With Him

Luke 6:12–16 (ESV)

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

Mark 3:13–14 ESV

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

2 Timothy 2:2 ESV

2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

Jesus had many disciples (learners), but he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles (messengers). The apostles were Jesus’ inner circle. He gave them special training, and he sent them out with his own authority. From the hundreds of people who followed Jesus from place to place, he especially selected these twelve to be with him. The Greek verb means that these men remained with him as his constant and closest companions. Many people followed and listened to Jesus, but these twelve received the most intense training. We see the impact of these men throughout the rest of the New Testament, for they started the Christian church. The phrase “whom he also named apostles” does not appear in some Greek manuscripts. In the Gospels these twelve men are usually called the disciples or the Twelve; in the book of Acts they are called apostles.

The choice of twelve men is highly symbolic. The number twelve corresponds to the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28), showing the continuity between the old religious system and the new one based on Jesus’ message. Jesus looked upon this as the gathering of the true people of God. These men were the righteous remnant who would carry on the work the twelve tribes were chosen to do—to build the community of God.

Jesus did not choose these twelve to be his disciples because of their faith—it often faltered. He didn’t choose them because of their talent and ability—no one stood out with unusual ability. The disciples represented a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences, but apparently they may have had no more leadership potential than those who were not chosen. The one characteristic they all shared was their willingness to obey Jesus.

The apostles remained with Jesus for training so that Jesus could then send them out as his ambassadors or representatives to proclaim the message. Unlike the students of the rabbis, who merely learned and memorized facts, the disciples were being trained to carry out a mission. Their message was the good news of the gospel; they were to proclaim that message publicly and with the authority given to them by Christ himself.

After Jesus’ ascension, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to carry out special roles in the growth of the early church. We should not disqualify ourselves from service to Christ because we do not have impressive credentials. Being a good disciple is simply a matter of following Jesus with a willing heart.

Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.

Jim Elliot