17.04 | Hokey Cokey Spirituality
Mark 3:7-35
‘And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.’
Mark 3:13-15
To my surprise, I found out a couple of months ago, that my seven year old daughter had never heard of the Hokey Cokey.
I couldn’t believe it. The Hokey Cokey was a staple of kids activities in my childhood. I must have sang and danced the Hokey Cokey hundreds of times. And yet, here Eeva was, having no idea what the Hokey Cokey even is. Dropping everything, I immediately took her hands, and took her through the song and dance of it (for some reason, possibly because it was already past her bedtime, making each round faster than the one before—which, incidentally, turned out to be an excellent addition).
Her favourite part by miles was the ‘In, out, in, out, shake it all about’ line. Especially when we reached top speed.
Today’s reading takes us up a mountainside with Jesus. It’s a pivotal moment. It’s time for Jesus to expand the ministry, from those things that He is doing, to empowering and releasing others to go and do it too. It’s our first insight in Mark that Jesus’ mission was not merely to do everything, but to mobilise a Church to continue the mission in His authority and methodology. It’s time for Him to pick and name the apostles.
Mark is not a guy who takes a long time over his descriptions. His descriptions of the role of apostles is marvellously simple:
‘…that they might be with him and that he might send them out…’
With Him. And sent out.
It’s a pattern that we see throughout the life of Jesus—between withdrawal to places of wilderness and retreat, and the pressing crowds and noise of city and ministry. And this very rhythm, of withdrawal and engagement, of the secret place and the public square, of hiddenness and visibility, is then exactly the rhythm He sets for His disciples.
Coming in to be with Him, and then going out to be in the pain and mess of the world.
Coming in for intimacy and direction and rest and prayer, and going out to heal and speak and contend and create.
It’s a Hokey Cokey kind of apostleship.
And it’s the exact rhythm that is necessary for all healthy discipleship.
Most of us are better at one rather than the other.
The more activist among us lean more towards out. To doing. To being productive. To being seen. To checking things off the to do list. But the danger for us when this becomes our all in all, is that we can forget that our identity and security is not built upon our achievements or activities, but is founded upon and flows from our friendship of love with the Father. Many, many Christians have lost their souls gradually through a busy obsession with doing, whilst their friendship with the Father became anaemic through neglecting time with Him.
The more contemplative among us love the in. The beauty of the secret place, the safety of hiddenness, the treasures that we find in study and prayer and rest (and sleeping). But we also have a danger, us introverted contemplatives, of allowing a different kind of atrophy—one that transitions gradually from seeking Him to just plain hiding. The kind of atrophy that abdicates an identity that also carries vocation and purpose, and that can only be exercised in the courage taken to meet the bustling crowds, with all its mess and demands and pain.
In … out … in … out.
This is the pattern of His Way.
It’s a Hokey Cokey kind of spirituality.
Reflect:
Which do I find easier: withdrawal, or engagement?
What balance between withdrawal and activity is the Spirit inviting me to in this season? Is there one things I can implement today?
Pray:
Lord Jesus,
If you’re climbing mountains,
I want to be there too.
And if you’re in the sweat and noise and complexity of the city
That’s where you’ll find me.
Teach me:
Teach me to find the rhythms of your Way,
That my patterns be led
Neither by my drivenness to accomplish
Nor my fear to engage,
That my all and every moment,
Be a journey with and towards you.
In Your Name,
Jesus,
My rabbi, my Lord,
Amen
Old Testament:
For those also reading the Old Testament this year, your additional readings are here:
Judges 8:4-9:57 | Psalm 50:1-15