From My Heart To You

JESUS AND THE TWELVE

After Jesus' baptism in the waters of the Jordan
He retired to the desert. There he fasted and
prayed in preparation for the momentous three
years that lay ahead. As far as we know, the first
act of Jesus' public ministry was to summon to His
service four fishermen. These four Simon Peter,
Andrew, James, and John the sons of Zebedee, left
their fishing boats in answer to His call. Jesus
promised to make them "fishers of men."

Soon, many other disciples joined Jesus, and
traveled with Him from place to place as He went
about His work of proclaiming the Kingdom of God.
Eventually He decided the time had come for Him to
select twelve of these disciples and train them for
a special purpose. The chosen Twelve would serve at
first as His closest helpers. Later, they would be
commissioned as His apostles to "preach the gospel to
every creature." The selection of the Twelve took
place on the heights surrounding the Sea of Galilee.
After spending a night in prayer, Jesus announced their
names: Peter and his brother Andrew, James the son of
Zebedee and his brother John, Philip and Bartholomew,
Thomas and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus and Jude
(Thaddeus), Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot.

What kind of men were the chosen Twelve? We have no
reason for thinking that they had any outstanding natural
talents. Nor did they at the outset demonstrate any
remarkable spiritual qualities. Jesus had to rebuke them
at times for their lack of faith. All of them deserted
their Master after His arrest. Peter denied even knowing
Jesus, and Judas betrayed Him. Thomas refused to believe
in the resurrection. Clearly, the Twelve had the frailties
of ordinary mortals.

Yet when the time came to begin the work for which Jesus
had chosen them, eleven of these men displayed the dedication
and courage that made them Christianity's greatest heros.
Defying all dangers, they spread the gospel near and far and
sealed their glorious achievements with their blood. Tradition
tells us that, John excepted, they suffered martyrdom for their
Master's cause. thus did God replace human weakness with
strength in the men chosen to teach His religion.

The lives of the apostles are written with the Christian
father, especially, in mind. Let this give you inspiration to
lead your family in the walk with Jesus towards being a better
Christian and spreading His Holy words.

Matthew 26

31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made
to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:
I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock
will be scattered.'

33 Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made
to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble."

34 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this
night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."

46 "Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand."

47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of
the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs,
came from the chief priests and elders of the people.

48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying. "Whomever
I kiss, He is the One; seize Him."

49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings,
Rabbi!" and kissed Him.

55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come
out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me?
I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not
seize Me.

56 "but all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets
might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

Midi playing ~ Because He Lives