Jesus called everyone to repentance. He opened the way to God before every man, and forgave men their sins entirely on the cross.
How astonishing! Only few of them heard him and understood God’s design for them. This small choice came to the Savior to obtain his salvation. Apparently, many followed Jesus. They call themselves “Christians”. But few are born again, who lead the life of humility and joy of Christ.
Jesus knew the hearts, the inherited cells in man, and the future of each individual. He chose individuals out of the multitudes of his followers and called them to him that he might train and send them to carry his gospel to the world. Preaching and spreading the gospel of salvation is a privilege bestowed on each Christian. But, dear reader, do not arrange to serve God as an office, but wait for your Lord’s calling. You cannot overcome Satan’s tricks by your own power. Only those whom the Lord helps to sacrifice their lives and suffer for his name are called to serve all the time in his kingdom, according to his eternal plan.
Christ’s apostles are like the messengers who offer the gospel of salvation to all men. They do not philosophize about Christ, nor do they defend their faith with arguments, but they offer God’s salvation in Christ freely to all. He who hears hears, he who accepts accepts, and he who hardens his hearts and puts himself above the Son of God destroys himself by himself.
Jesus did not only authorize his chosen disciples to communicate his words, but he also gave them the power to overcome the empty laws, to take away the dead philosophies, and to cast out unclean spirits that it might become evident that the kingdom of God had now come. The ruler of this world is cast out not with science, money, or intelligence, but with the simple preaching of the gospel, and the proclamation of the living Crucified One who is the saving power of God to those who believe in him.
Jesus chose twelve apostles that they might be around him, as a symbol of his will to shepherd all his people with their twelve tribes. Number 12 is composed of (3 X 4). 3 indicates the Holy Trinity, and 4 points to the four directions, so that 12 signifies the complete mixture between God and men.
He, who penetrates deeply into the names of the twelve apostles, becomes astonished at their gathering. In all probability, 4 or 6 of them were fishermen who were accustomed to hard handwork, and 3 were from Bethsaida at the mouth of the Jordan on the coast of the Sea of Tiberias. The first six disciples knew each other having repented and become disciples at the hand of John the Baptist. The Lord did not call his apostles from all the tribes and centers of godliness, but had the first half from the surroundings of the small village of fishermen.
The first three were competent for the inner circle. They accompanied Jesus at all times. Simon, whom Jesus called Peter, “the Rock”, was probably the strongest. He used to speak hastily like a volcano, and was more courageous than the others. He was not always wise and clever, but right, emotional, and prepared for repentance and faith. His ready acceptance of the divine revelation did find in him the emblematic testimony about Christ, which became the foundation of the church. After Jesus’ ascension to heaven, he was the most forward among the apostles and the foremost of those of the same level.
James and John must have contributed a spirited and headstrong element to Jesus’ band of follower, because Jesus nicknamed them, “Sons of Thunder”. On one occasion, when a Samaritan village refused to accept Jesus, the two asked Jesus to call down fire in revenge.
However, Jesus made out of the young John the man of God’s love who recognized Jesus’ essence in his depth. As the other evangelists wrote down Jesus’ miracles, words, and works, John recognized Jesus in himself and clarified his glory.
After the Son of God’s ascension, John became one of the three original elders in Jerusalem. And after the death of Peter and Paul, and the destruction of Jerusalem, he moved to Ephesus, and ministered the central church there, where the Lord Jesus gave him in his exile the revelation about the end of the world and his advent.
We do not know anything about James the son of Zebedee, except that he was one of the three who were alone present at the Lord’s transfiguration, and at the Garden of Gethsemane during the Lord’s agony, and was present at the raising of Jairus’ daughter to life by Jesus. He became the first in the circle of the twelve, and suffered martyrdom at the hand of King Herod Agrippa, who killed him to please the Jews.
Thus, the crème de la crème of the disciples were Peter, James, and John. The second circle around them was composed of Andrew, Philip, and Nathanael.
Andrew was Peter’s brother, who led Peter to Jesus, and was the first to confess Jesus as the Christ (John 1:14).
Philip was a native of Bethsaida, the city of Peter and Andrew. He was a right man, a preacher, and an economic planner, sincere in aim (John 1:43, 45; 6:5; 12:20; 14:8; Acts of the Apostles 1:13).
Nathanael was a critical seeker after the truth, who was called sometimes Bartholomew. Jesus saw him during his meditation and praying under the pig tree, and testified that he was an Israelite indeed. Nathanael was the first to call Jesus “the Son of God”, and “the King of Israel” (John 1:46-49; 21:2).
Around those six disciples there was an outer circle including the rest of the disciples: Matthew, Thomas, the other James, Thaddaeus, the other Simon, and Judas Iscariot.
We do not have many reports about the evangelist Matthew, for he rubbed out his mention from all the gospels, except that concerning his calling as a tax collector who was rejected by the society, and his seventh degree in the lists of apostles. Like John, he did not want to show himself beside the exceptional person of Jesus. It is to be mentioned that he, with Paul, John, and Luke, were the greatest Christian writers at all times. In his gospel, he presented to us an essential, comprehensive, principal report about Jesus. His disappearance tells us about his great, important, personality (Matthew 9:9-11; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:28).
The doubtful, pessimistic Thomas is a symbol of the modern man who believes in the revealed truth, and does not believe without a proof in his hand. Thomas became an example to many European scholars and God-seekers who seek the truth by themselves and hardly find it (John 11:16; 14:5; 20:24-29).
After the names of Matthew and Thomas, there come three names of apostles who are almost unknown to us. However, before becoming a disciple of Christ, Simon the Cananite, or “the Zealot” was a member of the fanatically patriotic party of Zealots who were in favor of immediate building of the kingdom of God by violence and anger. Jesus called him, taught him, and changed him. And he followed Jesus humbly in the way of meekness.
Jesus also called Judas Iscariot, who was the only Jewish among the twelve disciples. All the others were from Galilee. Judas was a thief, lover of money, and desirous of authority at any price, who became increasingly hardened towards Christ that the devil dwelt in him. He appeared to be a saint, with his heart filled with grudge, and betrayed God in body; not only he, but also most of the disciples expected a political Christ of Jesus. Yet, they changed their imaginations and accepted Jesus as he was, except Judas the disobedient. And when Jesus disclosed his intents, Judas betrayed him in revenge and hatred. Yet, how astonishing! In his fright at recognizing the end of Jesus, he presented his great testimony about the innocence of Jesus, before his suicide. Jesus had tried to guide him gently and severely at the last supper. He did not curse him when he kissed him, but called him “friend”.
He, who studies the characters of the twelve apostles, feels that Jesus called to him different people, and there must have been troubles in their fellowship, as well as pride and haughtiness. But the Spirit of Jesus changed the minds of all, except one. He made them lambs in the love of the Holy Spirit, those who followed the way of the Lamb of God to the end.