Understanding the Twelve Part II
When you consider the twelve disciples, it’s hard not to consider them giants of the faith or individuals who had something unique about them that caused the Son of God to choose them. While I am not denying this, after all, their testimonies have resulted in countless individuals being saved, we need to remember that they were ordinary men, just like you and I. God didn’t choose them because they were special or because they had influence. Jesus chose them for what He could make them into, not what they brought to Him.
But why was it that Jesus needed to choose twelve men to impart the wisdom that we see in the Church? To better understand this, we need to attempt to understand Jesus’s thinking at that time. Being both fully man and fully God, Jesus was privy to God the Father’s redemptive plan. He knew that He would have to be crucified for the sins of the whole world, but He knew that those who remained would need guidance (this is why the Holy Spirit was sent at Pentecost), and so He knew He needed men to raise up. The gospel of Luke spends the first five chapters identifying that Jesus made it a habit to slip away to pray, so it should not be surprising that He prayed before choosing who would take up this mantle of growing the Church. “12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: 14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; 16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.” Luke 6:12-16. Jesus sought out the Father’s wisdom in whom to choose (including the one who would betray Him, but we will get to that at a later date). “61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” 66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:61-69
The apostles were chosen with one calling in mind. “14 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach,” Mark 3:14. These men were chosen to be with Him in order for Him to send them out to preach. These men, while ordinary, were chosen to spend intimate time with Jesus Christ in order to learn from Him so they could then teach others. The book of Acts details the events of the beginning of the church, and it is through these men that God’s word spread.
With the understanding of their calling, next week we will look at the first disciple.
Seek the truth and encourage one another,
Alex