The Big XII

Here in the middle of Luke 6, we find a list of the twelve disciples or as some like to call them…the Big 12.  Therefore, we are not looking at an athletic conference this morning, but the 12 apostles.

 

This list is not only found here in Luke 6.  You can find this list and another similar to it in Matthew 10:1-4, Mark 3:13-19, and Acts 1:12-13. 

 

You might wonder what in the world can we learn from a list like this.  However, there is much more here than you might have originally thought.  I am going to share with you a few 5 observations, and then an application for everyone. 

 

 

Observation #1-6:12

12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

 

Verse twelve tells us that Jesus went off to the mountain, and He spent the whole night in prayer.  It seems that He was alone.  Why would He do this? 

 

Simply put, it was to be alone with His Father.  Remember that Jesus was fully God and fully man.  However, there are times when His own knowledge is restricted by God the Father. 

 

Perhaps, this was one of those times. Therefore, He went away to ask God whom He should choose from His followers to be in His inner circle. 

 

Notice also that He spent the whole night in prayer.  That would have been anywhere between eight and ten hours.  Can you even imagine it?  Spending an entire workday in prayer is mind-boggling. 

 

Consequently, if Jesus needed to spend time in prayer before decisions were made, shouldn’t you and I be committed to the same?

 

Not to do so would demonstrate our folly or our arrogance.  Which is it for you? 

 

Even though Jesus tells us to pray and teaches us to pray, prayer is often not popular for us, the church.  How do I know?  Your pastor struggles with prayer.  We struggle to staff our prayer room.  Wednesday night prayer meeting is often our smallest gather of the week.

 

Brothers and sisters, help me and allow me to help us be more committed to prayer.  Pray before we act.  Pray before we talk.  Pray first and pray last.  Pray for the little, and pray for the big. 

 

 

Observation #2-6:13a

13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.

 

Notice in verse thirteen that Jesus called His disciples to Himself.  Then He chose the 12 from the whole. 

 

What does that mean?  There were more than twelve.  A disciple is a follower, learner, and student.  Is that true of you? 

 

Do you consider yourself a disciple of Jesus or is that a term reserved for those radical Christians?  The reality is that every Christian is a disciple.  Let’s make sure that we are living like it.

 

 

Observation #3-6:13b

13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.

 

From His disciples, He chose twelve to be His closest followers.  He would pour His life into them for three years and then send them out with His authority as apostles. 

 

The word “apostle” mean sent one.  It also assumes that you are carrying a message. 

 

In one regard, we are all apostles if you have been born-again.  We are commissioned to carry the gospel everywhere.  That is true for pastors and church staff and deacons and each and every church member.

 

In another sense, these men were special.  These men were Apostles with a capital “A.” 

 

They were Jesus’ inner circle.  They witnessed the resurrected Christ, and many of them went on to write books of the Bible.  In that regard, these type of Apostles no longer exist today.

 

Why 12?  I believe this “twelve” corresponds with the twelve tribes of Israel.  They led God’s chosen people. Consequently, this twelve would lead the bride of Christ also as God’s chosen people. 

 

 

Observation #4-6:14-16

14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; 16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

 

The twelve apostles were ordinary and uneducated men.  BTW, Peter is always listed first as he was their unofficial leader.  Judas was always listed last as the traitor.

 

At least four were fishermen: Peter, Andrew, James, and John.  One was a despised tax collector: Matthew. 

 

Another was a political activist who would have hated the tax collector: Simon.  Matthew worked for Rome, and Simon the Zealot hated Rome. 

 

There was nothing special about these men.  They weren’t popular.  They weren’t intelligent.  They weren’t wealthy by the world’s standard. 

 

As a matter of fact, most of them were poor and would become poorer in following Jesus, and yet, they changed the world.  What does Jesus want from you?  I would say He simply wants total surrender, and He can use you to change the world. 

 

Oswald Chambers said, “God can achieve His purpose either through the absence of human power and resources, or the abandonment of reliance on them.  All through history God has chose and used nobodies, because their unusual dependence on Him made possible the unique display of His power and grace.  He chose and used somebodies only when they renounced dependence on their natural abilities and resources.”

 

 

Observation #5-6:16

16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

 

Judas Iscariot with was Jesus for three years.  He ate, slept, walked, fished, did ministry with Jesus and the other eleven. 

 

He fooled them, and he fooled plenty of people beyond them, but he didn’t fool God.  When Judas died, he was immediately separated from God and Christ in hell for eternity. 

 

You may be a member of EBC, and you may have been married for fifty plus years.  You may have fooled your family and your friends and all of Emory and Rains County, but if you died today, you would spend an eternity in hell because you have never been born-again.  Today, I invite you to be saved. 

 

 

Application for All

11 But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

 

Go back and look at Luke 6:11. The Pharisees were outraged at Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, and from this point forward, were looking to take Him down.

 

What do you do when opposition comes?  What do you do when problems occur?  What do you do when trouble ensues?

 

Consider this.  Pray through it.  Gather a team.  Expect to change your world and maybe even the entire world!