How Did Jesus Chose His Disciples

Chapter 18: Jesus Chooses His Apostles

One day, while teaching from a boat on the beach of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw a group of people. The boat belonged to a man who went by the name of Peter. It had been a long night of fishing for Peter and his companions, but they had come up empty handed. Peter was instructed to carry the boat into deep sea by Jesus after He concluded his discourse. Once they had done so, He instructed Peter and his pals to throw their fishing nets into the lake. They were catching so many fish that their nets were beginning to fray.

The fish overflowed both boats to the point that they began to sink.

They were well aware that it was Jesus Christ who had brought it about.

He said that he was unworthy to be in the presence of Jesus.

  • James and John, two of Peter’s pals, were related by blood to one another.
  • The guys gave up everything they had and followed Jesus into the wilderness.
  • During His ministry, Jesus appointed twelve Apostles to govern His Church.
  • He picked and ordained twelve men the following morning, vesting them with the priesthood and the power to serve as Apostles.
  • They preached the gospel and performed healings on the sick.

Why did Jesus Choose 12 Disciples

Jesus climbed up a mountainside and called out to those that he desired, and they came running to meet him. He chose twelve people to be with him and to be sent out to preach so that he might be more effective. Mark 3:13-14 (KJV) There were a variety of religious, intellectual, and political leaders in the first-century Roman civilization, each of whom had a dedicated group of followers. In Judaism, devoted apprentices were required to follow a rabbi. A special teacher-student connection was developed between Jesus of Nazareth and twelve specific persons from among the multitudes who followed Him.

  • Instead of approaching a rabbi and asking to be instructed by him, Jesus chose the men He wanted and called them to follow Him.
  • And the group He picked was a broad mix of individuals who were not affiliated with the Jewish religious establishment.
  • Because they were fishermen, Jesus came across Peter and his brother Andrew, who were tossing nets into the water.
  • In response to Jesus’ summons, the four fishermen immediately abandoned their nets and joined the ranks of the Hismathetai, the Histalmidim.

Rather, under the guidance of Jesus, they would develop into men who would “fish for people” (Matthew 4:18–22), a phrase that means “fish for people.” 1 One of the most astonishing things we learn from the Gospel stories is that when Jesus called these men, they immediately abandoned whatever they were doing and followed Him.

The 12 Disciples

The apostles were chosen by Jesus after a night of prayer on a mountaintop. He gathered His supporters together and publicly selected twelve of them to serve as apostles: After waking up in the morning, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them to be apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew (whom he named James), James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James (also known as Thaddaeus, the name that is used in Matthew and Mark), and Judas Iscariot, who later became a traitor.

  • (See Luke 6:13–16.) There are other stories of the disciples’ summoning in Mark 1:16–20, Luke 5:2–11, and John 1:40–42, as well as the Gospel of John.
  • The Israelites, God’s chosen people, were split into twelve tribes, each with its own language and culture.
  • Although it is apparent that the force of God was at work in calling these individuals, it is dubious that they realized the full depth of what they were getting themselves into when they first became followers of Jesus.
  • However, it wasn’t until Jesus was nearing the conclusion of His earthly life that He was able to reveal to them the true cost of discipleship.
  • It was He who stated it in such severe words when He declared that anybody who want to follow Him must deny himself and take up his cross (Luke 9:23) in order to do so.
  • As a result of their commitment to Christ, several people were murdered.
  • Before ascending into heaven, Jesus “graduated” His followers, as was the custom of the rabbi at the time of His death.

He also promised that they would be able to go and spread the good news of the kingdom.

They spoke courageously about Jesus’ death and resurrection, hailed the entrance of a new way of life, and performed amazing miracles to substantiate their claims.

They carried the message to the furthest reaches of the globe, as instructed.

Because, as Jesus made very plain throughout the Gospels and as His apostles made abundantly evident throughout their New Testament writings, not everyone who names Jesus “Savior” may be considered a disciple of Christ.

In order to be a disciple, one must dedicate one’s entire life to following the Lord, training as His student, and studying His Word.

Eventually, the student will be able to perform all of the tasks that his Master has assigned to him (Philippians 4:13). Also in Matthew 28:19–20, Jesus pledges to remain with His disciples “until the end of the age,” implying that He would be with them “until the end of the era.”

