PASTOR MIKE’S MEDITATIONS

Being vs. Doing

October 2019

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve--designating them apostles --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.

As we continue our present sermon series on the Gospel of Mark entitled the Disciplines of Discipleship, this month we will come to Jesus’ call to ministry in Mark 3:13-19. But notice something significant. It starts with Jesus calling to himself those he wanted who then came to be with him.  His appointment of the apostles starts with “that they might be with him…and that he might send them out to preach.”  Jesus’ call to minister on his behalf is first about “being” with him before it is about “doing” anything.  Jesus appoints people for a relationship with himself.  He then sends them out as his representatives, with his authority, in order to do the kinds of things that he was doing.

Too often we jump to what we “should” be doing when Jesus’ invitation is first about being with us. His appointment to be sent out as apostles (literally “sent ones”) then becomes another opportunity to join him or be with him in what he is doing.  A ministry of being (with Jesus) is life-giving but a ministry of simply doing can quickly become draining.  Remembering that it is Jesus’ call and that he calls those he wanted to be with him can make all the difference as we follow him as disciples.

This is also where partnership in the gospel comes in. We will quickly find that Jesus sent out his disciples two by two.  It was never meant to be a solo effort that leads to isolation but another expression of being in relationship as we serve alongside others.  This becomes another way in which we experience the “being with” quality with Jesus as we experience his presence in partnership with others. Who are you partnering with in ministry? How does this become an experience of being vs. simply doing?

It is not then that there isn’t a “doing” aspect of discipleship and ministry.  There are things that Jesus has for us to do.  But it is an issue of emphasis and priority. We might say that it is “Be-Do-Be” vs. “Do-Be-Do”.  We first experience a relationship with Jesus who leads us into ministry as a way to continue to be with him, doing the kinds of things we see him doing.  This is in contrast to feeling like we have to do something to earn the right to be with Jesus who then calls us to do more which leads to a kind of dutiful obligation verses a joyful overflow of relationship with Jesus.

So, as you seek to fulfill Jesus’ call to ministry for you, know that for Jesus it is about wanting to be with you.  He then sends you out into ministry in our community because that is where he is and he wants you to join him there in sharing the good news of forgiveness and the presence of God’s kingdom.  I don’t know about you, but that is something that I not only believe I can do (through his strength), but actually want to do.  I want to be with Jesus.  I want to participate with him in ministry as a means of experience a deeper, richer, fuller relationship with him even as I invite others to experience the same.