With Jesus

Mark 3:6-19

6Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. 7Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. 8When they heard all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. 9Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. 10For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. 11Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." 12But he gave them strict orders not to tell who he was.

The Appointing of the Twelve Apostles

13Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14He appointed twelve—designating them apostles that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15and to have authority to drive out demons. 16These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); 18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

INTRODUCTION

Jesus reaches peak of his popularity

When Jesus went out in public you have to keep in mind that Tyre and Sidon is about 100 miles from Judea, Jerusalem.

So now we are talking Jesus came from 100 miles around.

Judah and Jerusalem were Jewish providence

Tyre and Sidon were Gentile Providence

While Idumea was multi ethic providence

Jesus popularity cuts across all racial barriers.

And the crowds are dangerously dense and gathered all around. When the scripture says “they were pushing forward” these are word meaning violently trampled.

How does Jesus respond to this popularity?

Jesus goes up to the Mountain top and began naming and renaming people.

What does that mean?

I think it means very significant.

Today we are going to learn, how Christ transforms people and change people’s lives

In Jesus, we learn that we receive a new name how we receive a new and why we receive a new name.

I. We receive a new name

Verse 14-15

14He appointed twelve—designating them apostles that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15and to have authority to drive out demons

designating = this a Greek work for noman where we get the English word “name”

He named them, and he said you are the sent one.

He rename Simon = Peter and names and rename the disciples.

What does that mean?

In ancient time, names were extremely important.

And naming was act of great importance and power.

Your name was to convey the essence of who you were.

If you went through great change in life you had to change your name.

If you were a great person you had multiple names.

Ok that was back then today’s names don’t mean anything like that…

Oh really,

Do you realize how many millions of dollar in America hiring consulted to name the business or the product?

Not just company and products but people too.

For example why

Demetra Guiness become Demi Moore?

Gorden Matthew Summner become Sting?

Marian Michael Morrison become John Wyhan? (Because you cannot have a cowboy name Marian)

Because they could not reinvent themselves without changing their name.

Because changing your name has power.

Illustration: For example if a parent brings home a little kitten for their daughter. Here is what you need to do, Honey you name the kitten. If you have your child name the kitten the child will sense a responsibility.

Even in Genesis, Naming was always an act of authority. When you name something you sense reasonability.

So naming has a shaping power.

Having said all that.. Ultimately when human being names something it has limit in its power.

Illustration: Over the years the parents have tried so hard to name their children strong and beautiful name in hope that they will grow up to be strong and beautiful and very often they don’t.

This remind us tha human being has a very limit but with God it is very different.

When you go back to Genesis, you don’t see God snapping things with his fingered to bring things about.

You don’t see God thinking thing to bring things about.

Rather you see God naming thing into existence with His omnipotent words.

God name things into existence.

He does not say let there be light and go and make the light rather he says let there be light and there was light.

What does that mean? The naming creates the reality.

God naming has creative power.

When we name we describe the nature of the things we are naming

When God names he determines the nature of the things he names.

When Jesus names he determines the nature of the things he name.

NOW…

Verse 14 says he named and appointed the twelve.

And this is a English word which mean created.

So Jesus created the twelve.

It’s a Greek word used to describe an artist creating a work of art.

He made them 12..

In other words he did not look at the 12 and said these guys have it takes to be an apostle.

NO…

He gave them what it took to be an apostle. (What an encouraging to know this….)

You see when he called me, he did not say, well you know James will do well in ministry. He has the looks, the talent, the voice…

Of course not… He created in me my ability to serve the King.

Jesus’ naming has that power.

So here is the thing,,,

No matter how ugly you may think you are.. When Jesus names you beautiful. You are beautiful.

His name imparts the beauty

If you are week and he names you strong… And he will, you are strong.

Illustration: If Jesus has the power to create the world out of darkness and nothing.. How much more will he not create by naming his servant for the ministry?

You know what that means?

Who are you? What is your identity?

Everyone has some working model to achieving an identity.

Everyone needs an identity a sense of self.

There’s something in us that makes us have distinct value in us that we are constantly searching for an identity.

