Called, Gathered, Sent (Mark 3:1-19)

Jesus’ ministry grew rapidly as he toured the towns of Galilee. But as the crowds multiplied, so too did the conflict. We see both the conflict and the crowds in today’s reading, as well as Jesus’ response.

Conflict had already been present in Mark’s gospel, but it reached a new (low) level when he healed a man’s withered hand in a synagogue on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6).

When Jesus saw the man, he asked, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or kill?” His opponents were silent. However, when Jesus healed the man’s withered hand, they immediately “held counsel … how to destroy him.”

The scene drips with irony: It is wrong to heal a man on the Sabbath, but it permissible to plot murder on the same day?

Despite the brewing conflict, Jesus’ popularity continued to grow. Three times, Mark mentions the “great crowd” which followed him. In order to avoid their crush, Jesus had to teach from a boat! (Mark 3:7-12).

In light of these developments, how did Jesus respond to the dramatic growth of his ministry? Here is what Mark tells us:

“He went up on the mountain 

and called to him those whom he desired.… 

And he appointed twelve … 

so that they might be with him 

and he might send them out to preach….” 

(Mark 3:13-14) 

Do you see what Jesus did? He called the twelve … so that they might be with him … and he might send them out.

When I first reflected on these words about ten years ago, I realized they bore a close resemblance to the vision statement we had crafted for our new church family. In part, it says,

ecclesia is a community of faith, love and hope.

We are

Called to faith in the gospel of Jesus

Gathered in love as the community of Jesus, and

Sent with hope on the mission of Jesus 

Although this statement was posted on our website and printed in our bulletin, it seemed to me that we needed a more memorable way to fix it in our collective consciousness. That’s when I wrote the silly little tune which we sing every week as we gather:

We are called to faith,

Gathered in love,

Sent with hope to change the world 

I called it a silly little tune, but in truth it is not silly at all. For Jesus has been calling, training, and sending his disciples ever since, and we are grateful to be the latest link in that chain.

What a blessing it has been to see our “mustard seed” church grow from the handful of us who met under a mesquite tree in 2012, to the hundreds of us who sprawl behind the Buffalo Chip today.

God has planted us “in the heart of Cave Creek, for the heart of Cave Creek.” Each one of you is a beautiful part of that story. I am incredibly grateful to be your pastor; I can’t wait to see what happens next.

So the next time we gather for worship (indeed, every time we gather), let us sing that little song with joy and gusto. For there is no greater privilege in the world than to be the called, gathered and sent community known as ecclesia : church at the chip!