For Personal Reflection

What steps can you take to commit your entire life to serving the Lord more fully? The following article was adapted from study materials in the NIV Storyline Bible. The NIV Storyline Bible takes you on a journey through the interwoven story of the gospel from Genesis to Revelation. This Bible contains over 200 articles that explain the linked character of God’s Word as well as the whole story that spans both the Old and New Testaments. Learn more about the NIV Storyline Bible.

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How did Jesus choose the twelve disciples?

Here’s the answer: Jesus prayed and God told Him who to pick as the twelve disciples. The twelve disciples followed Jesus for 3 years. They walked with Him and learned from Him. They watched His loving ways and saw His miracles that proved that He was Messiah. Just before choosing the twelve, “…Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray. He spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called for his disciples to come to him. He chose 12 of them…” (Luke 6:12-13). God directed Jesus to choose the 12.

  • (John 14:21-14).
  • They would need to have boldness and courage to share His new message of grace.
  • Jesus taught us the importance of going to our Heavenly Father with our requests.
  • Bible Truth “On one of those days, Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray.
  • When morning came, he called for his disciples to come to him.
  • Here are their names.
  • (Luke 6:12-16).

How Did Jesus Select His First Disciples?

Many people now believe that discipleship is reserved for a chosen few, the brave, and the courageous, but this is not the Master’s perspective. It was not models that Jesus was searching for when he picked disciples; rather, it was ordinary people. In order to spread the message that His acceptance is open to anybody – including those whose lives have been marked by failure – He picked those who had the potential to be transformed by His love and then sent them forth to spread the message. We may be perplexed as to what Jesus sees in us when He urges us to follow Him as His disciples.

  • We must recognize that discipleship, from salvation to glorification, is entirely dependent on God’s grace and trust on our part.
  • However, it is a decision – a choice that originates with God and is realized in simple obedience – that is made.
  • Andrew, John, Peter, and James were the first four disciples chosen by Jesus out of a total of twelve.
  • These first four disciples were all fisherman, and they may have even been in business together at the time.

Reviewing the lives of people whom Jesus picked to be His followers (including Matthias and Paul) would be beneficial: a Galilean fisherman who was formerly known as Simon and was also known as Cephas; he was Andrew’s brother; he penned 1st and 2nd Peter; he preached the Gospel throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Betania, Italy, and Asia; he was executed by Nero at Rome after being imprisoned there for three years.

A Galilean fisherman who was Peter’s brother and who introduced Peter to Jesus.

James: The son of Zebedee and brother to John; he was from Capernaum; he was referred to by Jesus as one of the sons of thunder; when preaching in Judea, he was slain by Herod the tetrarch and buried in the city of Jerusalem.

Philip: From Bethsaida; not to be confused with Philip, who was one of the seven deacons chosen to assist with the food distribution program in the church (Acts 6:5); he preached in Phrygia and was crucified and buried in Hierapolis during the reign of Domitian; he preached in Phrygia and was crucified and buried in Hierapolis during the reign of Domitian.

  1. Bartholomew: He was from Cana in Galilee and was known as Nathanael.
  2. As Didymus, Thomas was a preacher who traveled to the Parthians, Medes, Persians, Hyrcanians, Bactrians, and Margians.
  3. Thomas was known as “Doubting Thomas” and “Doubting Mary.” A tax collector at Capernaum, son of Alphaeus, who may have been James’ brother; sometimes known as Levi or the publican; author of the Gospel according to Matthew; died in Hieres, a town in the Parthia region of the Roman Empire.
  4. He is not to be confused with Zebedee, the son of Zebedee, or the author of the Book of James (who was Jesus’ brother).
  5. He was born in Cana and died and was buried in Jerusalem.

We may forget that while Judas betrayed Jesus, all of his disciples abandoned Him; he is described as “doomed to destruction” (John 17:12) because he was never saved; when we think of Judas, we should also think about our commitment to God and the presence of God’s Spirit within us; when we think of Judas, we should also think about our commitment to God and the presence of God’s Spirit within us.

How Did Jesus Choose His Disciples?

What criteria did Jesus use to choose who would become His disciples? What criteria did He use to select them, or did they select Him?

Who choose Who?

We might like to believe that we are the ones who brought ourselves to God in order to be saved through Christ, but Jesus told the disciples, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you” (Matthew 20:16-17). (John 15:16). The context here is not only that Jesus chose the twelve disciples to be apostles, but that he also chose them to be recipients of eternal life.

