order of men. The apostolic office was in existence for only a very brief period of time, during which the canon of Holy Scripture was completed. They had distinct gifts of healing, tongues, and inspiration, which no one has possessed since. In short, the apostles were men specifically chosen, gifted and ordained by our Lord to preach during the earliest days of Christianity and to write the New Testament, explaining by Divine inspiration the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. They had no successors. When they died, their office died. And when the Apostles died, all the gifts and signs accompanying apostleship died as well.

 

          Yet these men are held before us as patterns and examples of what is required and what is to be expected of those men who are called of God to preach the gospel of his free and sovereign grace in Christ. It is my intention to use them in just that way. It would be of no benefit to your souls for me to stand here and talk to you about an office that no longer exists. But it will, if blessed of God, be of great benefit to your souls for me to tell you who these men were, what the Lord did for them, and what they by the power and grace of God for others as The First Twelve Preachers of this gospel age.

 

Proposition:      Here the Holy Spirit shows us by example how preachers are made, what they must do, and what may be reasonably expected from them.

 

Divisions:           As we look at these verses together I will divide the passage into three parts.

 

1.   Christ’s Choice (vv. 13-19).

2.   Constant Crowds (v. 20).

3.   Confused Concern (v. 21).

 

I.      The bulk of our time will be spent on the first point precisely because the bulk of our text deals with Christ’s Choice.

 

Mark 3:13-19  "And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. (14) And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, (15) And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: (16) And Simon he surnamed Peter; (17) And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: (18) And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, (19) And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house."

 

          It is a sad commentary upon our deluded society that  should have to call your attention to the fact that the Apostle, these first twelve preachers were all men. There is not a woman named among them. That is not an accident. God never called any woman to be a preacher. I’ll go a step further. They can call it sexism, chauvinism, or anything else they like. I really could not care less what they like or dislike. But I am here to tell you that a preaching woman is an abomination! God never called a woman to be a preacher or a missionary. Women are commanded of God to keep silence in the churches, never to teach or usurp authority over a man, and to learn in subjection. I cannot think of anything more obnoxious than effeminate men, except pushy, domineering women; and among them none are so abhorrent as female preachers!

 

A.  Having said that, let me show you seven things about those men who are called and gifted of God to preach the gospel of his free and sovereign grace in Christ.

 

          What I am going to say here applies to every man who is called of God. It matters not where he was educated, what his denominational affiliation is, or what his physical appearance is. If a man is called of God to the worked of the gospel ministry, he must be like these first preachers in these seven areas. Those who are called of God to peach the gospel are all…

 

1.   Converted Men.

 

          I know that Judas was not a converted man. And I know that our Lord Jesus knew Judas was unconverted. I will deal with those things later. But Judas professed to be a converted man, as well as Peter, James, and John. That is the important point here. A call to the ministry is always preceded by a call to discipleship. You cannot lead men to follow Christ unless you are a follower of Christ.

 

          We must never attempt to raise men up for the ministry. We must never entice young men to dedicate themselves to the work of the ministry by glamorizing it. It is our responsibility to simply preach the gospel, pray for God to make it effectual, pray for him to send forth laborers into his vineyard, and wait for him to work. As soon as we start glamorizing the work, and start trying to get men to go into the ministry, we will send men who are not called of God, (That would be disastrous!), and worse than that, we would send men who are not even converted!

 

          An unconverted man is as unfit for the ministry as an elephant is for flying. How can he talk about grace he has never tasted that the Lord is gracious? How can he point sinners to the Savior who does not know the Savior? How can he urge sinners to flee to Christ who has not fled to Christ himself?

 

          No one does so much injury to the cause of Christ as lost, unconverted preachers. They promote infidelity. They are co-laborers with the evil. And they are an offense to God!

 

2.   Chosen Men.

 

          The Lord called to him “whom he would!” He did not call the tallest, handsomest, smartest, most appealing, or most eloquent. The longer I live the more I think old Bro. B.B. Caldwell was right when he told a bunch of Bible college boys, “God never called a pretty boy to be a preacher!”

 

          Gospel preachers are not chosen by us or even as we would choose them. The Lord Jesus calls to him whom he will!

 

3.   Called Men.

 

          First, they are chosen. Then they are called. And all who are called by our God to preach the gospel are found preaching the gospel. The call of our God is always effectual. Those whom he has chosen as his messengers he makes willing to be his messengers.

 

          This is also a picture of our Lord’s effectual, irresistible grace in salvation. All the chosen are at God’s appointed time called. And all the called are made willing in the day of the power of his grace. Do not ever imagine that God’s work is vain! God’s works are always effectual. God almighty never tried to do anything!

 

·        God’s Election is Effectual Election.

·        Christ’s Atonement is Effectual Atonement.

·        The Spirit’s Call is an Effectual Call.

 

4.   Communing Men.

 

          Mark tells us in verse fourteen that these men were called to him “that they should be with him.” Like the Apostle, faithful gospel preachers live with the Son of God, has fellowship with him, abides with him, and like Mary sits at his feet to hear his word. As these men went up into the mountain of prayer with Christ and went home with Christ, God’s servants must live at home with the Son of God in prayer, ever thinking of his Spirit, walking in his steps, studying him, copying him, so that when he steps into the pulpit, he can honestly say what John said to the saints in his day.

 

1 John 1:1-3  "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (2) (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) (3) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."

 

5.   Consecrated Men.

 

          These were men who literally left all and followed Christ! They were not self-serving merchandisers of men’s souls. These men were the servants of men. They served the souls of men. Look at verse twenty for just a second.

