Will You Follow Jesus or Just Watch Him? The Call to Ordinary People

Have you ever felt unqualified to be used by God? Perhaps you've thought your talents weren't quite enough, your past too checkered, or your personality too ordinary to make a difference in God's kingdom. If so, you're in good company—exactly the kind of company Jesus intentionally chose.

The Celebrity Problem

In the third chapter of Mark's Gospel, we encounter Jesus at the height of his earthly popularity. Word of mouth—the only social media of the ancient world—had spread news of his miraculous healings throughout Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and beyond the Jordan. People traveled from Tyre and Sidon just to catch a glimpse of this remarkable teacher who could heal the sick and cast out demons.

The crowds became so thick and pressing that Jesus needed an escape plan. He instructed his disciples to keep a boat ready offshore in case the masses literally crushed him. Picture the scene: Jesus teaching from the sloping hills that naturally amphitheater down to the Sea of Galilee, with desperate people pressing in from all sides, each one hoping to touch his garment and receive healing.

It's a powerful image, but it raises an important question: Were these people truly following Jesus, or were they simply chasing what he could give them?

The Difference Between Wanting and Following

There's a vast difference between wanting Jesus for his benefits and genuinely following him. The crowds wanted healing. They wanted miracles. They wanted their problems solved. And while there's nothing inherently wrong with bringing our needs to Jesus—he invites us to do exactly that—we must ask ourselves a harder question: What happens when following Jesus gets difficult? What happens when our lives might be in danger because of our faith?

In America, we have little understanding of true persecution. We might face mockery or exclusion, which is genuinely painful, but Christians in other parts of the world face imprisonment, violence, and death for their faith. More believers are being martyred today than at any other time in history. The crowds following Jesus wanted his benefits without counting the cost of true discipleship.

The same temptation exists today. We want God to fix our marriages, heal our children, provide for our needs, and solve our problems. But are we willing to follow him when the path gets difficult? When the crowd turns hostile? When following Jesus costs us something significant?

The Sweetest Invitation

Amidst the chaos of the crowds, Jesus did something remarkable. He went up on a mountain and called to himself twelve men. Not the most educated. Not the most influential. Not the most talented. Just twelve ordinary people.

And here's where we find one of the most beautiful verses in Scripture: "He appointed twelve...so that they might be with him" (Mark 3:14).

Read that again slowly. Jesus didn't immediately send them out on mission trips. He didn't hand them a performance checklist. He didn't give them a syllabus of theological studies. He simply wanted them to be with him.

This is the heart of Christianity that we so often miss. We're constantly striving, performing, doing, achieving—all in the name of serving God. But what God wants first and foremost is relationship. He wants us to sit down, hang out, and talk with him. He wants our presence before our performance.

Think about it: if you're sitting in a living room with twelve people, conversation flows naturally. Anyone can speak. Ideas are shared freely. It's intimate and personal. Jesus chose this number intentionally because he wanted relationship, not just followers.

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Purpose

When we look at the list of disciples Jesus chose, we find no celebrities, no scholars, no people with impressive résumés. We find fishermen, a tax collector, a political zealot, and a doubter. We find people who would argue with each other, misunderstand Jesus repeatedly, and eventually abandon him in his darkest hour.

Particularly fascinating is the inclusion of both Simon the Zealot and Matthew the tax collector. Zealots despised the Roman occupation with violent intensity. Tax collectors collaborated with Rome and profited from it. These two men represented opposite ends of the political spectrum, yet Jesus brought them together in the same small group.

This demonstrates something powerful: Christ can bridge divides that seem impossible. When we come to Jesus, we find common ground even with those we might naturally oppose. Our unity isn't based on political agreement or social similarity—it's based on our shared need for and devotion to Jesus.

Spending Intentional Time

After calling the twelve to be with him, Jesus then gave them purpose: to preach and to have authority to cast out demons. Notice the order: relationship first, then mission. Being with Jesus preceded being sent by Jesus.

This is the pattern we must follow. Everything in our spiritual lives flows from our relationship with the Lord. It's like the airplane oxygen mask principle—you must put your own mask on first before helping others. Not because you're selfish, but because you can't help anyone if you've passed out from lack of oxygen.

You cannot effectively tell others about Jesus if you haven't spent time experiencing him yourself. You cannot minister from an empty tank. You cannot give away what you don't possess.

Your Mission Field

Here's the beautiful truth: wherever you are right now is your mission field. You don't need to be a pastor, missionary, or ministry leader to make an eternal difference. Your workplace, your neighborhood, your family, your social circles—these are all mission fields where God has strategically placed you.

The question isn't whether you're qualified. The disciples weren't qualified either. The question is whether you'll make yourself available. Will you spend intentional time with Jesus each morning, asking him to open your spiritual eyes and ears to the hurting people around you? Will you live differently because your foundation is Jesus Christ?

Stop Disqualifying Yourself

Perhaps the most important takeaway is this: stop disqualifying yourself from being used by God. He wired you uniquely. He knows exactly what you have to offer. He doesn't call the qualified; he qualifies the called.

Jesus chose ordinary people because ordinary people were all that was available—and they're still all that's available today. There are no superheroes in God's kingdom, just regular people who won't quit following Jesus.

The crowds wanted Jesus for what he could give them. The disciples were called to be with him first, then sent with purpose. Which will you choose? Will you follow Jesus, or will you just watch him from the crowd?

Everything flows from relationship. Sit down with Jesus today. Just be with him. And watch how mission naturally follows.