Following the Lord Jesus Christ: #31 The Calling of the Twelve Apostles

After an exhausting day of healing the multitudes, Jesus must once again find renewal in the intimate fellowship between Father and Son, so he goes to a solitary place for prayer that night. Let’s follow him up the mountain.

Mark 3:13a; Luke 6:12
(Mark and Luke) [NKJV]
Now it came to pass in those days that He went up to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

His Father graciously answers his beloved Son’s prayers, and shows Jesus how to get the help that he needs.

Matthew 10:1; Mark 3:13-15; Luke 6:13
(Matthew and Luke) (Matthew and Mark) (Mark and Luke) [NKJV]
And when it was day, He called (prosphoneō) His disciples,those He Himself wanted; and they came.
And then from them He called (proskaleomai), chose (eklegomai),and ordained (poieō) twelve,whom He also named apostles,that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach.
And He gave them to have power to heal all kinds of sicknesses and all kinds of disease and to cast out demons.

Surely this would be a great support for Jesus. God was providing him with twelve intimate followers to be personally trained to share in his work and ministry. Their purpose is defined here in Mark 3:14: first of all, that they would “be with him.” Jesus had to fulfill his calling as Savior of the world, yet as a man in the likeness of sinful flesh, he had very human needs: companionship, fellowship, support, understanding.

Secondly, the word “apostle” means “one who is sent forth.” These twelve specifically were “sent forth to preach,” to later carry on the completed work of Christ, and to bring salvation and deliverance to the world in his name. But how does he choose just the right men to become apostles? Let’s have a look!

We’ve already met Andrew and Peter, James and John, Philip and Nathanael. (See Following the Lord Jesus Christ: #9 In the Land Beyond Jordan.) Andrew, Peter, James, and John had decided to follow Jesus, although they still maintained their homes and their businesses. Then, not too much later, they received the further invitation to discipleship.

“Peter and Andrew did not have to think about it too long. They immediately left their fishing business to become fishers of men. A little further along, Jesus came upon James and John, and called them to follow him as well. They also responded immediately by leaving their home, their family, and their business to follow Jesus.” – Following the Lord Jesus Christ: #20 Fishers of Men

We can perceive then, the learning progression: First came the call to follow Jesus, to listen and learn from his words and deeds; then the call to leave home, family, and business, to become a disciple of Jesus.

Matthew’s response to the invitation to follow Jesus from Luke 5:28 tells us that: “…he left all, rose up, and followed him.” (Following the Lord Jesus Christ: #27 The Calling of Matthew.) This tax collector had seen and heard enough from his central viewpoint of the custom house in Capernaum. And he needed nothing more to persuade him that Jesus was the Messiah. He forsook all right away and became a disciple of Jesus.

Then, out from among his band of disciples, Jesus chooses and ordains twelve young men to help him in his life’s work. They are commissioned as apostles to preach the Good News and to heal all and to cast out evil spirits by the power of God.

The first apostles were not perfect, and at times could be selfish, ambitious, or fearful. Each would have their own challenges, frustrations, and hardships to overcome. We are introduced to them by name and we start to learn more about these men called to carry out the work of the only begotten Son of God.

Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19a; Luke 6:14-16
(Matthew and Luke); (Matthew and Mark); (Mark and Luke) [NKJV]
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these:
First, Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; Philip and Bartholomew;
Matthew the tax collector and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon,the Cananite called the Zealot; and Lebbaeus (Judas) (whose surname was Thaddaeus) the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also betrayed Him (became a traitor).

Already we can see there may be a bit of trouble brewing among them simply because of the diversity of their backgrounds. For instance, Matthew the tax collector and Simon the Zealot would have been completely at odds politically. Zealots, as a sect of Judeans, were known for their opposition to Roman occupation of Palestine. Tax collectors exacted taxes from the people for Rome. And yet both were called to be disciples of Jesus and then apostles for Christ.

The band of the apostles provides a wide spectrum of personalities: Peter, the energetic, impetuous leader along with John, a contemplative, prayerful man; Andrew, a pure-hearted man of great faith, always bringing people together; the doubting, yet still faithful Thomas. We will gain a better picture of all these men as we continue on our journey with them following our Lord Jesus Christ.

NEXT:  Following the Lord Jesus Christ: #32 The Sermon on the Plain

PREVIOUS:  Following the Lord Jesus Christ: #30 Healing Near the Sea of Galilee

Matthew 10:1-4 [NKJV]
And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

Mark 3:13-19a [NKJV]
And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him.
Then He ordained twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach,
and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:
Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter;
James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”;
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite;
and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

Luke 6:12-16 [NKJV]
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.
And when it was day, He called His disciples; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:
Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;
Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot;
Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.