Call of the Twelve

A man of too many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (NASB) Prov. 18:24

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. (NASB) Prov. 27:6

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, so a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend. (NASB) Prov. 27:9

Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend . . . (NASB) Prov. 27:10

Friendship involves love, faithfulness, encouragement to live a righteous life, honesty, wise counsel, and loyalty. Jesus selected twelve men in whom He would be investing Himself. He also selected them because He needed friends. Everyone needs a few close friends.

Jesus also selected these men so that they would preach the good news about the kingdom. Some day they would fulfill the great commission given in Matthew 28:19-20. They would also do some practice preaching while He was here on earth. Jesus probably did some coaching and gave them some encouragement as He prepared them.

The third reason for selecting these men was to give them the authority to cast out demons and to heal (Acts 3:19). We will discover later that the apostles did not have divine power because there were some demons that they could not cast out (Mark 9:29). They would have to pray and ask for help to cast out some of them.

Jesus selected the apostles for friendship and to prepare them to carry on the ministry after He left this world. They would be His friends and fellow ministers. They would preach and help share the load of healing and casting out of demons. Together they would turn the world upside down.

The Twelve. With the masses down below, and the team up on the hilltop, Jesus then selected twelve. Jesus probably did not just start announcing the names of the twelve apostles. Most likely He started by explaining His goal and purpose in selecting a small group of men who would be His apostles or “sent ones.” He might have answered some questions and spoken some kind words to the group before announcing the names. Then he finally named the twelve men. Some of the men were probably nervous and excited all at the same time. Some of them were probably hoping to be selected and were probably also afraid because Jesus was not just an ordinary man. They were not following Him because they believed He was like their neighbor next door.

And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter), and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”); and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him. (NASB) Mark 3:16-19