Choosing of the Twelve

Jesus Chooses His 12 Apostles.

Luke 6:12–16 (ESV)

12. In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: 14. Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15. and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16.and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Good morning church- Welcome to church online.

Today we will be going through the next passage in the book of Luke where we see Jesus once again putting on full display his authority by choosing his 12 apostles.

Luke 6:12-16 “12. In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: 14. Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15. and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16. and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.”

Lets Pray -

So I came across this fictional letter written to Jesus from the Jordan Management Consultants. Jesus apparently is looking for some coworkers, and has submitted some names to these management consultants who write back with their recommendations. It reads this way:

Dear Sir:

Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have picked for managerial positions in your new organization. It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking.

Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale.

We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew had been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Simon definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale.

One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind, and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious, and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man.

Sincerely, Jordan Management Consultants

Use football team analogy of 11 men on field plus coach (equals 12) make comparison of Hackett.

Lets get into this -

Luke 6:12 “12. In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.

Prayer.

Luke Translates “prayer to God” into, “prayer of God”.

Beautiful when we think of the trinity.

He was not only praying to God but he was in communion with God.

The Trinity was deliberating. 

WHY?? This was a big decision he was about to choose the 12 men who would take his gospel forward.

They were about to go from Disciple to Apostle, a big office promotion.

This isn’t an indicator as some might think that Jesus was simply a man in need of God’s guidance, but for 33 years God the Son did take on man’s flesh and much of our weakness.  He was tired, and needed the Father’s aid.  He needed the Father’s guidance as He selected the twelve.

We must also realize that the choosing of the twelve is a Divine event.  Christianity is built on these men whom God ordained to be Apostles.  The Christian faith is not man’s idea or invention it is solely a work of our Sovereign God.  Christianity is the new patch that cannot be sewn into an old garment. Or in Biblical terms It’s the new wine that cannot be poured into old wineskins.

Have you had a big decision to make? What did you do the night before?

True prayer is measured by weight, not by length. A single groan before God may have more fullness of prayer in it than a fine oration of great length.

Charles Spurgeon

The best prayers have more often groans than words.

John Bunyan

What am i getting at? Prayer is important, don’t be afraid to do it.

Disciple to Apostle

13. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles

So, right away we see in verse 13. Jesus picking out of the group, 12 individuals. Meaning, there were many more disciples with Jesus at this time. Jesus was simply about to pick 12 out of this big group who would then become his Apostles.

Lets break down Disciples from Apostles.

Disciple: Greek Mathetes (μαθητής) Hebrew Limmud (לִמֻּד) - disciple n. — a student who adheres to (and travels with) a teacher in a pedagogical relationship; especially used of students of spiritual leaders.

A Disciple was a student, a pupil, a learner. -

Disciples would eat, sleep, and breath what there teacher did.

back in those Days Students or Disciples would choose there rabbi or teacher.

They would select who they wanted to sit under and learn from

Joke about having certain programs and sports teams.

This is where it is different, unique, cool, because instead of the disciples choosing their teacher/Rabbi, their teacher/Rabbi chose them.

Jesus said “FOLLOW ME”

John 15:16 (ESV)

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.

So we can see what a disciple was and how they were students of the teacher. Learning, eating, traveling with the teacher. Jesus was the ultimate teacher he was always willing to teach anyone who was willing to listen and follow.

Luke 6:13 (ESV)

And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:

What Jesus was now doing was selecting the 12 to now become apostles, a promotion if you will.

WHY 12??

The number 12 represents the 12 tribes of Israel.

Twelve is a symbolic number. 

There were twelve tribes of Israel. 

However, during the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, Israel was corrupt. 

The religion of Judaism had given up divine grace for human works. 

The calling of the twelve Apostles was an indictment against the religious system of Judaism.  Jesus didn’t choose twelve Rabbis or twelve Pharisees.  The men He chose were not a part of this religious system at all. 

So the twelve Apostles would be the new Israel.  They would be the ones that Jesus the New Moses would lead into the Promised Land.

