Luke 6:14-16 (3)

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Introduction:

We’re back in Luke 6 this morning.

We’re going to be focusing on the...

…list of apostles that Luke gives in verses 14-16.

-Last week, we looked at the:

Nature,

Function...

…of the Apostolic office...

(and we’ll review that a bit this morning)...

But, we’re going to focus our attention, today, on...

…the particular men whom Jesus appointed, and...

…what their appointment tells us...

…about the nature of the Kingdom...

…that He was calling them to establish.

-It also tells us a whole lot more than just...

What their names were...

Who they’re related to.

It tells us about:

God’s own nature, and...

how/why he chooses anyone at all.

It teaches us… about his grace… and his glory!

-So, Let’s begin by reading the list.

We’ll start back in verse 12 for context.

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.

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-Pray

4 minutes

Introduction:

-At the very least we can say...

…that Luke intended for Theophilus to know...

(with absolute certainty)

…who it was (in particular) that Jesus had appointed...

…to be his apostles.

Notice, that not only did He “name names”...

…but he gave attendant details for clarification.

-Remember why the “whom” of the office...

mattered just as much as the “what:”

It’s because (as Sproul summarizes):

It was these twelve men that Jesus chose to be the New Testament counterpart to the twelve tribes of Israel.

They were the men who not only were the disciples, but were commissioned as apostles, with the authority to speak the word of Christ. - Sproul

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It was these men, upon whom Christ would...

…build his theocratic Kingdom...

…through the foundation that they would lay by:

Proclaiming

Teaching

Commanding...

…the fullness of God’s self-revelation...

…that’s found in the person and work of Christ!

That’s why it’s so important that you specify...

Exactly who it is that has that authority...

Who it is that would be speaking on God’s behalf.

(2 minutes, 6 total)

Now, if we had been given the task of choosing...

…the people who would be charged with this, most important work...

Then we would have done one of two things:

1.) We would choose:

The best

The brightest

The ones who brought the most to the table, by way of:

Connections

Resources

Abilities.

Or, in the present cultural climate...

…we might do like our politicians and corporations do:

2.) Choose people:

Based on criteria that would signal our own virtue.

in other words:

Choose people, who:

weren’t necessarily good candidates for the job...

…but would be considered to be entitled to it BECAUSE of their situational disadvantages .

-Jesus, does NEITHER of these things.

And when we survey (and we will)...

…the people whom he chooses...

…we’ll see that without a doubt.

-His selection is God-centered:

(hence his praying all night before making it)

And His ultimate purpose in doing so...

Is the Glory of God...

…NOT the praise of men!

(2 minutes, 8 total)

-Look at verse 14 again.

Most (if not every) list of the apostles...

…begins with the same person:

Luke 6:14 (ESV)

14 Simon, whom he named Peter...

Now, in the earliest days of the Church (proper)...

…Peter, (by far) stood out as the most prominent among the apostles.

Some take that to indicate that Peter was (formally-speaking):

“The first among equals”

i.e., the Pope.

There are many reasons why this is erroneous ...

…but probably the most obvious, is the fact that...

…Paul (the “least of the apostles”)...

…openly rebuked Peter for being hypocritical...

…when he was in Antioch

He wrote:

Galatians 2:11–14 (ESV)

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.

14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

So Certainly, Peter was not considered to be...

...the “Vicar of Christ” by his fellow apostles!

-But, for sure, he did hold a position of great influence (organically)...

...among the rest of the apostles.

Perhaps, this was because of his bold and impetuous nature.

He was a man of action!

Remember, it was Peter who:

Matthew 14:29 (ESV)

29 ...got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

It was Peter who spoke up to answer the question of Jesus’ identity:

Matthew 16:16 (ESV)

16 . . .“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

-But this boldness wasn’t always a good thing.

It was also Peter who, (when Jesus predicted his own sufferings):

Matthew 16:22 (ESV)

22...took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”

And, it was to Peter that Jesus said in response:

Matthew 16:23 (ESV)

23 . . .“Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

-It was also Peter who had broken the silence on the Mount of Transfiguration...

…with this brilliant idea:

Matthew 17:4 (ESV)

4 ...If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

It was also Peter who said to Jesus:

John 13:8 (ESV)

8 . . . “You shall never wash my feet.” . . .

