Jesus Called the Twelve

Luke 6:12-16

Key Verse 6:13

In this passage we would like to learn God's wisdom to reach out to all peoples on earth, despite difficulties and hardships. 

1. Compare verse 12 with Luke 6:11. Facing a problem, Jesus went to a mountainside to pray. What can we learn from Jesus about the way to understand: 1) the problem(s) in life; and 2) the way to approach it? 

** In Jesus' dictionary problems do not come by accidents. Rather they come because of God orchestrating people and events in such a  way that God's divine purpose would be fulfilled. 

** The way to approach it is to go to the author of the problems and ask Him for his guidance. Prayer is exactly the way to go and ask him for the wisdom, direction, or guidance in regard to the problems in life. . 

2. Obviously what Jesus did in verse 13 is the result of his prayer in verse 12. What does this observation tell us about the nature of the work Jesus did in verse 13? 

** It shows us that Jesus' decision was based on God's instruction. This indicates: 

1) God wants a replacement in leadership, replacing Jesus with the disciples filling his shoes, so that Jesus would focus on more important tasks such as to offer himself as an atoning sacrifice on a tree. 

2) God wants to reach out to all peoples on earth through the disciples/apostles. 

3. Verse 13 describes two titles: disciples and apostles. How are they different? What do these titles tell us about the way the Lord God fulfills the work of salvation? 

** Disciples mean the ones who learn of Jesus. Apostles  mean those who are sent by God to the world.

** God wants all followers of Jesus to first learn from him, and then go out and invite people to God the Father through Jesus. 

4. In verse 13, Jesus chose twelve disciples. What is the significance of the number twelve? What does the number 12 indicate about God's will for all peoples on earth? 

** It is a governmental number. The key idea is "rule" (or serve). It is hinted in Gen 1:14-18 (where we find the word "serve" or "govern" suggesting that God chose to let the twelve zodiac to rule/serve/govern in the sky) as well as in Gen 1:26-28 (where we find the word rule indicating that God wants his children to rule over (i.e., serve, or govern) his creation as his agents.) 

** God's will is to establish the rule of God through their services, so that God's kingdom would be fully established here on earth as in heaven. (Consider the City of God coming with twelve gates with twelve angels with twelve foundations [of the walls] in Revelation 21. 

5. Think about Simon whom Jesus named Peter in verse 14. Consider the meaning of the name "Simon" (an abbreviation of Hebrew name "Simeon") as it is explained in Genesis 29:33. Peter (which is Cephas in Hebrew) means "rock". The account of Simon's character as described in the four gospels does not indicate that he is a "rock" like person. (Luke 22:34) Yet, Jesus named him Peter. Why? (Matthew 16:18) How can a man like Simon be a man as stable as a rock? (Joshua 1:8)  

** Jesus wanted to use him (his message, his character, and his life itself) as a rock like foundation for his church. With this new name, Jesus reminded him of the purpose (direction) of calling for him. 

** The name Simon means "hearing". So by first hearing God's word, keeping it, and practicing it, one can be a rock like person, the bulwark of God's truth (of salvation).

6. Consider the names of the twelve people listed in verses 14-16. How would you characterize the "selection"? (You may need to refer to the accounts of their characters on each of them in the Bible, particularly in the four gospels.) 

** 1) Community of commoners - all of them are ordinary people, like many of us. 

2) Fair representation of people coming from all different backgrounds and characters. Consider how Peter (talkative) is different from John (relatively quiet), Andrew (practical) is different from Philip (abstract/theoretical), Bartholomew (Nathanael) (pure) is different from Matthew (a tax collector), etc. 

3) System designed to let it survive despite challenges. (John and James are blood-related; Peter and Andrew are also blood related; Peter, John, and James are fishing partners etc.)

7. The selection begins with Simon and ends with Judas Iscariot who became a traitor. Why do you think God included in the selection even a traitor? 

** Probably it was to remind us of man's weaknesses, especially the weakness to fall prey to the love of money. The end

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