Jesus chooses the Apostles

The results of Jesus choosing was mixed, many were amazed, astonished, others were filled with rage. Is that not what we face today when we choose to share Jesus?

This morning we are going to look at an important choice Jesus is going to make and how He comes to do it.

Our passage

Luke 6:12–13 NASB95

12 It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles:

Luke 6:14–15 NASB95

14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James and John; and Philip and Bartholomew; 15 and Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot;

Luke 6:16–17 NASB95

16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. 17 Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon,

Luke 6:18–19 NASB95

18 who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured. 19 And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all.

What do you notice in this passage?

In looking at (v.12) is there a time frame set on this passage? If so, when?

Yes there is, “at this time,” or some versions say “in those days” and that would refer back to the time just after He healed the man with the withered hand and brought people to rage.

What did Jesus do in (v.12)?

He went off

He prayed the whole night to God

When did Jesus call the disciples to Himself and for what reason (v.13)?

When day came, to then name the apostles.

Who are the named apostles (vv.14-16)?

Simon/Peter, Andrew and his brother James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot

Judas the son of James and Jesus Iscariot who became a traitor.

When Jesus returned with the now twelve apostles from among the disciples what was waiting for him (v.17)?

A large crowd of disciples, a great throng of people from Judea, Jerusalem, Tyre and Sidon

why did the large crowd, great throng of people comes to Jesus (vv.18-19)

To hear Him, to be healed, to touch Him

Bonus question do you notice anything else that happens (v.19)?

Power was coming from Him and healing them all.

A time of preparation

Luke 6:12–13 NKJV

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:

Jesus had gone from carpenters son, to miracle worker rejected in his own community, to now:

Offending the traditions of the religious people who are now looking to put Him to death

Political leaders plotting His destruction (Mk3:6)

Mark 3:6 NASB95

6 The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.

Great crowds were following and wanting to touch Him and receive healings and hear Him.

Jesus chose to go off to the mountain and pray.

What can we learn from that?

Jesus prayed, Jesus was intentional, Jesus went off by Himself to do it.

Do you ever feel pressures of the world we live in, the life you live? Do you do like Jesus and intentionally get to a secluded place to seek God?

Spurgeon: “Jesus was God; yet He did not simply use His infinite knowledge to pick the apostles. Instead, He prayed all night. Like every other struggle Jesus faced. He faced this one as a man; a man who needed to seek the will of His father and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit just as we do.”

Choosing the apostles from among the disciples was important for they would be the ones who would carry on the mission.

What do you believe the difference is between a disciple and an apostle?

Disciple: A learner, a follower of a teacher.

Morris: “A disciple was a learner, a student, but in the first century a student did not simply study a subject; He followed a teacher. There is an element of personal attachment in ‘disciple’ that is lacking in ‘student.’”

The disciples belonged to Jesus, they were His and from them He would chose the Apostles

Apostles: Means “sent one.” One sent with message from the sender. Even Jesus was an apostle and High priest (see Heb3:1). Sent with a message and authority.

Hebrews 3:1 NASB95

1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession;

Jesus knew one of the twelve would betray him from the beginning (Jn6:64)

John 6:64 NASB95

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 it was that would betray Him.

(Transition) As we get to the names of the apostles, you can find them also in Mt10:1-4, Mk3:16-19 and Act1:13 (minus Judas Iscariot).

The naming of the apostles

Luke 6:14–15 NKJV

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;

Luke 6:16 NKJV

16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

We may not know much about all of them beyond names and historically how they died. Our goal is to look at the called, the named, the sent apostles

Simon given name Peter (stone)

Andrew, Peter’s brother whom followed after hearing John (ref: Jn1:40-42)

Philip whom followed and invited Nathanael to follow (Jn1:45)

Bartholomew who is Nathanael (Jn1:45-49)

Matthew the tax collector

Thomas who would later be known as doubting Thomas

James, Son of Alphaeus

Simon the Zealot

could be a Jewish patriot known as a zealot against Rome known even for terror and assassinations or it could mean the name “Jealous for God, zealous for God’s honor.”

Judas the son of James and finally

Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Enduring word commentary says this about Judas “Jesus chose Judas knowing him and what he would do, but also knowing that God would allow and even use the great evil Judas did for the good, despite the intention of Judas.”

I found this quote pretty good and though you would appreciate this one too.

“A man once asked a theologian, ‘Why did Jesus choose Judas Iscariot to be his disciple?’ The teacher replied, ‘I don’t know, but I have even a harder question: Why did Jesus choose me?’”

One more thought: This is a very interesting group of men, ordinary men

1 Corinthians 1:26–27 NASB95

26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,

1 Corinthians 1:28–29 NASB95

28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God.

Men that should be an encouragement to us today, ordinary men, ordinary jobs/vocations (of the ones we know) different personalities, called to be with him, learn from Him and go and represent Him.

Mark 3:14 NASB95

14 And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach,

(Transition) After a night of prayer, and a calling (setting apart) of the Apostles now more ministry work to be done.

And He was healing them all.

Luke 6:17–18 NKJV

17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, 18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed.

Luke 6:19 NKJV

19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

Jesus comes down with them (Apostles) to join in the work.

Jesus could do it all without them, but the big picture, the scheme of redemption included them taking the gospel to the whole world and this was the start of their training ground.

People from all different places had gathered as a large crowd, a throng of people.

The word of Jesus was travelling everywhere and many were travelling many miles to hear Him and to be healed of diseases, unclean spirits, to be cured, to touch Him.

The people were not just Jews, but Gentiles from the region of Tyre and Sidon

Jesus was not about a healing service, but the teaching was about to come in our next passage we will get to next week.

The Power of God in Jesus was the power of God from Jesus that went out as He healed them all (ref: Mk5:30 too-woman with blood issue).

It cost Jesus to serve the will of the Father; it costs us to serve the will of God too.

Jesus set the example for the newly named Apostles of his love, power, and compassion in His healing and in the teaching that was to come.