Mark 3:13-19 Sermon Notes
THE NEW ISRAEL
Mark 3:13-19
(February 20, 2005, Sermon Notes)
Up to this point, Jesus has been working alone, followed by His disciples. Now, however, He reconstitutes His kingdom and calls twelve men to be leaders in it.
THE MOUNTAIN (3:13)
When Mark tells us that Jesus “went up on the mountain,” he isn’t just sketching the scenery. There is a reason for Jesus’ location when He chooses the twelve, a reason rooted in the history of biblical symbolism.
Eden was on a mountain. From it a river flowed to the Garden and then branched into four rivers (Gen. 2:10). Adam would follow those rivers to the four corners of the earth, subduing the world to God’s glory.
Adam was banished from the Garden. But God promised to restore men to His holy mountain. The Temple was built on Mount Moriah and was full of garden imagery. In the temple was a bronze sea with twelve chariots of water (1 Kgs 7), a sign that the water would flow from God’s holy mountain viaa renewed Israel (twelve tribes) to the world again (Ezek. 47).
Jesus is God’s son, the new Adam, and He ascends the mountain. He is not banished from God’s presence as others are, and He calls and restores others to fellowship with God. But He also sends them out. Through the twelve disciples, the river of life will flow to Israel and the world.
God also established His covenant with Israel and formed her into a nation on a mountain. Jesus withdrew from the new Pharaoahs, the Pharisees, to the sea (3:7). Now He goes up a mountain to form a new Israel. He is Yahweh, who calls whomever He wants. And when He calls they come. His Word creates faith and draws men to Himself.
THE TWELVE (3:14-19)
Jesus calls twelve men to be His special representatives. There were twelve tribes in Israel, and these twelve will be the foundation of a new Israel. To be part of the new Israel which will inherit the kingdom, you must come to Jesus and build on the foundation of these twelve apostles.
The disciples will first be with Jesus, to learn who He is. Then, He will send them out with His authority to do His works, healing the sick and casting out demons. The church still preaches and works with that authority so that people are healed (James 5:13-15) and freed from Satan’s power.
Like David (2 Sam. 23), Jesus has three special “mighty men,” though unlike David Jesus will have to die for them. He gives them names indicating what they will become: Simon will be a foundation Rock (“Peter”); James and John will speak with thunder like their Father (Ps. 104:7; Jn. 12:29).
The last disciple named is Judas, “who betrayed Him.” The new Israel isn’t better than the old. One of Jesus’ own people will betray Him. But that betrayal will carry out Jesus’ plans. By His betrayal, death, and resurrection He will form a new and faithful Israel and extend His salvation to the world.