  • In spite of everything, one of you is a demon,” a reference to Judas, of course (John 6:70).
  • We’re not like that.
  • When you look at all of the Old Testament prophets, you will see that God chose them (Jer 1).
  • This list also contains the Patriarchs, such as Moses (Exodus 3) and Abraham (Genesis 18).
  • “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me pulls him,” Jesus makes it very plain.

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

According to the Gospel of John, several of John the Baptist’s disciples began to follow Jesus after he appeared to them (John 1:37). The Bible indicates that Andrew was one of John’s disciples, as it states that “One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother” (John 1:40), but the true calling came when Jesus went to them and to where they made their living, as it states that “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, because they were fishermen.” They followed him, and he told them, “Follow me, and I will create you men who fish.” He was gone in an instant, and they abandoned their nets to chase him.

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Continuing on, he noticed two additional brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, who was mending their nets, and he shouted to them to come up beside him.

More Called

“The next day, Jesus made the decision to travel to Galilee. He tracked down Philip and instructed him to “Follow me.” Philip, on the other hand, was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. “We have discovered him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph,” Philip told Nathanael when he found him (John 1:43-45). God’s calling is an effective calling, which implies that everything God wants to achieve is really accomplished! Jesus never questioned Philip if he wanted to follow Him; instead, he simply said, “Follow Me,” as if it were an obligatory command: “Follow Me.” And once again, Jesus “decided to depart,” but this time “to Galilee,” where he “discovered Philip.” Afterwards, He instructs him to “Follow me.” If someone tells me, “I discovered Jesus,” I immediately inquire, “Was He ever missing?” I think He has located you.

You were previously misplaced, but you have now been discovered. You were blind, but now you see. If you were blind, there was no way you could have found your way around (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

Others Called

” After that, he stepped outside and noticed a tax collector named Levi, who was sitting at the tax booth. “Follow me,” he said to him after that. And he sprang to his feet and followed him, abandoning everything.” (See Luke 5:27-28.) Once again, Jesus Christ does not inquire of them, does not confer with them, and does not provide them with any opportunity to consider their options. He just says, “Follow me,” and there is no indication of a backup plan. God fulfills the calling once again, and, astonishingly, even prostitutes and tax collectors will be admitted into the kingdom before the self-righteous Jews (Matt 21:31), because they have repented and placed their faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Choses the Apostles

A disciple is not the same as an Apostle, which is a title that simply means “one who has been sent out.” Despite the fact that we are all invited to be followers of Christ, the first twelve Apostles were chosen by Jesus Christ Himself and ordained by Him in person. Paul would be the only one to be officially recognized as an Apostle, but even he had an experience with the living God in Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, and like the other Apostles, they were vocally called by Jesus Christ while in His presence.

Disciples are referred to as “students” or “pupils,” but Apostles are those whom God has chosen to send out on a mission.

He initially went to pray about it, and this wasn’t a quick two-minute prayer since “he walked out to the mountain to pray, and he continued to pray to God throughout the entire night” (Luke 6:12).

Conclusion

The knowledge that Jesus would tell us, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; nevertheless, since you are not of the world, but I picked you out of the world, the world hates you” brings us tremendous delight (John 15:19). How many people are against us? Is it possibly possible that we are being despised for the sake of Christ and His message of hope, the gospel? “We are ambassadors for Christ,” says Matthew 28:19, “and God is making his plea through us.” It was the blood of the Lamb of God that rescued us, and then we were to follow the Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20).

It is by our witness that we are able to overcome Satan, as the Apostle John says that Christians “have vanquished him (Satan)by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they have loved not their lives even unto death” (Rev 12:12).

They did not cherish their lives to the point that ” the word of their witness ” was not still proclaimed, even if it meant their deaths in the process. And millions of people have already paid the price. How are we supposed to keep silent?

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is the pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane, Kansas. He has been in the ministry for over 30 years. What Christians Want To Know is a Christian website whose aim is to equip, encourage, and excite Christians while also answering questions regarding the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know. You may follow Jack on Google Plus, and you can also read his book Teaching Children the Gospel, which is available on Amazon.

Jesus calls his disciples: An Invitation To Minister

Have you ever wondered why Jesus used the number 12 instead of the numbers 10 or 13 when he summons his followers to him? What criteria did Jesus use to choose each of the twelve disciples? Is there a current generation of disciples? What can we do to go even farther in our service to Christ, just as the disciples did?

What is the difference between a disciple and an apostle?

