The First Disciples

The good news that we preach is this: Jesus, God’s Son, lived, died, and rose to save sinners from God’s righteous judgment. He’s alive now and willing to save anyone who repents. You and I need a substitute for judgment day. Someone who can pay your penalty. Someone who can be your righteousness. A champion who will advocate for you. Jesus Christ came to be just that. Give up all self-righteousness, turn aside from all sin, and entrust yourself to his grace.

This is the message we proclaim - and we proclaim it because it has been passed down from Jesus himself. The text we’re in this morning describes Jesus’ choosing the 12 apostles. Most people in the world have heard about the 12, or have at least heard their names. Cathedrals and churches are named after them. These men are remembered for all time, and will be remembered throughout all eternity for the unique role they played in God’s redemptive plan. We know the gospel today because of what Jesus did through them.

Mark 3:6 indicates that the current leadership of Israel had rejected their Lord and King, and the fact that Jesus chooses 12 apostles indicates that Jeuss has rejected them and their authority, and appointed new men to be the foundation of these New Covenant people. Ephesians 2 calls the apostles a “foundation,” in Matt 19 Jesus tells them in the future they’ll rule over the restored tribes of Israel. Revelation 21:14 says their names will be inscribed upon the twelve foundations of the wall of the city.

What an amazing destiny. What makes it more amazing is what kind of men they are. Let’s take a quick look at these guys: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter). He’s the most well-known of the apostles. In every list of the apostles, he’s listed first. He’s clearly the loudest, most talkative, and also the most brash. He did everything big - including his failures.

Peter was only a nickname. As we go through the list, you’ll see there are a bunch of nicknames. His birth name was Simon, Jesus nicknamed him Peter. Peter sounds just like the word “rock.” Nicknaming someone Peter in Greek is like nicknaming someone Rocky in English. Jesus uses this nickname to remind Peter of what he’s called to be: you’re a Rock, Rocky. Come on Rocky. Every time Peter heard that name Peter he would be reminded of his role.

James and John are mentioned next. These are the sons of Zebedee. It’s funny that again and again these guys are mentioned as “sons of Zebedee.” As if we all knew who Zebedee was. He must have had some reputation in those days. We do know that somehow Zebedee had connections with the high priest. But these guys were fishermen. Zebedee was a fishermen - and it might be that they had a pretty lucrative business.

These guys also have a nickname: Jesus nicknamed them “Boanerges,” which means “Sons of Thunder,” and one commentator said this is the equivalent of “Hotheads” - because at one point they asked Jesus if fire could come down from heaven and destroy a town. So Peter got a nickname that reminded him of who he was supposed to be, James and John get a nickname that reminded them of who they’re not supposed to be.

That might be more of a guy thing; nicknames. Usually - even if they're a bit harsh - when guys are giving each other nicknames it means they’re getting comfortable with each other. In college we had a 6’10 guy on our team, skinnier than me, and at the beginning of the season we went up the mountain for a team retreat and he kept mentioning how he was afraid of snakes. Well guess what his nickname was for the rest of the year: Snakes. That’s cause we liked him.

Andrew, Peter’s brother. - he’s a quiet one and whenever we see him he’s faithfully bringing people to Jesus. We’ve got Philip - again not much information about him. John 1 tells us he’s from Bethsaida, which is the same city and Andrew and Peter. There’s evidence that Philip was also a fisherman and it’s likely Philip knew Peter, James, John, and Andrew.

Bartholomew. This is also probably a nickname, not given by Jesus but from birth. Technically speaking, Bartholomew isn’t a name. Bar means “son of” Tolmai. His actual name, according to the other gospel accounts, is Nathanael. It was actually Philip who introduced Jesus to Nathanael in John 1:45. Philip came to him and said, “We have found him whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” And it doesn’t take much convincing: Nathanael - Bartholomew receives Christ as Messiah.

We were introduced to Matthew in chapter 2, as Levi the tax collector, who was despised by the Jews. It’s remarkable that he’s here with these guys because he stole their money. Thomas - his name is forever ingrained in history because he doubted Christ after the resurrection.

We know virtually nothing about James the son of Alphaeus, except that at the end of Mark he’s called “James the younger” in 15:40. Sometimes James the Less, which could be a nickname. The word for younger or “less” is the Greek word “micros” which usually refers to something small in stature - so this could've been his nickname. James the Shorty.

