Jesus reached a decisive stage in his ministry: the lawyers, his adversaries, organized themselves to destroy him, while his fame spread abroad, and multitudes raced to him from the capital city Jerusalem, also from all the villages of Judea, and even from the Phoenician regions of Tyre and Sidon. They all came to hear his wisdom, be cured by his power, and seek power from him, for he healed all those who believed in him.
What did Christ do in this distinctive stage? He prayed, separated himself from the multitudes who sought him, and left his disciples. He did not care about his enemies, but resorted to God, his Father, and stayed with him in prayer. Luke called this deep prayer in the Greek text "the Prayer of God" which has no equal in the whole New Testament. This prayer was ended with most beautiful harmony with his Father, and has resulted in full clarification of the future. Did you fall into suffocating crises? Did increasingly heavy duties and burdens press on you? Then separate yourself into the isolation of prayer, for by prayer alone you may receive guidance, direction, wisdom, and authority.
What was the guidance that was clarified in the Son through his prayer and conversation with his Father? When Jesus had returned from a long night prayer, he chose twelve apostles. He had already been followed by overcrowded multitudes. But now the Savior of the world appoints twelve disciples that they may accompany him at all times, learn his experiences, see his patience, realize his wisdom, and get used to his designs. Thus he began to train a select group of leaders for his future church. Those leaders were to bring his eternal life to the world.
Christ knew that he had to die, and God showed him those who should carry his power, one by one, to spread the kingdom of God until the end of the world. Jesus did not ask many, "Do you want to become apostles?" but he called each one of them by his name out of the multitudes. The call of God changed them into apostles of Christ. They were no better than the others, but the Holy Spirit found in them starting points that they might be prepared and changed into the image of Christ.
They were all unsuccessful. But the Holy Spirit made them authorities of the power of God who changed the world. Until now, we are living from Christ’s call to them. Did you keep their names by heart, as long as you believe in their faith, and know Christ through their testimony, and are strengthened by their prayer, which they offered when they were in this world?
Twelve is a holy number in the Old Testament. It symbolizes the conjunction between heaven and earth. Three symbolizes God, the Holy trinity, and four the four quarters of the earth. If we multiply three by four, both numbers, which indicate the fullness of God, mixed with our low world, become in harmony. The twelve became the fathers of the people of the Old Testament.
Christ did not immediately empower those he called, nor did he send them at once to the evil world, but taught them insight. What did they see? They saw Jesus and no one else.
Did you realize the person of Christ? See how people raced to him. After that night prayer he did not lay his hands on the sick, but all those who believed in him touched his garment, and were cured by that touching. The physician Luke inquired with all exactness about the details of that event, and testified of it. All disasters of mankind disappeared by his word and his power. Come to Jesus, and stay with him in a thankful prayer. He wants to call you, touch you, and send you.