Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted
and they came to him.
Just as Moses went up a mountain to receive the law from God Jesus went up a mountain to set apart those whom he would use to convey the new law written, not on stone tablets, but on the heart. The disciples were thus intended to become living witnesses to the new law of grace. This reminds us of something Paul wrote to the church in Corinth.
You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts (see Second Corinthians 3:2-3).
Jesus appointed Twelve, just as Solomon governors over all of Israel (see First Kings 4:7) signifying that they were in some way to become rulers in the Kingdom which Jesus would establish. Jesus himself told them, "you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (see Matthew 19:28). This was something more than the general call to follow Jesus that was open to all. They were Apostles, his authorized representatives, about whom he could say, "The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me" (see Luke 10:16). There are a variety of reasons why we know that this structure was not intended only for the early church but would also persist in the successors of the Apostles, our bishops. Perhaps the most significant indication of this was the way that the disciples knew they must appoint someone to take the office of Judas, who had by then killed himself.
For it is written in the Book of Psalms:
‘Let his encampment become desolate,
and may no one dwell in it.’
And:
‘May another take his office (see Acts 1:20).
There was more to becoming an Apostle than simply being chosen. In order to be effective they would need to prioritize relationship with Jesus himself. He appointed them "that they might be with him" first and foremost, and only then be sent forth. It was from Jesus himself that they would learn to preach. From him they would receive a measure of his own authority over demons which they would understand how to use because they had witnessed him do so first. They were to go and do what they had first seen their master do. At the end of Mark we read that this is precisely what they continued to do after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus.
And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs (see Mark 16:20).
Though we are not Apostles (and most likely no bishops will ever come across this blog) we still share in some measure the call to proclaim the good news. We are not exorcists, but we have still been given a measure of the authority of Jesus, the power to live the new life of the Spirit rather than succumbing to the sinful inclinations of the old self. But to fulfill this call and put this authority to good use we too must begin with the basics, just as the Twelve did. We must "be with him", with Jesus himself.
By spending time with Jesus he will gradually and increasingly give us a heart like that of David, who bore hardships in humility rather than lashing out and trying to solve them through misguided human effort or violence. It may for a time be difficult to leave Saul alive and to live under his volatile reign. But if we persist in fidelity to the Lord he himself will bring about our eventual victory.
May the LORD reward you generously for what you have done this day.
And now, I know that you shall surely be king
and that sovereignty over Israel shall come into your possession.
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