Thaddaeus. In John he’s called “Judas, not Iscariot”, and Lebbaus in Matthew 10. Thaddeus literally means “breast child,” which is kinda like saying “momma’s boy,” and Lebbaus means “heart child.” It seems like his actual name was Judas, but because he didn’t want to be called Judas anymore after the betrayal, he started going by his nicknames - Thaddeus or Lebbaeus.

Simon the Zealot - a zealot was a political sect that was well-known and widely feared during Jesus day.

And the last was Judas Iscariot - the most tragic life to have ever been lived. A person called to follow Jesus, hear Jesus, learn from Jesus, but who defects from Jesus. Jesus said that it would be better for Judas if he had never been born, which means that Judas is in hell.

So imagine this: the fate of eternal souls rests on whether they hear a message, and you’ve got to select a crew of men to ensure that this message gets to the world. Who do you choose?

I’m not sure you’re going with fishermen. Or despised tax collectors. But that’s what Jesus does here. He’s choosing an unlikely bunch to accomplish his purpose. This is always how God works. He chooses vessels for his work that are not in the high strata of society, the elites and the powerful and the rich. 1 Corinthians 1:26 “For consider your calling, brothers; not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”

Here’s your crew to change the world. They’re not wise according to worldly standards, they’re not powerful, they’re not of noble birth. They are weak, low, and despised. And why does Jesus choose them? So that it’s obvious that it’s not their work. Christ does the work through them.

Let’s look at how Jesus appointed them, and then draw out some lessons:

Luke includes the detail that before this event, Jesus stayed up all night in prayer. Apparently the need for wisdom in choosing leaders is so urgent that it required an all nighter (Lk 6:12).

Notice it all starts with Jesus. Jesus desires. These men, out of all the crowds, are the ones described here as “those whom he desired.” There were thousands of people clamoring around him; there were even other faithful disciples who listened to his teachings, but Jesus exercises his sovereignty authority to choose. So he chose those whom he desired. Here we are reminded that the fundamental reason why anyone ever becomes a disciple of Jesus is because Jesus desires them. The only way we could ever love him is if he loved us first. This is why he told the disciples in John 15:16 “You did not choose men, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.”

Secondly, he called them. His desire moved toward these men and he called them. This word has more authority than how it sounds. Think of a summons, or an invitation. Jesus calls them - summons them - and they come.

Third, he appoints them. He appoints them to be apostles. The word apostello is a Greek verb that means “to send.” The noun form, “apostolos” means “sent one.” These are Christ’s designated apostles who will be his sent ones.

Finally, they are going to be sent by him, with his message. That’s what it means to be an apostle. The word is tied to the idea of having and communicating a message. They are desired, called, appointed, and then (will be sent) with a message to proclaim. Jesus desires, calls, appoints with the purpose of training them so as to send them out to spread a message.

This is what ministry is all about: helping people understand, believe, and obey a message. Let’s simplify ministry. Helping people understand, believe, and obey God’s message.

But he started with a few ordinary men. This was Jesus' divine strategy to advance his work was to pick twelve ordinary, ragtag men. Some lessons:

Lesson 1: He wasn’t impressed by human power.

In fact, he intentionally avoided choosing men with power to accomplish his work. Human power was not going to be the machine that moved the mission forward. Business tactics were not going to be the answer. Entrepreneurial skills were not going to be the answer. Leadership techniques were not going to do it. Political force or celebrity influence can’t move the gospel forward an inch.

True - true gospel preaching, evangelism, discipleship - is fueled by supernatural power. I remember a friend telling me that pastors shouldn’t go to seminary to learn the Scriptures, they should go to business school and learn there because the church is essentially a business.

Do you agree with that? Friend, that way of thinking is a profound threat to the church. The more professionalized ministry is, the more it banks on brilliant strategies, clever marketing, flashy programs - the less true it is. Jesus didn’t use these things. They don’t change hearts. Human power adds nothing.

What these disciples - and what we need for true spiritual power - is the presence of Christ. Jesus chose ordinary men to remind ordinary people like us that it is not skill that he blesses, not talent, not technique, not giftedness, not power or position or popularity - it is holiness.

He focused on the few.

What I mean by that is he chose twelve. He had thousands following his every move, and he chose 12. That’s smaller than your typical classroom. Think about this: Jesus' message for perpetuating the gospel message was to focus on a few men. Mark intentionally contrasts these few men with the bustling crowds of the previous section. He healed the crowds, but they weren’t part of his plan to preach his message, establish his church, and advance the gospel. It was a small group of ordinary men.

