Most of us in ministry dream of a getaway to do less “people things” with only those who live in our household to relax and just be with them for a while.  Most times we get the opportunity to do so.  It doesn’t have to be expensive, just going to a different location supplies new air to breathe with time to talk and listen to each other.  One of those times for our family was a camping trip planned after a long summer of ministry to many children and teens at various camps.  We longed to get away to be with just our three kids and enjoy the quiet of nature, a campfire, and listening to what they had to say.

We pull into the campground to find it is not crowded.  In fact, the camp space on either side of us was empty—score!  We set up camp together, smothered the fire we made, and got ready for our first night of peaceful sleep.  However, Randy and I woke up around midnight by the noises of campers moving in next to us.  It seems a “youth group” were moving in right next door, full of energy, and ready to socialize.  They weren’t obnoxious, just ready to party together in a good way.  The leaders built a fire, a couple of guitar players appeared and they group began singing Kumbaya in unison.  “Come by here, My Lord.”  We sighed.  Really, Lord?

Then Randy and I just laughed at the thought of a youth group following us there!  We can’t get away from teens!  I’m still smiling as I write this memory.  You can get away from the people you minister to for a bit, but God reminds us He is always with us no matter where we go.  We went back to sleep with that thought in mind.

Jesus attempts a getaway to seaside with His guys, but His popularity is too great.  Crowds are swarming from all the surrounding towns because everyone has heard about His miracles.  Everyone with an ailment pushes and shoves to touch the One who heals.

Mark 3, The Message

The Twelve Apostles

^7-10 Jesus went off with his disciples to the sea to get away. But a huge crowd from Galilee trailed after them—also from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, across the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon—swarms of people who had heard the reports and had come to see for themselves. He told his disciples to get a boat ready so he wouldn’t be trampled by the crowd. He had healed many people, and now everyone who had something wrong was pushing and shoving to get near and touch him.

^11-12 Evil spirits, when they recognized him, fell down and cried out, “You are the Son of God!” But Jesus would have none of it. He shut them up, forbidding them to identify him in public.

^13-19 He climbed a mountain and invited those he wanted with him. They climbed together. He settled on twelve, and designated them apostles. The plan was that they would be with him, and he would send them out to proclaim the Word and give them authority to banish demons. These are the Twelve:

Simon (Jesus later named him Peter, meaning “Rock”),

James, son of Zebedee,

John, brother of James (Jesus nicknamed the Zebedee brothers Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”),

Andrew,

Philip,

Bartholomew,

Matthew,

Thomas,

James, son of Alphaeus,

Thaddaeus,

Simon the Canaanite,

Judas Iscariot (who betrayed him).

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus, Master Teacher, teaches us how to teach and lead others in the midst of the clamoring crowd.  Even though the crowds press in to get what they want from Him, He set aside time to be with those who devoted themselves, gave all they had, just to be with Him and learn from Him.  Jesus invited them to join Him in His work and they felt honored to follow in obedience to Him.

Jesus chose The Twelve and immediately began to train them to do what He does.  He will teach them to pray, heal, help, and train others In His Name for the glory of God.  He will show them what real life is all about.  Because Jesus is “God in the flesh” as His Son, He will teach them the love of God by example.  He will teach them Kingdom of God thinking that is unlike how the world thinks. Through Him they will “be still, let go and know God.”  At this point, we might wonder what Judas is thinking?  We don’t know but Jesus does and He will work with those He has chosen and have decided to follow Him. 

Since Jesus died and rose again for our sins, we are all given the choice to follow Him—or not.  It is completely up to us to say yes to Jesus who sets us free from all our sins or to decline the offered gift of eternal life. 

Once we do say yes, God’s Holy Spirit moves into our being to teach us as Jesus taught His disciples.  Our minds change when we offer our lives to Him.  Our behaviors begin to change as we become more like the One we are learning from.  Jesus changes everything!  Our prayer life takes on new meaning and intimacy with God.  Our love begins to grow as His deep love for us takes root in our souls.

Our desires change.  What we once sought for ourselves alone changes to telling others about who Jesus is and what He can be for them when they say yes. 

Paul, trained later by these disciples trained by Jesus, explains this discipling process that goes on and on and on through generation after generation…

“…Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, NLT (Emphasis mine)

To be a disciple of Jesus Christ carries a great responsibility which is also a privilege—”Go and tell, and make disciples…!”  (See Matthew 28) and all we do must be done In Jesus Name for His Glory.  He is God and we are not.  Jesus saves, we point the way to Jesus.  God grows the seeds of loving discipleship He plants in us and through us to be planted in others. 

And the beat goes on…to the glorious rhythm of His grace!

God multiplies.  His math, His way.

Lord,

Thank you for these thoughts of how time away to learn from you is so important in our lives with you.  Thank you for showing us by example the gift of discipling others so they can also train others in your love and care.  Thank you for your gift of salvation to me.  Cleanse my heart, change my mind, feed my soul, and restore the joy of your salvation at work within me.  Remove all that offends you in me.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen