Mind Meld of A Different Kind

MARK 3:13-19

Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, giving them authority to cast out demons. These are the twelve he chose:
Simon (whom he named Peter)
James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”)
Andrew
Philip

Bartholomew
Matthew
Thomas
James (son of Alphaeus)
Thaddaeus
Simon (the zealot)
Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him)

Flawed Spiritual Leaders

Jesus never intended to accomplish his mission by himself. So he shared his authority to preach and cast out demons with these twelve. And an interesting group they were.

They were among a larger number of other disciples who also followed Jesus, but who were not apostles. The twelve likely included some cousins of Jesus. All, except possibly one, were from Galilee, so Jesus may well have known them for some time. The group spanned the spectrums of personality, politics, and religious sects within Judaism. To the man, each expected the Messiah to set up an earthly and political kingdom their lifetime. They knew the prophecy well, “And the government shall be on his shoulders.”

The character of this group is what captures my attention today. They do not quite fit the mold we have crafted for spiritual leaders. The Gospels reveal a group with a tendency toward in-fighting. They tended toward the spiritually dull side. Peter spoke before he engaged his brain while James and John would weigh into any subject with thunderous verbosity! And these were Jesus’ three key disciples!

I wonder if anyone ever watched the group and chuckled at Jesus’ inability to choose people with any hope of leading a great spiritual movement. Read the story of Christianity, and one must wonder about his selection of leaders over the span of 2000 years! Sure there are amazing exceptions. But for the most part, leaders of the church have possessed an extra dose of fallen humanity.

One could become cynical, except that, if we look at the whole picture of Christianity’s positive influence in the world, we cannot help but stand back in awe.

Some of us doubt whether or not God could use us, we are so keenly aware of our fallenness. Some of us grow frustrated with those in leadership who just don’t seem to measure up to what spiritual leaders are supposed to be. Their fallenness gnaws at us. Today is a good time to remember that, from the beginning, Jesus chose those we wouldn’t place on a spiritual pedestal to lead his movement.

Sovereign Lord, I like to play armchair coach and tell you what kind of people you should choose to be on your leadership team. Forgive me. Instead of blathering on in my armchair, I’m getting up and offering myself to you. Use me as you see fit. I know how human I am, and I see how human other Christians are, but I’ll join with them and do whatever you have for us to do. Warts and all, like the inner circle of three, the circle of 12 apostles, and the larger unnamed group, I am available to you.