Mark 3:13

Into a mountain. [Appointment of the Twelve, Mark 3:13-19 = Luke 6:12-16. Major comment: Mark. See Early Galilean Ministry; The Ministry of Our Lord.] Evidently into the hilly region to the west of the Lake of Galilee (see on ch. 1:45). Leaving His followers to spend the night at the foot of the mountain (see DA 292), Jesus Himself spent the entire night in prayer at some secluded spot in the hills above them (Luke 6:12). It was now probably the late summer of A.D. 29 (see on Matt. 5:1).

Often Jesus devoted an entire night to prayer (see DA 419). Usually such instances mentioned by the various gospel writers preceded points of decision or crisis in the Saviour’s life or ministry (see on ch. 1:35). He sought meditation and prayer at the beginning of His ministry (see on Matt. 4:1). Prayer likewise marked the opening of His Galilean ministry and immediately preceded His first missionary tour through the towns and villages of Galilee (see on Mark 1:35). The night now spent in prayer preceded the ordination of the Twelve, the Sermon on the Mount, and the beginning of the Second Galilean Tour. Prayer is again specifically mentioned in connection with the great crisis in Galilee (see Matt. 14:22, 23; cf. John 6:15, 66). The same was true of the Transfiguration, when Jesus presented to three of His disciples the matter of His sufferings and death (Luke 9:28-31). The entire night following the Triumphal Entry He devoted to prayer (see DA 581). The longest recorded prayer of Jesus preceded His entrance to the Garden of Gethsemane (see John 17). And but hours before the crucifixion Jesus offered His most earnest, agonizing prayer in the garden (see Matt. 26:36-44).

Calleth unto him. Apparently there was a somewhat larger group of followers, from which the Twelve were selected.

None of the Twelve was chosen because of perfection, either in character or in ability. Christ selected men who were willing and able to learn, whose characters might be transformed. All had serious defects when called, but these, by His grace, were removed (except in the case of Judas), and in their place Jesus planted the precious seeds of the divine character that germinated, grew to maturity, and later produced the fruit of a Christlike character (Gal. 5:22, 23). Christ takes men where they are, and, if they are willing and submissive, He transforms them into what He would have them be. He appoints men and women to positions of responsibility, not because He considers them fully prepared for the demands these positions make of them, but because, in reading their hearts, He discerns latent abilities that, under divine guidance, may be encouraged and developed to His glory and to the advancement of His kingdom.

Whom he would. The call was not based so much on their desire as upon His. Later He reminded the Twelve, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you” (John 15:16).

They came unto him. When He summoned them to meet Him, at the first light of dawn (see DA 292; MB 4), somewhere on the slope of the hills overlooking the peaceful waters of Galilee.