Jesus' Team of Slow Learners (2) (Hunch 25)
Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve--designating them apostles--that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
In
a Nutshell
Jesus chose 12 men. He trained them so they could share in His work and continue proclaiming God's Kingdom when His work was complete.
Questions
Why twelve? Any ideas?
Jesus' school began with a bunch of students who would learn how to follow Him, how to be His students. Jesus wanted the 12 to learn how to pray, how to rely upon God, how to live as members of His Kingdom. As He worked with them, they became leaders among His disciples. Those chosen were pretty slow to begin with. They also became His closest friends and were specially helped by the Holy Spirit to continue the work Jesus had begun. They learned how to serve, but it was not easy.
God's Spirit comforts us because He knows we can be very embarrassed. How embarrassing is it when we stuff up? We are not that strong and Mark reminds us straight away that one of the twelve chucked it in and joined Jesus' enemies. This "leadership team" included some of Jesus' family. He started His work from Galilee, where His family networks were.
Get a Bible atlas from the library and see where Galilee is. It was, and still is, an important place. Not for pilgrimages, not for war, but for us it is important because people there were taught by the Messiah. Jesus returned there after He was raised from death. As well as going along with some customs, Jesus did new things as well. We should think carefully about this. He lived a life, just like us. He had to grow up, get up in the morning, and do what had to be done. He learned the language of the day and lived by the customs, rules and traditions of home and town. He lived like the people He lived with. Ordinary. Regular. When God became a human being, and walked around Galilee, He did not separate Himself from everyone, but lived life, doing what everyone else did. If it was today we would say He took His place in the queue at the supermarket, crossed the street when the light turned green, and put His car in for a regular service. He would take the dog for a walk with a pooper-scooper and paper-bag in his pocket. God continues to make ordinary everyday life possible. When Jesus lived on this planet He showed us that ordinary, everyday life is an important part of God's building plans for His Kingdom.
Maybe you can complete the chart. It lists Jesus' 12 disciples.
|
Disciple |
Question |
Bible verse |
Answer |
Other things |
|
Matthew |
What was his job before? |
Matthew 9:9 |
Tax official working for the Romans |
|
|
|
Father's name? |
Mark 2:14 &3:18 |
Alphaeus |
|
|
|
Other name? |
Mark 2:14 |
Levi |
|
|
Andrew |
Who was his brother? |
Mark 1:16 |
Simon |
|
|
|
Occupation? |
Mark 1:19 |
Fisherman |
|
|
Simon |
Jesus named him? |
Mark 3:16 |
Rock, Petrus, Peter |
|
|
James |
Father's name? |
Mark 1:19 |
Zebedee |
|
|
|
Was where when called? |
Mark 1:19 |
In boat fixing nets |
|
|
John |
Father's name |
Mark 1:19 |
Zebedee |
|
|
|
Mother's sister |
Jn 19:25; Mk 15:40 Matt27:55-6 |
Mary, Jesus' mother |
|
|
|
Cousin? |
Matthew 27:56 & John 19:25 |
Jesus? |
|
|
|
Nickname with James? |
Mark 3:17 |
Sons of thunder |
|
|
Judas Iscariot |
Task? |
John 12:6 |
Purse |
|
|
Thomas |
What was his name? |
Jn11:16; Mk 3:18; John 20:24-9 |
Twin of Matt? James? Doubting Tom. |
|
|
Simon |
Local nickname |
Mark 3:18 Luke 6:15 |
Cananean, Patriot, Zealot |
|
|
James II |
Father's name |
Mark 3:18 |
Alphaeus |
|
|
Bartholomew |
Other name? |
Mt 10:1-5; Mk 3:18; Jn 1:45 |
Nathanael |
|
|
|
Friend of? |
John 1:44-5 |
Philip, Andrew and Peter |
|
|
|
Town of? |
John 1:43 |
Bethsaida |
|
|
Philip |
From where? |
John 1:44 |
Bethsaida |
|
|
Thaddeus |
Also known as? |
Luke 6:16 |
Judas (II) |
|
|
|
Son of? |
Luke 6:16 |
James - which James? |
|
Jesus picked the 12 and sent them out to travel from town to town, from region to region, telling the good news. Every society that has ever existed has to work out how men relate to women and women to men. Some jobs are for men, some are for women. What we have today in our society comes from a long process over many centuries. But in those times it was men, generally, who were the teachers. But Mary, Jesus' mother, Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, Anna who saw the baby Jesus when Mary and Joseph presented Him in the temple at Jerusalem, and many others, also passed on the teaching of God's Kingdom.