Someone who is a disciple is someone who is studying. The term Apostle literally translates as “messenger, one who has been sent.” This indicates that Jesus’ students were disciples, as indicated by the passage. One of them, he considered, was ready to enter the teaching profession. Twelve of Jesus’ disciples were chosen to serve as apostles. All apostles were also disciples, but not all disciples are apostles, and vice versa. Jesus picked twelve disciples, and this inner circle of men came to be known as the Apostles.

What Did Jesus Followers Have To Do To Become A Disciple?

As Jesus invites each of his followers individually, he encourages them to abandon their existing way of life and commit their lives to following Jesus Christ. “Come. “Follow Me,” Jesus exhorted his followers. “I’m going to turn you into people fishermen.” 4:19 (Matthew 4:19)

What Were The Disciples Doing Prior To Jesus?

The sons of Zebedee, Andrew, Peter, James, and John, all worked as fisherman, although Matthew, who is referred to as Levi in Luke, was a tax collector. Simon was referred to as the Zealot, which was a term used to describe someone who wished to destroy the government, which at the time was the Roman government, politically. What happened to the surviving apostles before their journey with Jesus Christ is unknown to them since they did not keep records of it.

How Did Jesus Choose His Disciples?

Jesus climbed to the top of a mountain and prayed all night, imploring God to give him insight. Heavenly Father picked 12 disciples who would help him accomplish his mission on this planet. At this point, we must keep in mind that Jesus came to earth to minister, cure, and offer us the greatest gift of all: the atonement, which is the gift of eternal life. Even Judas was handpicked to serve a specific mission for Christ while on earth.

How Did Jesus Call His Disciples?

According to Luke 6:12, “One day shortly later, Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God throughout the night.” As soon as the sun rose, Jesus gathered all of his followers together and picked twelve of them to be apostles.”

Who Were Jesus’s Apostles

Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was known as the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot were among those who were killed by Judas Iscariot.

How were the Apostles set apart?

Jesus summons his followers, and the power of prayer distinguishes them as his chosen ones. They were granted the ability to heal the ill in all types of sickness and disease, as well as the capacity to cast out evil demons, as part of their inheritance. “And when he had summoned unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over evil demons, authority to drive them out, and authority to cure every manner of sickness and all manner of disease,” the Bible says. 10:15 (Matthew 10:15) It is true that whomever believes in me will carry out the works I have been doing, and they will carry out even greater works than these since I am going to the Father.” And I will do anything you want in my name so that the Father’s glory may be revealed through the Son’s sacrifice.

Why Did Jesus Choose 12 Disciples?

In both the new and old testaments, the number 12 is referenced several times. God’s government is represented by the number 12. The meaning of the number 12 in Hebrew is:Twelveshtayim esreshnayim asarperfect government, order, organization, unified, perfect subdivisions of time and of peopleTwelveshtayim esreshnayim asarperfect government, order, organization, united

Time:

Time is divided into units of 12 hours during the day, 12 hours during the night, and 12 months during the year.

People:

Abraham was told to leave his own country and people behind and travel to an unspecified region, where he will serve as the founding father of a new nation, according to the Bible. Israel is a sovereign state. In fact, the 12 tribes of Israel are direct descendants of Abraham, as their grandfather Jacob’s offspring became the 12 tribes of Israel themselves. Moses constructed an altar with twelve pillars, each symbolizing one of the tribes (Exodus 24:4). On the high priest’s ephod, or sacred vest, there were twelve stones, each symbolizing a different tribe.

“It was surrounded by a vast, high wall with twelve gates, each of which was guarded by twelve angels.

Revelation 21:12 (New International Version) Representative of immaculate order in the government and subdivisions, once again.

The 12 Disciples

Having come from the tribe of Judah, Jesus Christ spent time in prayer as he contemplated who he should appoint to be his twelve disciples. Once again, the number 12 represents the ideal number of levels of government and sub-levels of human society to be found. During Jesus’ time on earth, Heavenly Father picked 12 disciples who would help him fulfill his mission. Jesus gathers his followers in order to guarantee that they continue to preach his message and carry out his job after he has returned.

The Apostles Responsibilities

Apart from curing, driving out devils, and ministering to others, among of his responsibilities included assisting his disciples in becoming spiritually pure by the baptism of water and fire. While on the cross, Jesus Christ instructs his disciples that they must carry on the task he started. “I have been granted complete control over everything in heaven and on earth.” As a result, go and make disciples of all countries, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and instructing them to follow everything I have instructed you to do.

Jesus has plans for his disciples to be with him in the afterlife, according to the Bible.

