Jesus can relate to anyone in our current society, and that fact is demonstrated in this text. I have often heard celebrities, star athletes, and even royalty say that it's very lonely being famous. Part of me is entirely unsympathetic (I would't mind giving fame a try to see if they are correct), and yet another part of me at least understands where it is they are coming from. I think Jesus had a far better idea than I ever could of what our modern day celebrities mean when they complain of being lonely. He is surrounded by crowds that come from literally every direction- the reference to Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, Tyre, and Sidon is a clever literary device that illustrates this fact nicely- and yet Jesus doesn't really have anyone to relate to. In fact, the only ones present who truly recognize Jesus for who He is are the demons. Jesus is dogged by crowds who fall on Him seeking favors of healing, exorcism, and restoration, but the demons are the only ones who fall before Jesus in recognition of who He is.
It isn't surprising then that Jesus would select a group from among His disciples, a group to work with Him more intimately. The men Jesus chooses teach us about symbolism, the continuity of God's work in the world, and the importance of our devotion to God's agenda. The fact that Jesus chooses twelve men to be apostles is symbolic, and indeed shows Jesus ministry to be a continuation of Israel's role as witness to God's grace and loving-kindness. More than likely, the twelve apostles are intended to represent in some way the twelve tribes of Israel. Whatever the connection, the fact that there are twelve is clearly significant, as the apostles seek to replace Judas after his betrayal and suicide. In their minds, it was both significant and important that there be twelve apostles. It is equally significant that a role call of the apostles reveals some to have achieved greater fame than others. While all are apostles, Peter, James, and John are almost always going to top the list; and are probably remembered by far more than others like Bartholomew or Thaddeus. How many guys named Peter, James, or John do you know? Now compare that to how many Bartholomew's and Thaddeus' you have met. The disparity reflects the fact that even in ministry, some are destined to achieve more fame than others. Our world desperately needs to understand that fame is in no way a reflection of faithfulness in ministry. In the past six months, I have learned first-hand the temptation that exists to measure oneself against better-known peers when in ministry. Whenever that temptation rears its ugly head, God has a way of reminding me of all the people I have met, many of whom minister as volunteers, that continually show Christ through their service to and love of others. Very few are famous, many of them receive no recognition at all. It's an encouraging reminder that when we sign up for service in the kingdom, we agree to allow God to use us wherever, and however He sees fit. The real measure of success is not how many people see and hear about our ministry, it's whether what they see and hear brings glory to God, and preaches His love to them. My guess is that Bartholomew and Thaddeus' lived out faithful lives, remaining true to their calling as apostles. The fact that their ministry took them "off the stage", to places beyond the sight of history, is all the more reason to remember them as examples of true faith, a faith manifested in the willingness to work unseen by our fellow man, and unheralded save by the one whose praise matters most, Jesus Christ.
I should probably end there, but I wanted to include a short thought about the last few verses, where Jesus' family thinks He has lost His mind. There is no deep theological truth in these verses, but there is a bit of comfort. Jesus truly is capable of relating to our struggles, sometimes more than we know. He even experienced what it is like to be misunderstood, and perhaps looked down on my those closest to Him. Jesus didn't just come to earth to save us, He came to experience life, and in so doing demonstrate for us how to faithfully endure all the trials that this world has to offer. Whether those trials took the form of a cross, or simply family members who never seemed to "get it", Jesus had the strength necessary to deal with each of them in a way that was true to who He was. This is good news for us, because while we might not have the same strength ourselves, we at least know someone who does.
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