What do such callings look like? They are ordinary and everyday.
“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.” (Mark 3:13-19)
Jesus calls, and the callings of Jesus are always gifts. Jesus calls, but not all of his callings are the same. Today we hear about how Jesus calls his apostles, and it is a good opportunity for us to remind ourselves about the different ways Jesus calls his people and how those callings are incredible gifts.
The first call of Jesus is the call to faith. Jesus had already called his apostles to faith. They knew he was the Messiah who would save them. He called them to faith in the same way he calls you and me: through the gospel. We all enter this life as those who are dead in sin. We have no power to move toward Jesus. It will take a miracle to raise us from the death of trespasses and sin, so that is what Jesus does.
But what does that miracle look like? Words, ordinary words, words connected with splashes of water. But those ordinary words carry the promise and power of God. They announce: Christ for you! His righteousness counts for you. His blood covers your sin. His death is your payment. These ordinary words are the gospel, and with these words the Spirit works a miracle. He brings a heart of flesh from stone. He turns an enemy into an heir. He calls that which was dead to new life in Jesus. The ordinary does the extraordinary!
The first call of Jesus is the call to faith.
After Jesus called these men to faith and before he called them apostles, he called them to other stations in life. They were sons; some were husbands; they had jobs like fisherman and tax collector; they were neighbors, synagogue members, and part of their community. As believers, these stations became vocations, a calling from Jesus to love and serve their neighbor.
And what do such callings look like? They are ordinary and everyday. Children talk to parents and honor their wisdom. Spouses love and honor and serve each other. Christians do honest work at their jobs and work hard even when no one is right there watching. They go to church and listen gladly. They help their neighbors rather than annoy them. They pay taxes. They positively contribute to their community. Jesus continues to do the same thing with his people today, and that includes you and me. In doing all these things, Jesus spreads the gift of his love into the world through the lives of his people. The ordinary does the extraordinary!
Then Jesus does a special thing. He issues a unique call to twelve of his followers. He calls them to be apostles, which means he is calling them “that he might send them out.” An apostle is one who is sent out with a unique purpose or mission. This calling was a gift to these men, to be sure. But don’t think this calling was about them going around and telling everyone, “You know I’m a big deal, right?” This gift was not to honor these men, but it was to make clear that they were to be a gift to the church as they served others.
Notice what Jesus is sending them to do: “that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” They would first learn from Jesus, and then he would send them to preach the gospel. They would share the good of Jesus with others. He was also granting them authority to lead and to demonstrate that authority with miraculous power. They were to point people to Jesus, and they were to keep the church focused on Jesus when Jesus was no longer here.
But what do these apostles look like? A loudmouth, a couple of hotheads, some simple fishermen, a sinful tax collector, a doubter, a borderline terrorist, and one who betrayed him. These are very ordinary men, and some might even be called unfit for such a task. Ordinary men, so are they capable of the extraordinary?
What do we take away from this list of men and this unique calling? Jesus can use anyone. His gospel changes lives and equips for service. Notice also this unique calling came from outside of themselves; Jesus chose them for such a task. He equipped them for the task, and he guided and strengthened them to carry it out. They pointed people to Jesus, and their words continue to do so. Such ordinary people, and yet, through them, Jesus did and is still doing the extraordinary! What gifts are the callings of Jesus!