‘So, what do you think we should have?’ As a result, Jesus said to them, “With confidence, I tell to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, ruling the twelve tribes of Israel.” Matthew 19:27 and Matthew 19:28 Thus, we are left with the dilemma of who exactly are the 12 tribes of Israel.

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12 Tribes Of Israel

Following Joshua’s leadership, the Hebrew people received the territory of Caanan as their inheritance. Jacob had 12 sons, and each of his sons went on to become one of the twelve tribes of Israel’s leaders. As Jacob was renamed Israel by God, this name of the tribes came to be known as Israel. As a result of your struggles with God and with mankind and your triumphant victory over them, your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, according to the man. Genesis 32:28

Leaders of the Tribes

  • Asher
  • sDan
  • sEphraim
  • sGad
  • sIssachar
  • sManasseh
  • sNaphtali
  • sReuben
  • sSimeon
  • sZebulun
  • sJudah
  • sBenjamin

According to Genesis 49, the blessings that were given to each child were as follows: “All of them are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them as he blessed them, giving to each the blessing that was fitting for him.” Genesis 49:28 (NIV)

Each of these blessings gives us insight into the nature of each son.

Name Meaning Blessing
Reuben A son seen My firstborn; you shall not have pre-eminence
Simeon Gracious hearing Instrument of cruelty; dispersed in Jacob,scattered in Israel
Levi My joining Instrument of cruelty; dispersed in Jacob,scattered in Israel
Judah Praise of God His brethren shall praise; the scepter shall not depart from Judah
Naphtali My wrestling A hind let loose; gives beautiful words
Gad A troop or band A troop shall overcome him
Asher Proceeding right His food (bread) shall be rich (fat)
Issachar He brings reward A strong ass; a slave at forced labor
Zebulun Dwelling wished for Shall dwell at the seashore; a haven for ships
Benjamin The son of my right hand A ravenous wolf; devours the prey, divides the spoil
Manasseh He made to forget Grow into a multitude, a great people
Joseph He will add A fruitful bough; a crown on the head
Ephraim He increases A fruitful bough; a crown on the head

Because Joseph and Ephraim share the same blessing and significance, they are treated as a single person. The twelve tribes of Israel are all sprung from Abraham’s lineage. This demonstrates to us that even if we are born to a virtuous parent, it does not imply that our children will be of good character as well. The gift of free will was given to us by our heavenly Father, and we may choose to do what is good or wrong. Twelve apostles who sit at the foot of Jesus Christ will judge the twelve tribes of Israel in the afterlife, and their decisions will be final.

What Does Jesus Promise To His Followers

Matthew 19:29 (KJV) In addition, everyone who has given up their homes or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children, or farms for my cause, will get a hundred times the amount they gave up and will be granted eternal life. However, many of those who are first will be last, and many of those who are last will be first.” Jesus assures us that we will have eternal life and asks us to come and follow Him. It is up to us to make a decision. “Come. “Follow Me,” Jesus exhorted his followers.

How Can You Be A Modern Day Disciple For Christ?

We all have the chance to offer our life to Jesus Christ and dedicate them to him in some way. The followers of Jesus Christ were tasked with disseminating his message, reaching out to others, and ministering to them. While we may not all be able to become Bishops and manage big congregations, this does not rule out the possibility of serving as ministers of Christ. When it comes to our daily lives, we have a certain amount of power on others. For example, parents have influence over their children, friends have influence over one another, and we also have influence in our professional life.

General Conversation

Even simple conversations about Christ might be a ministry opportunity. If someone approaches you on a Sunday and inquires as to what you are doing, this is another another opportunity for you to share your faith. Just keep in mind that you can never compel someone to follow Christ, and that that is not what he desires. It is for this reason that we have the gift of free will.

Social Media

Sharing God’s message on social media is a fantastic approach to accomplish the following:

  1. Provide individuals with the chance to ask you questions in order to convey his message
  2. Initiate dialogues

Help others with your expertise or experience

Major depressive illness is something that I myself suffer from. After living with this condition for more than a decade, I’ve amassed quite a little toolkit for dealing with it on my own.

Individuals in internet forums might benefit from my advise and techniques, which I provide in order to better equip them. Okay, so not everyone is faced with such a dire situation, but we have a wealth of knowledge and experience that we may share with others in need.