To which Jesus replied:

John 13:8 (ESV)

8 . . . “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”

To which Peter replied:

John 13:9 (ESV)

9 . . . “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”

It was also Peter who:

John 18:10 (ESV)

10...having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear...

And, it was also Peter who said:

Matthew 26:33 (ESV)

33 . . . “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”

And...

Matthew 26:35 (ESV)

35. . .“Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” . . .

And it was this same bold and impetuous Peter who...

…in just a few short hours, would:

Matthew 26:74 (ESV)

74 ...invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” . . .

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-Now, it might be said that:

“Peter was clearly a natural born leader”

But, brethren, God sees not as men see.

His design, and desired attributes for leadership...

…are almost never the same as what the World values.

Peter’s “natural tendencies” (APART FROM the later work of the Spirit of God!)...

...usually resulted in failure!

In addition to this...

...We need to remember that Peter:

was a blue collar fisherman...

(along with His brother Andrew, and James and John, possibly others.)

Wasn’t a scholar

Wasn’t classically educated

Wasn’t a Rabbi

Had no formal theological training.

Wasn’t wealthy or influential

Didn’t have connections in government, etc.

He appeared to be just a passionate, but average man...

…whose zeal often got him into trouble.

And God chose him to be an influential part of...

…the foundation upon which He would build his church!

And once the Spirit of God had empowered him...

…Peter became a SUCCESSFUL:

promoter

defender, of...

“The faith, once for all delivered to the saints”

-Now, (qualifier) this is NOT to imply that we may...

…presume upon God’s grace and power...

…in the appointment of church leaders today.

We’re not God!

We have no guarantees of the effects of future grace on a person.

Our command is to recognize the current work of the Spirit in a man...

…and ordain accordingly.

But, what this DOES imply...

…and what we’ll see being implied...

…through the selection of the other apostles as well:

God doesn’t need your help

He uses you, but he isn’t dependent upon you.

He will build his Church.

And because of His Power, Might, Wisdom...

…it will prevail!

(10 minutes, 18 total)

Let me show you what I mean.

Let’s look at a few others.

Luke 6:14 (ESV)

14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother...

Same meager background

Same simple vocation.

Probably the same level of:

Education

Influence

Luke goes on...

Luke 6:14 (ESV)

14...and James and John...

Presumably the same is true of these men.

(They were business partners with Peter and Andrew)

Mark adds this detail about:

Mark 3:17 (ESV)

17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder);

This may not be as positive as it sounds.

It’s kind of a “Peter-esque” attribute.

This Commentary explains:

Mark translated the name as meaning “Sons of Thunder.” which seems to characterize the brothers as hot-tempered, prone to outbursts of anger (see Mk 9:38; Lk 9:54). - A Harmony of the Gospels

-After Jesus had been rejected by a Samaritan village:

Luke 9:54 (ESV)

54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”

And Jesus rebuked them

These weren’t refined men when they were chosen.

They weren’t chosen because they were assets to the company...

They were chosen because they were chosen!

They were chosen because God had a purpose for them...

…DESPITE their flaws and inabilities.

He didn’t need them...

But, He did want them...

And He would Have them!

And they would fulfill His purposes!

But, He didn’t NEED them

-On down the list we go:

Luke 6:14 (ESV)

14 ...and Philip, and Bartholomew,

We don’t know much about Philip.

He was:

From the same hometown as Peter and Andrew (Bethsaida)

The one who introduced Nathaniel (Bartholomew) to Jesus

He had some faux pas moments himself, like:

John 14:8 (ESV)

8 . . .“Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”

-Even less is known about Bartholomew.

Most assume this to be another name for Nathanael...

…since the two are:

From the same town

Never appear together.

If this is true, about all we know is Jesus’ affirmation, that he was:

John 1:47 (ESV)

47 ...an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

Still, their relative obscurity speaks volumes.

They weren’t chosen because of what they...

…”brought to the team.”

-Next, Luke mentions some better known folks (to us):

Luke 6:15 (ESV)

15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,

There’s a lot in these men...

…and our time is quickly passing...