Apostle (ἀπόστολος, apostolos). Someone, or something, sent. Derived from the verb “to send out” (ἀποστέλλειν, apostellein). In the New Testament, it usually refers to someone sent as an authorized agent by Jesus or the Christian community, an Ambassador of Christ

Talk about how we can no longer be apostles, but we are still called to be disciples and ambassadors.

Preach on it!!

2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Possible Preaching Point

Now, many scholars discuss and believe that apostle was a term possibly made after Jesus’ ascension into heaven. We see Paul use the word apostle quite frequently and it is also used in acts but not used much in the gospels and not in any writings earlier then the New Testament. The word (ἀποστέλλειν, apostellein), is used throughout the old and new testament to describe someone or something “sent out”. This is where apostle came from.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Apostle in the New Testament

Of the 79 passages that use “apostle” in the New Testament, 66 are found in Acts and the Epistles

Verse 14

English Standard Version (Chapter 6)

14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

So here we see the list of men Jesus has chosen.

this list of names is mentioned in only four books, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts.

In these accounts we see some differences, however, we also see a lot of similarities.

For example Peter is always named 1st and Judas (the traitor) is always named last.

Possibly indicating order of ranking and age.

Called three times

The first time they are called is in John chapter 1 starting in verse 35 and going to 51. While John the baptist is baptising, some of his disciples were with him and John points out to Jesus and says “there is the lamb of God who will take away the sin of the world.”

Some of the followers go up to Jesus and ask where he will be staying Jesus tells them to come find out and the next day Jesus asks them to “come follow me”.

This is as call to believe in him as messiah.

That was phase one of their calling. It was a calling to conversion. It illustrates how every disciple is called first to salvation. We must recognize Jesus as the true Lamb of God and Lord of all, and embrace Him by faith.

John F. MacArthur

2nd Calling

this is found in Matthew 4.

They are at the sea of Galilee and Jesus says to them Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.

Matthew 4:18–22 ESV

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, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

If the First calling was a call to “Salvation” this was a call to service.

Phase two of their calling was a call to ministry.

John F. MacArthur

The calling to salvation also entails a call to serve (Eph. 2:10).

John F. MacArthur

2nd Calling Continued…

Jesus had to call them a second time.

We know as humans we dont always here the call the first time.

We must be in prayer we must be in our word, we must be in devotion with God so we may know and distinguish his voice from others.

I know my wife's voice, because I spend time with her, I have gotten to know her,

So much so that if we are in the store and I hear a women’s voice call out “Hey good lookin” if its not hers Im not turning around. Come on somebody.

Do you know Gods voice well enough that you can tell it apart from the devils sweet talking voice calling you away??

Jesus had to get their attention once again,

and once again he met them where they were at.

Luke 5:1–11 (ESV)

For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

This was a call to surrender. To follow God we must surrender all to him.

Talk on this.

The third truth we must recognize is that the Christian calling is a call to surrender.

R. Scott Pace

Third Calling

Now we are here at the third calling.

At this point they have been called to believe, salvation, Second to serve and surrender all to him.

Now their third calling was a call to be his apostles.

Luke 6:12–16 describe a third phase of their calling. This was their calling to apostleship.

John F. MacArthur

Application

These men were ordinary men regular everyday men who were not special in any way.

In fact I think everyone would agree that looking at this list we can say Jesus had a sense of humor in choosing these men (JOKE)

God does the choosing, but we must follow.

We might not be able to be apostles, be we are called to be his disciples.

and to do that we must truly surrender all to him

Luke 14:27 ESV

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

to deny oneself ⇔ carry the cross v. — to deny oneself with lethal determination; conceived of as picking up or carrying a wooden beam to one’s own execution.

to deny (someone or something) v. — to refuse someone (something); restrain, especially from indulging in some pleasure.

The purpose for which we have been chosen is to be conformed to the image of Christ, to be servants of God, to be people of obedience who live lives of godliness and righteousness.

R. C. Sproul

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