The Gift Of Company

Human interaction is something that happens every single day. It is something in which you are well-versed. You may devote a few of hours every week to keeping the lonely elderly company by paying them a visit in their residence. This is something I did, and it was quite fulfilling.

Hugs

Yes, you read that correctly: hugs. In no way do I intend this in a strange, hippy-ish sense. The fact that preterm newborns have a higher chance of survival if they are held has been shown time and again. In certain hospitals, there are volunteer programs where you may go in and cuddle with the preterm infants.

Serving food

We are all familiar with how to properly dish a bowl of soup or a meal. Volunteering in a homeless shelter that provides meals for the homeless may be a highly rewarding experience for those who participate. Not only may you assist with cooking and serving, but you can also spend your time getting to know the people that live nearby. This might lead to chances to minister, and the dialogue is particularly beneficial for someone who does not have a place to stay at. They generally live in really difficult conditions and do not have access to a sympathetic ear to listen to their plight.

Be a friend

It doesn’t matter if you’re in high school or a mother at the church. The world may be a bleak and gloomy place at times. Please extend your friendship to someone who may be in need of it. You will also make a new buddy as a result of this experience.

Be a leader

For those who have a strong desire to see others come to faith in Christ, they may want to consider starting a bible study group, a Christian social get-together, or a prayer group. Not only will you be building your own relationship with Jesus Christ, but you will also be assisting others in strengthening theirs as well. What a blessing it is to have you! Still struggling to come up with creative ways to minister? I like praying for opportunities to minister, and it seems as though someone who needs to be ministered to constantly comes across my path.

What was Jesus’s first miracle?

The miracle of transforming water into wine was the very first miracle that Jesus ever accomplished on the earth. While this may not have been the first time a miracle was mentioned in the Bible, it was the miracle that took place the first time. The first miracle reported in the Bible was Jesus Christ Heals The Leper, which occurred in the book of Mark. The significance of this act is well documented; you may learn more about it here. We can also be the conduits through which God’s miracles are performed.

You never know who you might be able to aid or how miracles can be performed through your efforts.

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Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-19; THE TWELVE APOSTLES

THE TWELVE APOSTLES (Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-19); Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-19 In Luke 6:12, the Bible says “During these days, he went out to the mountain to pray, and he continued to pray to God throughout the night.” First and foremost, Jesus prayed all night before making a major choice such as picking his twelve followers. Never in my life have I stayed up all night praying! When was the last time Jesus slept? Have I ever stayed up all night praying like Jesus? Before we do anything significant that we have decided to do.

  • Yes, it is correct.
  • But I’m well aware that I wouldn’t be able to remain attentive to prayer throughout the night.
  • I’m beginning to believe that even after an hour, I’ll fall asleep.
  • He designated twelve people, whom He also referred to as apostles.
  • This is crucial in that any healing performed by the apostles is done so under the authority and direction of Jesus, rather than on their own initiative.
  • It’s important to note that there are two Simons, the first of whom has been dubbed “Peter,” and the second of whom has been recognized as aZealot, which may be a bit confusing at times.
  • We also read that Jesus gave John a new name, which we translate as “Boanerges,” although in today’s culture, we do not often refer to John by the name Jesus gave him.

Is it too difficult to express or to recall?

Then we have a negative identifier, which is Judas’ betrayal of Christ.

The number 12 is associated with the twelve tribes of Israel.

Possibly, these 12 were the most willing to serve Jesus, and Jesus understands the thoughts and feelings of every person.

What exactly does it mean to be “called” imply?

Allow Jesus to take care of the rest!

Without Jesus literally stepping in front of me, but rather physically present here via the Holy Spirit and in my heart, hearing a summons from Jesus is not as simple as it was in the past.

Ordinary individuals from a range of backgrounds and personalities were chosen by Jesus to be his apostles.

If Jesus can use ordinary people in such a powerful way in the past, how much more is it possible for Him to do so now with ordinary people like myself?

When God places individuals in my life, I hope that he gives me the capacity to embrace the differences among them as well as the diverse talents they bring to the table.

So I consider why God picked these 12, but an even greater topic to think would be why God chose me in the first place.

Afterwards, Jesus and His 12 disciples chatted on top of the mountain, and when they returned to earth, the audience witnessed the first gathering of the chosen 12.

First and foremost, I am always wishing that my life were on a more level plane, but it has no significance in this context.

Follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

I used to have an idea of Jesus in which He and the apostles “left everything,” but as I read, I understand that they do really come home, much like a soldier “on leave.” When his relatives became aware of the gathering, they went outside to take Jesus and bring him into the home.