…but, do remember what we learned about Matthew before:

He was a despised tax collector...

…who used to extort his own people for financial gain.

He had money and resources BEFORE Jesus called him...

But, he appeared to leave it all behind to follow and serve Christ.

-Thomas, of course is best known for his:

Fear

Unbelief

We know very little (for certain) about James the son of Alphaeus .

Again, that is telling.

We don’t know much about Simon the Zealot either...

Other than, of course, the fact that he was a “zealot”...

And, that that wasn’t necessarily a compliment.

Remember the zealots were those (often) violent...

…revolutionaries who were opposed to the Roman occupation.

It’s quite possible that he was what we call today:

a domestic terrorist

-This is a good place to notice something else...

…about our Lord’s selection of these men.

He chose:

A former Roman sympathizer (Matthew)

To work alongside:

A former domestic terrorist of Rome! (Simon)

Behold the Power of God!

(And I mean that, sincerely).

(7 minutes, 25 total)

-Now, Verse 16 may be the most enigmatic of our verses.

It gives us the names of the final two (original) apostles:

Luke 6:16 (ESV)

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

Judas, the son of James appears to be called “Thaddeus” elsewhere.

Not much is said about him either...

But, Luke is careful to:

Include (what was probably) his original name.

Distinguish him from Judas Iscariot.

Again, we see Luke’s unwavering commitment to historicity...

Not only in that...

…but also in the inclusion of Judas Iscariot.

The Apologetics Study Bible explains:

The Gospels report faithfully that Jesus chose Judas Iscariot as one of the Twelve.

This points to the integrity of the early church in preserving accurately details that would be omitted in an account whose concern was image rather than truth. - Apologetics Study Bible

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The Bible is so unique in this.

It includes the flaws of its greatest heroes.

Noah

Abraham

Jacob

Moses

David

Solomon

The Apostles!

Only Christ…

...Is presented as being free from shortcomings...

Because He was!

Truly

Actually

Historically so!

All other men failed to measure up...

Except Him!

-But… What about verse 16?

What about His selection of Judas?

Does that not show that He:

Messed up?

Made a mistake?

Didn’t fully understand and implement the Will of His Father?

Not at All!

Quite the opposite!

It actually shows just how...

fully

faithfully...

…He was submitted to the will of God (as a man).

-Jesus was fully aware that Judas would betray Him.

John 6:70–71 (ESV)

70 ...“Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.”

71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.

So, why would He appoint Him knowing this?

Well, we see the answer to that in:

John 17:12 (ESV)

12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

You see, brethren:

Acts 2:23 (ESV)

23 ...Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God...

His betrayal was eternally decreed

The Cross (and its means) was plan A

And at the same time, He was:

Acts 2:23 (ESV)

23 ...crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

God’s sovereignty

Man’s responsibility

Working in unison!

What they meant for evil...

God meant for good!

And Jesus drank that cup of affliction willingly!

(6 minutes, 31 total)

-Now, what should we take away from all of this?

What does Jesus’ selection of this “motley crue” tell us about:

The nature of God,

The nature of His Kingdom?

Well, Paul explains that for us in:

1 Corinthians 1:25–2:5 (ESV)

25 ...the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

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.

27 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;

28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,

29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.

2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,

4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

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That’s why Jesus chose:

fishermen instead of noblemen.

simple men instead of sages.

Why?

To strip men of their boasting

To leave them with only one hope:

The Grace and Power of God!

To ensure that God alone receives:

credit,

glory...

...For the redemption of His people!

(5 minutes, 36 total)

Ask the brothers to come up

Brethren, The Lord’s Supper should always remind us of this.

Why?

Because this is HIS BODY...

…which was broken FOR YOU!

Because this is HIS BLOOD...

…which was poured out FOR YOU!

That means that YOU and I deserved:

To die

To suffer the eternal wrath of God

And HE stepped in our place...

…and HE suffered our just deserts...

…and HE gave to us the blessings of God...

…that HE ALONE has EVER deserved.

This is what:

The Bread

The Cup...

…should remind us of this morning.

Let’s Pray.

Pray

Go down.

3 minutes, 39 total

Luke 22:19 (ESV)

19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Luke 22:20 (ESV)

20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.