Reflecting on Mark 3:13-19“He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out.” (Mark 3:14)
As a Jesus follower, I am also appointed like the twelve.
These twelve were representatives for the many to follow.
Like the twelve tribes of Israel, they represent the whole group.
After sending out the twelve, Jesus sends out 72 more (Luke 9:1; 10:1).
These twelve and all who follow also represent Jesus.
As the Father sent Jesus, Jesus sends them to continue His work (John 21:21).
This includes you, and me, and all Jesus followers.
There are two sides to this role: to be with Him, and to be sent by Him.
They spend time WITH Jesus to become LIKE Him, so they can go out FOR Him.
Again, this applies to all of us: we are called to live WITH, LIKE and FOR Jesus.
They were WITH Jesus is a unique way, for He was physically present.
But when Jesus ascends, He promises to remain WITH them always (Matthew 28:20).
He promises that both He and the Father will dwell with them (John 14:23).
This will be through the Spirit, Who will keep on training them (John 14:25-26).
The Spirit of Jesus and God is in and with us, and we are with them.
How do you experience the spiritual presence of God and Jesus?
Can You sense of feel their presence in You, speaking to or strengthening you?
Do you take time apart to be with them, to be quiet and attentive?
The noise of busyness of life can present us from sensing their presence.
And if we are not present to them, will we sense their presence with us?
The Spirit presence is a fact: God and Jesus are with us, we are with them!
Whether we feel or sense it or not, it is real and true.
I find taking time for solitude, silence and stillness helpful.
It is hard at first, but ‘being still’ can slowly become ‘being with’.
I close my eyes, breathe deep and slowly, release the tension… and just be.
It takes a while to slow my mind down, and my body is restless for a while.
But this is training time, it does take time and practice.
These times with Jesus are where we experience the fruit of the Spirit.
God’s love, joy, peace, etc. settle over us, and slowly remake us.
The Spirit equips us for each day, for what we say and what we do.
Our words reflect love, joy and peace, and others sense it more.
The demons of anger, fear, pride and lust are overcome by this fruit.
We are living out of a calm, solid center, and not out of chaos.
With Jesus, inner calm replaces the inner chaos, and it starts to show.
The fruit of the Spirit is NOT something we do.
It is something that slowly and steadily grows in us when we are WITH Jesus.
As we grow more and more LIKE Him, we can go FOR Him, to share Him with others.
One final note here: Judas was WITH Jesus, and Jesus was WITH Judas.
But though present, Judas was not fully WITH Jesus.
Though seeing, he did not really see; hearing, he did not hear.
It is possible that there are Jesus followers not present WITH Jesus.
Whatever they are present with in their hearts will shape them.
Judas was focused on money, and eventually that came out in his betrayal.
Many people say ‘Lord, Lord’, but are they truly WITH Jesus?
This is not a judgment, this is a gentle encouragement.
Following Jesus starts with being WITH Jesus.
We cannot grow LIKE Him, or go our FOR Him, if we do not start WITH Him.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You are WITH me, and I am WITH You. Help me to take the time to develop this relationship WITH You, to enter into God's love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
May Your Spirit slowly and steadily transform my inner self so that I am more and more LIKE you, and can spread Your Spirit to others FOR You. Make me a channel of Your love, joy, peace...
To be more like Jesus. I need Thee every hour but during the activities of the day, how often do I talk to you or feel Your presence. I need to practice His presence in my daily living forJesus showing His love in my words and deeds becoming an instrument of His peace. I need to ask myself more often ‘Where did I see Christ this day?’ for others need to see Him in me.