“He’s completely out of his mind!” his relatives said.

They continued to assist him, but they did so while putting him down. He came to this world to live as we do, and He genuinely understands what it’s like to be in our shoes. I know He understands and loves me even when I am rejected by my own family or loved ones.

Why Did Jesus Choose The Unlikely Twelve

Pastor Glenn Pease contributed to this article. Jamie Buckingham is a well-known preacher and author, whose works have sold in the millions of copies worldwide. I appreciate him because he makes so many amusing missteps in his ministry that he helps other pastors feel less frightened by their own human flaws as a result. When life seems like a comedy of blunders, you will be comforted to know that you are not alone in feeling this way about yourself. During a serious ceremony in which he was piously leading his people to a moment of stillness, he bowed and was greeted with a roar of laughter from the rest of the crowd.

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He didn’t realize it until he was in front of all those people that a stream of toilet paper had clung to the bottom of his shoe and was trailing behind him by eight feet.

More humiliating, if that is possible, was when he placed his hand on a coffin in the church’s front pew, and the thin pedestal on which it was resting collapsed under his weight.

His baptizing a very huge woman on an Easter morning is the most amusing of all, partly because it has happened or come near to happening to many other pastors in the past.

The overflow surged into his waders, filling them to the capacity with muddy water.

He was firmly planted at the bottom of the baptistery and was unable to move.

You could question why God picks the individuals He does and why He allows the leaders of His people to do so many weird, foolish, and humiliating things.

You have no idea how many millions of times they could be multiplied.

We are entertained by the foolish faults of His people, just as we are by the blunders of our children and grandkids, so I have no doubt that God is entertained by the ridiculous mistakes of His people.

While studying the 12 men that Jesus picked to be His particular disciples, who would later go on to become the 12 Apostles, I believe the reason for this becomes more and more apparent.

We have to presume that these 12 were the cream of the crop, yet it is amazing how quickly they begin to demonstrate that they are frequently sour cream in appearance.

The remainder of these individuals aren’t exactly paragons of virtue or knights in shining armor, and they’re certainly not knights in shining armor.

This is a valid point of view.

I don’t want to be critical of Jesus’ judgment, but the evidence from the New Testament begs us to wonder, why in the world did Jesus chose this group of people to be his disciples?

Is it possible that Jesus turned off His divinity and made His decisions solely on the basis of His human feelings?

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TWELVE If there was anything unusual about these gentlemen, it was not immediately apparent to the naked eye.

It was clear that they were struggling to comprehend what Jesus was teaching them, and He was constantly providing them with private tuition to help them grasp His parables.

” “How are you going to grasp any parable then?” Then He went on to tell the story of the sower in greater detail.

It is the teacher’s dissatisfaction with students who are unable to see what is evident to him or her.

“Magellan completed three voyages around the world, one of which resulted in his death.” “Can you tell me which one it was?” When a student is unable to provide a response to such queries, the instructor begins to lose patience with him or her.

Jesus’ annoyance builds as they appear to be becoming more and more foolish with each lecture.

The Bible says in Mark 8:17-18 that Jesus was aware of their conversation and addressed them, “Why are you talking about having no bread?” Are you still unable to see or comprehend?

Do you have eyes but can’t see, and ears but can’t hear?

‘And don’t you recall what I said?'” He then goes on to clarify what He means once again.

The majority of instructors are forced to accept their students as they are.

Some individuals thrive on a challenge, and Jesus was certainly one of them, but we can discern hints of remorse in His actions that lead us to wonder if He would make the same decisions if given the chance.

15:15-16, Peter requests that Jesus “explain the parables to us.” “Are you still as dull as you were before?” Jesus asks.

Peter is the group’s leader, and he is about as sharp as a tack after it has been ran over by a train on a railroad crossing.

That was the finest response he had ever given to a question Jesus had posed, and Jesus complimented him as he had never been praised before.

“Peter pulled him aside and started to reprimand him,” according to Matthew 16:22.

“You are a source of frustration for me.” When Peter says, “No, you shall never wash my feet,” he is referring to the book of John.

We were dealing with the 12th commander, and he had to be coerced into accepting what was being spoken to him, kicking and screaming the entire time.

Not to mention that they were not assigned to him and that they did not submit an application.

What is the source of these perplexing appointments?

However, even when the resurrection demonstrated that everything Jesus taught was true, these men were the last to admit that the truth had through their thick brains.

