transcript

Speaker 1:
[00:00] Hello again, and welcome back to Kids Bible Stories. Today's story is called A Very Unlikely Team. This is part 11 in our Mark series, and comes from Mark chapter 3, verses 7 through 19. We are continuing our series in the Book of Mark. This is super exciting because we are going to go through this entire book in the Bible called Mark. That's pretty special. So if you've missed it, make sure that you listen to these in order, because they do build upon themselves. Okay, quick recap from last week. Last week, we heard Jesus healing the man's hand on the Sabbath. If you remember, tell me out loud, what did the Pharisees think about all of that? Thanks for sharing. If you said something like, They were upset about it, you would be correct. In fact, they were so upset that they teamed up with another group called the Herodians, and they worked together on figuring out how they could plan to destroy Jesus. We pick up our story here. Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. Listeners, why do you think a crowd would follow Him?

Speaker 2:
[01:45] Because it was so amazing.

Speaker 1:
[01:50] Thanks for sharing. Remember, there are a lot of people who were excited about Jesus. Surely, news was traveling.

Speaker 2:
[02:00] Do you hear what Martha was telling folks?

Speaker 1:
[02:05] No. Was it about that man named Jesus? Oh, I would just love to hear him speak. They heard of the miracles he was performing, and they too wanted to witness this. When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him, from Judea, Jerusalem, Edomia, and the regions across the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon. People pressed in from every side, shoulder to shoulder, so close that it was hard to move. Because of the crowd, he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him. Not to sail away, but to stand in, just a few feet from the shore, so the crowd wouldn't crush in around him. He had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward just to touch him. Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, You, you, you are the son of God. But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him. Time passed, and Jesus went up on a mountainside. The small stones crunched beneath his sandals. On the mountainside, he called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. One by one, he called them. He appointed twelve, whom he also called apostles. Listeners, how many? That's right. And did you hear the word apostle? That word means one who is sent out. These are the men that Jesus is going to send out to spread his message. Isn't it incredible to think that wherever you live right now, it's most likely extremely far away from where the message of the good news started. And yet, it has spread all the way so that you and I get to hear it. I always find that incredible. Well, he chose twelve that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed. Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter, James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. To them, he gave them the name which means Sons of Thunder. That's a pretty cool nickname. I'd like it if Jesus gave me a cool nickname. What nickname would you choose? I would like Shark Mask there. Okay, thanks for sharing. Well back to our story. He called Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him. Well, that is it for our story today. But before we go, let's think about what we just heard. How many men, apostles, did Jesus choose? Twelve, right. Now that number is not random. It is symbolic. I'll show you. Long before Jesus was born, God chose a man named Jacob.

Speaker 2:
[06:33] Hey, everyone.

Speaker 1:
[06:34] Hi, Jacob. I'm telling the kids about the history on you. Okay, so your name is Jacob, but what did God change your new name to?

Speaker 2:
[06:45] Well, he changed it to Israel.

Speaker 1:
[06:49] Thanks. And Jacob slash Israel had 12 sons, that you hear the Bible call the 12 tribes of Israel. So all of God's people, the nation of Israel, came from those 12 sons.

Speaker 2:
[07:09] Yeah, this is true. And over many years, the people of Israel grew into a large nation, but they also struggled to follow God, and this nation, it became divided and broken.

Speaker 1:
[07:24] So when in today's story, you hear Jesus choose 12 apostles, it's on purpose. It's like Jesus is saying, I'm building a new people of God. Just like God made his people from 12 tribes before, Jesus is now starting something new with 12 apostles. The last thing I want you to notice in today's story is the variety of people he chose. This was quite a group of men. Meaning they had different interests, experiences, personalities. It would be like putting together kids who might not even get along. One who wants everything organized, another who is very messy, one who follows all the rules, and another who breaks them all the time. Think about it. Some of them are fishermen, one was a tax collector, some loud, some quiet. They didn't have the same jobs or personalities. Why would Jesus choose such a mixed group? Why do you think?

Speaker 2:
[08:39] To show that He loves everyone?

Speaker 1:
[08:42] Thanks for answering. Well, because the good news that, though we were separated from God because of sin, Jesus came to rescue us, forgive us, and make us part of God's family. This good news is not just for one kind of person. It's for everyone. This week, when you go to church, I want you to look around. You'll notice people are different. Different ages, talents, different ways they dress. But there's one thing that as Christians, we all share. Something really big. We believe in Jesus. We love Him and we follow Him. And that one thing? It brings us together like a family. Alright, let's take a quiet moment now to pray about what we heard. You can close your eyes if you'd like, and let's talk to God together. Dear God, thank you for your word. Thanks for this story about Jesus choosing the twelve apostles, and that even though we live so far away from where Jesus walked, we still get to hear about him. And God, we thank you for the people who came before us, people we've never even met, who were brave and bold, who told others about Jesus, so that one day it would reach us. Thank you for parents, grandparents, friends who have taught us about you, who have prayed for us, and who have helped pass down the truth of the gospel. I'm grateful that we get to be a part of it too. Help all of us to be like the apostles, to be willing to follow you and share the good news with others. And God, sometimes we may not know if what we say or do makes a difference, but help us to trust you because you are the one who makes things grow. You are the one who takes the small seeds we plant and turns them into something big and beautiful. So help us be faithful and help us to remember that we belong to you. We love you, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen. Alright, before we hear our special listener shoutouts, I want to take just a quick moment to say, Kids are learning about Jesus and understanding the Bible, thousands of them every single day, and that is possible only because of you, because you are part of this. This podcast exists because of families like yours. Some families choose to support with a one-time gift, and others join us inside the Kids Bible Stories Family Library on Patreon. Families in the Family Library have told me that they love it because it's ad-free, they get access to our Bedtime Stories Podcast, and they have episode-based coloring pages and more to help their kids go deeper. It's all designed to be simple, helpful for real families with real schedules who really want to grow their children's faith. So if that sounds like something your family would enjoy, go to patreon.com/kidsbiblestories. That's patreon.com/kidsbiblestories, or click the link in the show notes and try a seven-day free trial. Now, the moment you've been waiting for, let's hear from some of our awesome newest supporters. A big thanks to Lily, who listens to KBS every day on the way to school. Lily, I heard you started the podcast this year and are working your way through the whole thing. That is impressive. Way to go. And Lily, you also donated from your very own money. What a generous heart you have. Thanks to Magnolia. And I hear that you have a birthday coming up. You're turning five soon. I hope you have a happy birthday. Your mom said you enjoy listening over breakfast and coloring or painting. And you know, I never thought to paint the coloring sheets that we give to you guys. So that's a great idea. A huge thanks to Margo, Maddie, and Marigold. Girls, those are beautiful names. Margo, I heard that you have been sharing about Jesus with others. I just want to tell you that God sees you. He sees your courage. He sees your love. And he sees the way that you're shining your light. What you're doing is exactly what we talked about in today's story. You are being a part of how the good news spreads. And even when we don't always see what's happening, God is always at work. Sometimes we plant those seeds and we don't know when they'll grow, but God does. So keep shining your light and keep trusting Jesus and sharing his love with others. Because you never know the incredible ways God might be using you in someone's life. And a great big thank you to Aria and Thea. Hi girls! Thank you so much for listening. I hope the podcast always reminds you of how great God is and how great his love is for you. Thanks everyone so much for your support. And again, if you'd like to join in, just go to patreon.com/kidsbiblestories. The links for both options to support will also be in today's show notes. Alright everybody, that is the end of this episode. Thanks again for joining and as always, bye for now.