12 meant he could know each one. 12 meant he could bring them with him wherever he went. In fact, 12 meant they could all travel in a boat together, eat a meal in a home together, walk together from town to town. There’s a different level of intimacy with a group of 12.

When I first started ministry I was a youth pastor at a small baptist church in Fallbrook. When I got there in May 2008, there were 11 kids in the youth group. By June, 8 of them graduated and moved out and then there were 3. I remember talking to a youth pastor of a megachurch and I must have been moaning about my situation because he said: “Every small church is trying to get big and every big church is trying to get small.”

His point: size is alluring, but when it comes it changes the dynamic and the intimacy and connectedness becomes harder to maintain. There’s truth in that, which is why Jesus chose 12.

I think there are two implications here: First, disciples need to be known. If these guys were lost in the crowd, they wouldn’t have been equipped for the service God had for them.

Friends, if you get lost in the crowd, you won’t be equipped either. This, by the way, is one reason we are committed to having church membership. When you become a church member, you’re saying, “Here I am, know me. Help me. Teach me. Guide me.”

What might happen if you attended church without ever really being known? No one speaking directly to your specific needs. No one available to help in times of tragedy and grief. An isolation and loneliness humanity was never intended to have.

This text shows us that part of God’s design to help Christians be Christians is relationships. This is why the church exists. It is not “take it if you need it.” You need it.

Who here knows your story? Who here knows your heart? Who here has eaten at your table? Has anyone here wept with you? Have they watched you struggle?

If you’re convicted about this: the members of our church have committed to weep with those who are weeping, to rejoice with those rejoicing, to weave their lives together with one another. You need people who have made that commitment to you. Why would you not seek them out?

Second implication: As a discipler, you must seek out people to know and care for.

I’m in ministry because of a pastor who focused on me, got to know me, prayed for me. It wasn’t the crowds he was after, he wanted to sharpen his focus.

I remember reading about the funeral of a man who served in his church as a greeter for several years - decades. And at his funeral several other men stood up and shared how the man had mentored them, met with them, wept with them, laughed with them, read Scripture with them, prayed with them. He wasn’t a pastor, but several men he invested in became pastors.

Are you investing in people, like Jesus? Will people stand up at your funeral filled with thankfulness for the way you opened your life, your heart, and your Bible with so many others? Will they praise God for your love for Christ that spilled into their lives?

I’m thrilled at the way the Lord is encouraging many of you to be in discipling relationships. I heard of a small group of women who began reading and studying James together. I know of several men who meet with other men to read and pray together. Are you in the game?

Fathers, start with your wife and children. Older men, if you don’t have a young man in your life you’re helping to follow Jesus, you’re depriving us. Older women, we have several young women aching for your help. Young men, if you aspire to the ministry, the evidence of your calling will be in the lives of the men you’ve invested in.

He embraced the mess of ministry

Lastly, in choosing these men, Jesus embraced the mess of ministry. Volatile Peter, Hotheads James and John, doubting Thomas - he didn’t start with polished men.

Some of us want to impact lives in a neat and tidy way. Sorry. Try swimming without getting wet. Doesn’t work that way. If you want to impact a life, get ready for the mess. Sin is messy and complicated. As I’ve heard pastors say, “Sometimes the sheep bite.”

Here’s a sampling of what Jesus dealt with. Hard-heartedness, unbelief, doubt, stubbornness, lovelessness, hot-tempers, blabber-mouthing, cowardice, dense-ness, infighting, and full on backstabbing. But true love endured that to equip these guys.

You can’t do people-ministry if you want to keep your hands clean. You’ll deal with insecurity, close-up-ness, misunderstanding, cold-heartedness, lack of commitment, secret sins, false starts and setbacks, doubt, and yes, personal betrayal. Jesus was the perfect mentor and those things happened to him. When you dive in, they’ll happen to you.

Church, can I call upon you to learn from Jesus here? Ministry is people-work, and as he starts his ministry, he ignores the allure of power, he focuses on a few, and he embraces the mess that these guys represent.

Conclusion:

The fate of the salvation of the souls rests on whether they hear the gospel. Christ put the gospel into the minds and hearts of these 12 ordinary men. The baton was passed from them, down through the centuries, and we hold it this morning - again committed to passing it on to those around us and those after us. We are weak. We are ordinary. We are nothing.

Christ is all - and we look to him to work through us. And when our work is done, we look forward to going home.