Now how are you getting that?

Some cultures we find our identity in family. That’s why we have names like Johnson, Isakson. Anderson, Swanson… that’s all sons…

Other culture distant vault through their jobs..

We have smiths, bakers, Fisher

But whatever names you owns you…

Here is what I mean…

In Luke 16, there is all famous parable about the rich man and lazarious. Its about a rich man and a poor man name lazrious…

For many years I never knew why only one of the character is named. When Jesus told a parable either they were all named or no one was named.

Like the parable of the prodigal son. There is the father, older son and the younger son.

Why does the rich man not named. I think the answer is this. If you get your identity from wealth. If you said I am somebody and get your identity from money all your identity is found in wealth.

Either you’re a rich man or nothing.

What ever names you owns you and if you lose those things there is no you left.

Jesus says there is another way… I CAN NAME YOU.

And if I give you a name you have a name indeed. That can handle poverty. That can handle love and betrayal.

Illustration: Why is it that so many people are broken and shattered when their relationship is broken? When they loose all their money? Because their identity was I n riches. When Jesus names you it never fails.

John 10, Jesus says I am a good shepherd and I know you by your name.

Revelation 2:17 jesus says, “To him who overcomes, I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.”

Eph. 2:10

10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

There is the word again created..

The word “workmanship” is Greek word poama where we get the English word Poem.

You are a work of Art

A work of Art is valuable, beautiful and most important of all it is an expression of inner vision of the artist.

AND that’s you.

And you have been made and named and created.

Jesus said, that’s where we need to base our identity.

I can give you unique purpose…

HOW DO WE RECEIVE THAT NEW NAME?

14He appointed twelve—designating them apostles that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15and to have authority to drive out demons. 16These are the twelve he appointed:

Illustration: Peter already has his name the ROCK. He was least rocky of all the disciples. It took peter all his life to understand and grow into his new name.

The way you get this identity is by participating in these three process.

1. Send (Serving)

2. Twelve (Community)

3. With (Intimacy)

I. Send (Serving)

Jesus sends them out to preach the word and cast out demons.

1. He is sending people to liberate people.

2. To serve people in word and deed

That is what every Christ follower is to do.

What does that got to do with identity?

Everything… Jesus says “You have to loose yourself to find yourself”

If you try to find yourself you will never find yourself.

Instead of trying to find out who you are serve others.

Pour yourself out for other people and you will get yourself.

Only when you serve others you find out what you are good and what your not good at. Its an important way of understanding your gifting.

You see its people who say, “You know, I don’t really know my gift.” Its because you have not tried to go out of the box and serve.

If you just serve yourself your identity is formed out of self-needs rather the needs of the kingdom.

Illustration: Most of us are too busy building our portfolio and classes for their future. Why? To built our identity. And if we are too busy to serve you will never find out what is written in that white stone.

It is in serving you find out who you are not in classes.

“He who finds himself looses himself and he who looses himself finds himself.”

II. TWELVE (Community)

When Jesus went up to the mountain he did not take 6 or 8 but 12.

It parallels when Jesus went up to the mountain and called the 12 tribe into a new nation.

What Jesus is saying I am creating a new community.

In that community and only in community you will find out who you are.

Illustration: People who hear their voice they hate it. WHY? Because you are too close to yourself to know what you really sound like. Because you don’t really hear your voice through your ears. You hear your voice through the bone in your neck. And as a result your own voice sound a lot more Richer and deeper to yourself then what others hear.

So when you hear recording of yourself. That’s why your voice sounds so thin.

You have no idea what you sound like or by definition, the most character flaw that most hurt you are the ones you are in denial about.

They are the one you don’t see.

You have no idea unless you are in a community where you give permission to people who love you enough to tell you your faults.

Only through community the mess you are and go to Jesus..

III. With (Intimacy)

It says verse 14, he appointed 12 that they might be WITH him.

That’s the language of intimacay.

He does not appoint them to meet with him from 12- 8. Rather a relationship.

If you never with Jesus in intimacy you will never receive your name.

Bible says, He writes our name on palm of his hand.