Mark 16:14 provides our Lord’s final words to this particular band of musicians.

What a relief it must have been for Jesus when he lamented in Mark 9:19, “How long must I put up with these guys?” If Jesus had picked His elite band from among the Hell’s angels, he would have had a far more difficult time training them.

It is densely packed with smudged records of their own self-importance.

These men were battling about who’s father or sibling was the biggest or strongest, exactly like junior high school lads.

The other disciples were quite enraged by this, mostly because they had not thought of it themselves.

His instruction was mostly focused on getting this elite class of His to mature and behave like men, rather than the brat brigade that they had become.

When Jesus was constructing His church on the foundation of these selected men, he encountered a swarm of bugs.

As a result of his encounter with the Old Testament, one would expect Jesus to have gained some insight.

Yes, He was able to turn lemons into lemonade and complete His mission, which included bringing the Messiah into the world as the seed of Abraham, but what a task it was.

The most of the time, God was rebuking and condemning them.

Are we to conclude that even God does not learn from history and is, as a result, doomed to make the same mistakes over and over again?

Even more so, since we know He had other alternatives.

Peter in Acts 1 informs us the prerequisites to be one of the 12.

There were more than the 12 who could fit these qualifications.

The point is, here were two guys who qualified to be among the 12, yet they were not picked.

The 12 was undoubtedly a symbolic number that Jesus insisted on retaining.

All of the 70 probably could have qualified to be an Apostle, but the number 12 was not to be tampered with.

When Judas was dead they voted in another to get the 11 back up to 12, for 12 was the hallowed number.

The 12 tribes failed to fulfill God’s purpose to be a blessing to all the families of the world.

Jesus and His 12 were a public symbol that He was the Messiah, and His 12 disciples were the beginning of the New Israel.

Jacob had 12 sons, but he also had two grandsons by Joseph named Ephraim and Manasseh, and these two were counted as one tribe.

But if they were counted the two grandsons would not be, for it always had to be an even 12.

This number is maintained all through the Bible right to the very end where we read in Rev.

There is perfect and precise consistency on this number 12.

Precision and accuracy is characteristic of the mathematical sciences, but this does not mean that the 12 men themselves can be tied together in such a neat package.

Why did Jesus chose these particular 12 men when a blind man can see they are such fallible specimens of humanity.

We are questioning the choices of God and His Son.

We have asked the question enough times.

First of all, we need to realize that the Bible shows that the God of perfection purposely uses defective tools to fulfill His goal.

That is all there is, and even God, with the exception of His Son, must settle for less than perfection in all things.

God’s possibilities are limitless, but His choices are not.

He does not have the option of using just perfect people and ideal equipment, and as a result, He does exactly what we do: He makes use of what is available.

Other peoples in the globe were superior than the Israelis in many ways.

The Arabs possessed greater strength and advanced culture and the arts, and we could go on and on about how much they were ahead of Israel in every manner.

She was a nonentity, a zip, and a zero when the rim was removed.

God, on the other hand, chose her not because of what she could do for God, but because of what God could do for her and with her.

They were hardly the most talented men in the planet.

Jesus acts in the same way as the Father acted in the Old Testament.

If you laud Israel for anything she has done, or the church for whatever she has done, you are making a fool of yourself.

The honor does not belong to the twelve, or to the seventy, or to the one hundred and twenty at Pentecost, or to the millions of Christian workers who have served throughout history.

The incredible good news in all of this is that you don’t have to be concerned about whether or not you are qualified to be utilized by God.

He specializes in employing those who are not qualified for the position.

I have a sneaking sense that the biggest untapped resource for the kingdom of God on this planet is the vast majority of regular Christians who believe they are unqualified to accomplish almost anything.

They become pew potatoes because they assume the Lord of perfection will take none but the best.

This completely misses the point, which is that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.

“Pick someone else, I’m not very good at public speaking,” Moses replied.

“My sin is always in front of me,” David cried out.

When asked what he did, Paul replied: “The evil that I would not, I do.” Take a shovel if you want to dig up dirt on God’s elect, particularly the top among God’s elect, for you will find enough.

Because it is His plan all along.

He wants to show them that they can be used by God.

It will not withstand the test of time.

It’s likely that you’ll make even fewer mistakes than they did in their first attempt.

It was their potential that drew His attention and made them His pick. What do you think your chances are of becoming a disciple are? Certainly, you can be utilized in the same manner as these perplexing appointments.

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