NOTES for Mc 3:13-19

Many people walked the roads of Palestine after Jesus, but not all of them were included among the twelve apostles. As the evangelist Mark says, He "called to Him those whom He Himself wanted." The Lord prepared these disciples for ministry, giving them power to preach the Kingdom of God, heal the sick, and cast out demons. Having followed Christ's call and gone up the mountain with Him, they became completely different people. Is this not what is shown by the fact that Simon is given a completely new name: Peter...

Having received these "supernatural" abilities, the apostles did not turn into magicians proud of their wonder-working skills, because none of this was their achievement. Jesus called those He wanted, not those who were more worthy. The astonishing things done by the hands of the apostles, which we find in the book of Acts, are the action of the Savior Himself, not of those whom He Himself appointed to this ministry. This relationship between the Lord and the disciples is an amazing example for us of what humility is.