In Mark 3, Jesus is overwhelmed. Verse 9 tells us that He has to retreat from land to boat just to escape the crush of the crowds who were coming to be healed by Him and to hear Him teach. In verses 13-19, Jesus appoints 12 to help in the work. He realizes that He cannot go it alone.
As I read Mark 3 and see Jesus appoint His disciples, the thing that strikes me is their job description. Note carefully in verses 14-15 what Jesus appointed His disciples to do. It says that Jesus appointed His disciples to be with Him, to preach, and to drive out demons. Don't miss that first part of the job description. I did the first time I read it. I heard that Jesus sent them to preach and to drive out demons (the very things He was doing). But I missed the first part of the description. Not only were the disciples called to preach and to liberate people from spiritual bondage, but they were also called to simply be with Jesus, to see what He was doing and to learn from Him.
It is important that being with Jesus came before the preaching and the liberating. Hearing and knowing Him is the vital precedent to all ministry. Yet, so often I have a busy ministry day ahead, and I think, "I don't have time for a quiet time. I have real work to do." That is so wrongheaded. Being with Jesus is the real work also. It is the thing out of which the work preaching and the liberating flow. Never forget that as a Christian ministry and life flow out of Jesus. The first part of being a disciple is spending time with Him, knowing His will and His way.
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