Breaking the Word

 He went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons:  (he appointed the twelve:) Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him. (Mk 3:13-19)

Jesus had come into the world with the mission. His mission was to bring in the kingdom of God. Though it was a mission given to him he did not do it alone by himself. As he began his mission he realized the mission was enormous he could not do it alone. He needed the assistance of others and people who were in the world.

As the Gospels present he chose twelve men. This choice proved that Jesus remained within the culture of Jews. Twelve was to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. Twelve also had the meaning of totality. So the twelve had a link with the past history of Israel and it also signified the completeness and totality of the discipleship.

The twelve did not remain as mere numbers. They had their names which meant that they had their identity. The names signified their personal characters. They had their own lives but by joining with Jesus in the mission of Jesus they added a special colour to their lives and mission. 

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people (followed) from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, "You are the Son of God." He warned them sternly not to make him known. (Mk 3:7-12)

Jesus had crowds of people following him. Crowds came from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, Tyre, Sidon etc. Jesus activities and preaching were localized (in and around Galilee – in Mark’s Gospel) yet his fame and the message about his ministry reached far and wide. It reached beyond the Judean territory to the other countries.

One of the messages that reached the people about Jesus was that he had healed many. One of the distinguishing element about Jesus compared to others was that He healed many. Healing was one of the specific qualities of the kingdom. He healed many and gave this power to heal to all his disciples. Where there was healing there was kingdom and Jesus was also there.

Healing from physical illnesses was a special sign of the kingdom also was the power to cast demons. Unclean spirits recognized him and worshiped him. His identity was spread all the land and also it was recognized by the people of the other world (world of spirits). Jesus’ name and fame spread through this world and the world of spirits.