Is Jesus Calling You?

 “But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: …and he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude…” Mark 3:7-9

Read Matthew 12:15-21; Mark 3:7-12; Luke 6:17-19

By this time in Jesus’ ministry, many people followed Him. Some to receive healing, some to hear His teaching, and some to find fault. Throughout the Gospels we read when certain disciples were called. Quite likely at this juncture in Christ’s ministry, all of the twelve knew of Him, probably even followed Him for a bit, and maybe even demonstrated a great yearning for His fellowship. 

Note the disciples mentioned in this passage in Mark were not limited to the twelve. The twelve may not have even known each other, outside of family and friend relationship they had before meeting Jesus. Perhaps they simply tested the waters. What did it mean to follow Jesus? Was this teacher really the Messiah or simply a great prophet? Was He someone they would give up everything to serve? Could they be a part of His ministry but continue with their normal lives? I wonder what they thought would be their future.

Jesus knew. Jesus knew who He’d choose to be an apostle (one of the twelve disciples) before the universe was made. He created them for that purpose. Yet, He also created them with a free will. So, in a sense, He wooed them to follow Him. From John the Baptist’s exclamations of who Jesus was, to the teachings, to the miracles, Jesus worked a stirring in the hearts of the men He would call into full time ministry.

The twelve were called to the mountain, they came, and they were ordained to preach the Gospel, heal sicknesses, and cast out devils.

Jesus often went to pray on a mountain. God gave Moses the ten commandments on a mountain, and in Mark 3:13-19, Jesus ordained the twelve men who would turn the world upside down with the Gospel. The moment was epic. The future both determined and unknown. The faith great, and yet, it would be tested and stretched and strengthened. Whatever they had thought their lives would be, it probably hadn’t been to be an apostle—a messenger of God to share the good news of the coming Kingdom of Heaven.

We also experience mountain top times when we spend time praying, feel the call of God, and accept the calling. Just ask a missionary, and likely they’ll have stories of how they prayed, heard, and accepted the calling of God on their lives.

While we’ll never be one of the twelve, we do have a calling to love God and love others. And when we love God and love others, we’ll share the Gospel when the Holy Spirit pricks our hearts to do so. We’ll put one foot ahead of the other when we’re not sure whether what we do even does any good. We’ll trust, even when the Lord is silent.

I imagine the twelve men were on an emotional and spiritual high that day. I imagine they had great hope and expectations. And I imagine they listened to Jesus’ teachings, opening their hearts but perhaps not fully understanding. Understanding would come when the Holy Spirit came to them in Acts 2.

And then, they went out and their message changed the lives of many and the course of history.

Have you felt the Lord drawing you, showing you through His Word, through circumstances, through His people, to serve Him in a way you never thought you could?

“Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:” Romans 1:6