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Luke_6_-_print.hwp|
Luke 6:12-19 Key Verse: 6:13 Jesus Designated Twelve Apostles "When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles." Jesus chose the twelve apostles. They would go to the ends of the earth. They would bring the good news that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead. They would proclaim eternal victory in Jesus. Thus, the choosing and training of these twelve was very important to Jesus. In this passage, we can learn how Jesus chose the twelve. These days, apostles are missionaries, shepherds, or international servants of God. According to Romans 1:5, we have all received grace and apostleship. Let's learn today how to fulfill our high calling from our Lord Jesus. 1. Jesus Prayed the Whole Night (12) Look at verse 12. "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God." Jesus prayed the whole night with all his heart. Why was that? The former part of this chapter 6 gives us a clue. The Jewish leaders had become enemies of God, and people were suffering in need of a true shepherd. Jesus wanted to care for them, but his days on earth were limited. He had to carry out God's will through his death. It was the time to choose disciples and train them to carry on the mission after him. Then, who would he choose for this? How would he prepare? Jesus went to God in prayer. Look at verse 12 again. "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God." Jesus listened to God in prayer all night long. Jesus found strength, comfort, joy, and wisdom in God. Here we learn that it is God's will to call and raise disciples. God chooses by his one-sided grace and for his own purpose. It is a great privilege to be chosen by God. We should believe in this when making disciples. We should rely on God and pray. Raising disciples is not a human business. It is God's work. Many of us feel difficult in raising disciples. It really is, and will not be done by our own plan or wisdom. It is only done by God's will. There is no other way. So we must pray with all our hearts, and follow carefully the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The more difficult it becomes in making disciples, the more we should pray. We must not work by human ambition, but through much prayer. This is what Jesus taught us through his whole night prayer. Let's also pray to God wholeheartedly like Jesus did. And we will see God raise his disciples among us. 2. Jesus Designated Twelve Apostles (13-16) Look at verse 13. "When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles." After much prayer, Jesus chose the twelve among many disciples. When Jesus chose the twelve, he gave them a privileged status which was "apostles". They would have special access to him in his most significant teachings and experiences. In the future, they would be great messengers of Jesus' teachings, and be his representatives on earth. Innumerable people would learn of Jesus through them. It was a great privilege nobody could have or even think of. Look at verse 13 again. "When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles." Jesus chose twelve among many. Why was twelve? It might stand for the twelve sons of Jacob, the twelve tribes of Israel. Anyhow, it is evident that it was a small community where each one could have intimate fellowship with Jesus. If more than twelve, it would have been difficult to know Jesus personally. It was Jesus' way to have a small group and taste intimacy to raise disciples. Among the twelve were people of various backgrounds, experiences and personalities. Look at verses 14-16. "Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor." Simon was passionate and willing to obey Jesus, simply because Jesus said so. In Jesus' hope and deep grace, he became Peter, the rock of the early church. Andrew is referred to as "Peter's brother." But Andrew did not mind. Rather, he understood Jesus' heart and brought five loaves and two fish to Jesus. Quiet men of good influence, like Andrew, are precious in God's work. James and John were another brothers. They were men of haste and tension. But Jesus taught them his humble servantship and sacrifice. Finally they became the most sacrificial men of God. James was the first martyr among the twelve. John became the apostle of love. Tradition says that Philip and Bartholomew coworked in various places, and each died as a martyr. A selfish tax collector Matthew testified the wonderful saving grace of Jesus in his gospel. Thomas, who was sick with doubt, changed into a witness of the resurrection. He went to India as a missionary. James son of Alphaeus might have been Matthew's brother. Simon the Zealot was a member of the nationalist party of Israel. He must have had a hard time getting along with Matthew. Judas Iscariot became a traitor. Judas was called, chosen, loved and trained by Jesus, just as the others were. Jesus knew that Judas would betray him. Still Jesus chose him. Jesus did not avoid the cross in choosing his apostles. Jesus followed God's will. Jesus embraced each kind of person in an intimate and special way. This shows Jesus' heart; Everyone has hope in Jesus. Any kind of person can find a place in Jesus. This challenges us to learn Jesus' heart. Generally, we only like to be with those we like, and to avoid those who make us uncomfortable. But Jesus spent time in fellowship with every kind of person, even a traitor. Having uncomfortable people around us is nothing strange when we think of Jesus. Jesus always had and even lived with them. We should embrace all kinds of people. Then we will know the heart of Christ. We should thank God for the people in our lives who are contrary to us and most difficult to get along with. They are helping us to grow in the heart of Jesus. Most of all, we learn Jesus' great hope. Jesus chose ordinary men. Yet Jesus believed that they would become apostles who would bring the gospel to the world. And they did. Tradition tells us that each one preached the gospel powerfully to the end of his life. Jesus chooses the weak things of the world and uses them powerfully in the redemptive history that he beautifully writes and accomplishes. In Jesus, we have hope to be used greatly by God. We must live in this hope instead of frustration and despair. We must learn to see others with hope, and to invite them to Jesus. Jesus raises weak people as great servants of God. 3. Jesus Taught, and Healed People (17-19) After designated as apostles, what did they see first? Look at verse 17-19. "He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all." Jesus took his disciples to a level place. It was surrounded by a needy crowd of people from all over Judea, and from the coastal towns of Tyre and Sidon, which were in Gentile territory. They were thirsty. They wanted to see Jesus. They were longing for the word of God. They needed help to solve their serious problems: diseases, sicknesses, and demon possession. Under Roman rule, people's lives were hard. In their agony, many despaired and became ungodly. These people surrounded Jesus and his disciples. Living as apostles meant that disciples would face these people wherever they would go. Then, what did Jesus do? Jesus became their good shepherd. Jesus welcomed them with compassion. Jesus taught them the word God. Jesus healed them all with his power. Evil spirits were driven out. Disciples witnessed great power of Jesus. Jesus was exhausted from the whole night prayer, but he never became tired of a shepherd life. He was a powerful shepherd. Finally, Jesus even laid down his life for them on the cross. Jesus' shepherd life moved his disciples' heart little by little. Later, they also became good shepherds like Jesus. They became powerful messengers delivering the word of life. They became spiritual doctors who touch people's heart with grace of God. They became wonderful counselors who give practical help by the help of Jesus. They were selfish and weak, but they could do everything with Jesus who has heart and power. In the midst of a great crowd, Jesus was raising disciples. I am now a businessman selling LCD displays to Europe car makers. I have a good customer base and also a stable share in them. I led a price negotiation successfully and brought $26 Million more profit to my company. Some famous brands are knocking my door. My executive vice president acknowledged me as a good presenter. I got a gold award at a company MBA contest. I received several incentives. But none of this gave me satisfaction and motivation. I could not find real meanings behind them. But I remember Jesus who touches my heart. When I was struggling to find my life direction, Romans 1:5 came into my heart. It became my life key verse. "Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith." This verse gave me conviction that I am also like an apostle, because I am called as a shepherd. My mission is to bring people to the obedience and make disciples. This calling came from God for his name. I may lose my job one day, but God's calling stays forever. I pray that I accept God's calling and live a shepherd. I confess that I am weak and I am selfish. But God can also change me into a good worker of God. Through this study, we learned that Jesus called his twelve apostles. They were weak. They were all very different. But Jesus wanted them to know and embrace each other in a small group. Jesus wanted them to learn from Jesus personally. Moreover, Jesus hoped that they would be changed into great men of God. As he changed his apostles, he can change us. Let's accept Jesus' hope and pray for his help. When we grow in God's character, we will see that our campus and our nation will become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. |
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