 

Mark 3:20  "And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread."

 

While there was work to be done and opportunity to do it, for the good of men and the glory of God, these men did not stop to eat.

 

          “They whose hearts are enlarged in the work of God, can easily bear with inconveniences to themselves in the prosecution of it.”                                                            Matthew Henry

 

6.   Caring Men.

 

          In verse fifteen we are told that these men were given “power to heal sicknesses and to cast out devils.”

 

          And that which the Lord gave them the power to do they did with all their might. You can mark this down. It applies to anything and everything. It is particularly applicable to the work of the ministry. Consecrated men are caring men; and caring men, truly caring men, are consecrated men.

 

7.   Commissioned Men.

 

          Look at verse fourteen again.  "And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,"

         

          All who are called of God into the work of the gospel ministry are first and foremost preachers, gospel preachers! They are not counselors, baby sitters, social workers, or denominational promoters God’s servants are preachers, faithful, gospel preachers.

 

          Nothing in all the world is more utterly useless than a pastor who wastes his time on other things. Such a man is as useless as a lighthouse without a light, a sleeping watchman, or a painted fire.

 

Romans 1:15-17  "So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. (16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (17) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

 

1 Corinthians 9:16  "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!"

 

2 Corinthians 5:18-21  "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

 

B. What should we expect to find among gospel preachers; and what should we expect from them?

 

          I am not talking now about Arminians, free willers, and work mongers. I am talking about gospel preachers. Among those who are doctrinally orthodox preachers, we can expect to find…

 

1.   A steady, steadfast, rock of strength, faithfulness, and courage, like Peter, who will sometimes be very disappointing.

 

2.   Some bold, courageous sons of thunder like James and John, who will sometimes seek to promote their own interests above others.

 

3.   A Thomas who is willing to go with Christ to Jerusalem to die with him, who will sometimes be weak and doubtful.

 

4.   An occasional Bartholomew (Nathaniel) in whom there is no guile.

 

5.   A whole lot of faithful Matthews, Andrews, Philips, James, and Simon Somebody or Other, about whom very little is known, without whom much would be lost.

 

6.   You will even find an occasional self-serving Judas, who will give the enemies of God occasion to blaspheme.

 

          Have you ever wondered, “Why did the Lord pick Judas and put him among the Apostles?” I have. Let me tell you a least part of the reason why he did it.

 

·        To Fulfil the Purpose of God.

·        To Fulfil the Old Testament Prophecies.

·        To Bring on His Death for the Redemption of Our Souls

·        To Set a Stumbling Block before the Unbelieving.

 

          Judas was not something that was out of God’s plan and purpose. He was as much a part of God’s purpose as Peter or Paul. And notice this, too: When Judas was gone, no harm had been done. His betrayal of the Master and his suicide simply made room for the Apostle to the Gentiles to step into place at precisely the time God had ordained.

 

II.   Secondly, in verse twenty, Mark directs our attention once more to the Constant Crowds ever pressing around our Redeemer.

 

Mark 3:20  "And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread."

 

          I have often read and heard statements like this - “Whenever the gospel is preached in power sinners are converted.” I challenge you to square that with the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was a perfect preacher. He never had to pause and look for words. He never had to think of an illustration. He always preached with power. More than that, he healed multitudes, performed, miracles, and even raised the dead. Yet very, very few were converted under his ministry. Multitudes heard his words and felt the power of his words as he preached; but few heard his message and believed him.

 

A.  Powerful preaching does not always produce conversions.

 

B. Great crowds do not always, or even usually, imply that sinners are being saved.

 

C. It is our responsibility to prayerfully and faithfully preach the gospel to eternity bound sinners, and leave the results entirely in his sovereign purpose of grace.

 

III. Thirdly, the Holy Spirit directs our attention to some of our Lords family and friends who acted like Confused Cowards.

 

Mark 3:21  "And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself."

 

          These friends were his kinsmen. They were members of his family, relatives, who were embarrassed by his gospel and his devotion, and were scared to death of what the Scribes and Pharisees might think of them because of him.

 

          There is nothing here that should be of any surprise to anyone. The prophet who came to anoint Jehu as called a “mad fellow” (2 Kings 9:11). Festus told Paul that he was a madman. I can think of very little that more fully displays the corruption of the human nature than man’s utter inability to understand devotion and consecration to God.

 

          If a person is a loyal fan for a ball team, he is honored for his fanaticism. If a man is zealous about money, science, business, sports, or even war, he is applauded as a man of discipline. If he injures his own health because of his consuming passion in any of these areas, he is admired for his sacrifice. But zeal for Christ, devotion to the glory of God, the consecration of a redeemed sinner saved by grace to his God and Savior is looked upon by the wiseacres of the world as a sign of a weak mind! The world has not changed. The things of the Spirit are now, as they always have been and always will be, foolishness to the natural man (1 Cor. 2:14).

 

Illustration: My conversation with Ed Sturgess

 

Application:

 

          Let me say just two things by way of application, and I will be done.

 

1.   When you have to drink the bitter cup of being misunderstood and misrepresented by family and friends who do not know God, do not allow their folly to shake your faith or cause you to turn on them in retaliation.

 

2.   I remind you once more that there is no greater burden and no more awesome responsibility in the world than the work of preaching the gospel. Those who faithfully labor to preach the gospel need our prayers constantly. No wonder Paul says so often, “Brethren, pray for us!”