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13耶稣上了山，随自己的意思叫人来，他们便来到他那里。14他就设立十二个人，要他们常和自己同在，也要差他们去传道，15并给他们权柄赶鬼。16这十二个人有西门，耶稣又给他起名叫彼得；17还有西庇太的儿子雅各和雅各的兄弟约翰，又给这两个人起名叫半尼其，就是雷子的意思；18又有安得烈、腓力、巴多罗买、马太、多马、亚勒腓的儿子雅各和达太，并奋锐党的西门；19还有卖耶稣的加略人犹大。
回想我当牧师的生涯，有时我想如果我当年也在我的会众中指定10到12个人该多么好，这样我可以用三年的时间更全面彻底地教导他们，使他们准备好可以服事教会甚至成为带领者。在今天的经文里，耶稣也是在预备门徒，以便在他升天后他们成为新约教会的领袖。这段时间花得很值得，耶稣经常和门徒单独在一起，以便更深入地教导他们。
我还发现有趣的是，耶稣给他的几个门徒起了昵称，这些昵称符合他们的性格。他给西门起了“彼得”这个名字，意思是“石头”。虽然彼得并不总是像他的名字那样坚定，但他确实做出了奇妙的认信，“你是基督，永生神的儿子”，彼得的这个认信促使耶稣说:“我要把我的教会建造在这磐石上。”耶稣说的不是把教会建在彼得这个人上面，而是他认信的内容——基督之上。耶稣称雅各和约翰为“雷子”（雷霆之子），这可能是指他们冲动和浮躁的性格。
如果要给你取一个符合你性格的昵称，你会取什么名字?幸运的是，当我们与耶稣联结在一起时，我们超越了自己本来的身份，我们拥有他使我们成为的身份。我们是神的儿女。我们是基督的仆人。我们是耶稣的使者。我们是世界的光。我们是圣洁的国度、君尊的祭司。我们是被耶稣的血洗净的圣徒。我们不再被我做了什么或没做什么所定义，真正定义我们的，是我们与耶稣的关系。
祷告:主耶稣，你救赎了我，使我属于你，在你的国度里服事你。求你每天帮助我超越我本性中的那个我，使我成为在信心中的新的我。阿们。
Mark 3:13-19: Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. (NIV)
Reflecting back on my pastoral ministry, sometimes I think I should have designated ten to twelve people in my congregation that I would teach more thoroughly for three years and prepare them for ministry and leadership in the congregation. Jesus prepared the disciples to become those leaders in the New Testament Church after his ascension into heaven. It was time well spent, and he often took those disciples off by themselves so that he could teach them more thoroughly.
I also find it interesting that Jesus gave a few of his disciples nicknames to fit their character. He gave Simon the name “Peter” which means “rock.” He wasn’t always as solid as he should have been, but he did make the wonderful confession which caused Jesus to say, “On this rock I will build my church.” He was not talking about Peter, but about his confession. He called James and John the “sons of thunder,” which probably was a reference to their impulsive and impetuous nature.
What would be your nickname if someone chose to give you a nickname that fit your nature? Fortunately, when we are connected to Jesus, we rise above what we are and we become what he has made us. We are children of God. We are servants of Christ. We are ambassadors for Jesus. We are the light of the world. We are kings and priests. We are saints who have been washed in the blood of Jesus. I am not defined by what I have done or not done, but by my connection to Jesus.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you have redeemed me to be your own and to serve you in your kingdom. Help me every day to rise above what I am by nature and to become what I am by faith in you. Amen.