The Choosing of the Twelve, Part 4—Ordering the Twelve | Mark 3:17–18
James the son of
Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that
is, Sons of Thunder); 18 Andrew,
and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of
Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot,
Jesus promised that, upon the rock of Peter’s confession, “I
will build my church” (Mt 16:16–18), and we noted last time that the apostle’s teaching
ministry comprises the church’s foundation (Eph 2:20). Jesus gives divine offices to His church forming
its structure, building it upon that foundation (Eph 4:11–12). He’s the cornerstone of the apostolic foundation,
and all God’s people are living stones in His spiritual house (1 Pt 2:4–8). The twelve men in vv. 16–19 are those Christ
chose as His foundation.
He organized the structure. While it’s popular to disparage “organized
religion” (and sometimes right), our Lord did not create an unorganized faith. As Paul said, “God is not a God of confusion
but of peace,” and “all things should be done decently and in order” (1 Cor
14:33, 40). Our Lord appoints apostles,
and Matthew 10:1–4 tells us that the disciples were coupled, sent out by
twos.
Moreover, there appear to be circles within the twelve. All lists of the apostles name Peter first, with
Andrew, James, and John coming after him in differing orders—an inner circle
(three of these four witnessed the Transfiguration, Mk 9:2). Philip always heads the next group, followed alternately
by Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew.
James, the Son of Alpheus, seems to lead the third, an interesting
circle with two Judases (one named Thaddeus here and Lebbaeus in Matthew 10:3,
perhaps to avoid confusion with Judas Iscariot) and Simon the Zealot.
It’s a personal
structure. He had walked and ate
with these men and knew them from eternity past (Eph 1:4), and we glimpse the
personal side of His appointment in two ways.
First, in His renaming Simon back in v. 16. Second, in the nickname that He gives to John
and James—Boanerges, an Aramaic term which means “Sons of Thunder.” This obvious term of endearment highlighted their
bold and even rash ways (cf. 9:38; Lk 9:54). Our Lord doesn’t just fill positions with warm
bodies; He knows His disciples, loves them, and places them where they can best
serve Him.
