1. Misfits
Good and amusing stories often work on the proposition of an odd mix of unlikely characters:
• The Odd Couple --.a neat freak and a world-class slob have to learn how to live together.
• Gilligan ’s Island -- seven people, all of whom are weird in some way, stranded together on a deserted island.
• The Dirty Dozen -- twelve hardened criminals and a colonel on the outs with his commanders on a mission to eliminate the Nazi leadership.
2. The same idea is found in the lives of the apostles whom Yeshua (Jesus) called
3. These men were witnesses to his ministry; his death; his burial; and his resurrection – 1 Corinthians 15.3-5
4. As in the case of Peter the resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus) made all the difference in their lives
I. The Apostles Were Called Men
"Jesus was never interested in having fans. When he defines what kind of relationship he wants, "Enthusiastic Admirer" isn’t an option. My concern is that many of our churches in America have gone from being sanctuaries to becoming stadiums. And every week all the fans come to the stadium where they cheer for Jesus but have no interest in truly following him. The biggest threat to the church today is fans who call themselves Christians but aren’t actually interested in following Christ. They want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires anything from them." Kyle Idleman "Not a Fan" p. 25 [Jesus has called DISCIPLES, not fans.
A. Yeshua (Jesus) Knew Them
1. Peter – 41 He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). John 1.41-42
2. Nathanael – 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” John 1.46-47
3. Judas -- 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him. John 6.70-71
B. They Knew Yeshua (Jesus) – 35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. John 1.29
C. Yeshua (Jesus) Selected Them by Prayer -- 12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles; Luke 6.12-13
II. The Apostles Were Complex Men
[Peter Marshall, in a sermon entitled, “Disciples in Clay,” pictured the apostles before an examining board which was appointed to choose Jesus’ close associates. Peter stood there smelling of fish – uncouth, uncultured, impetuous, uncultured, and impulsive. Andrew, James, and John also reeked of fish and lacked refinement. Philip appeared to be indecisive. Thomas seemed cynical. Matthew was considered a traitor. Simon the Zealot was a dangerous patriot. Judas was a thief. The NT tells it like it was. This was a group not likely to succeed. It is most likely they would not have been chosen by a board for Jesus, but they were chosen by Jesus.
A. Consider Their Differences:
1. Nathanael’s Prejudice -- 45 Philip found Nathan′a-el, and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathan′a-el said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” John 1.45-46
2. Thomas – “Doubted” – Wanted Proof
3. Andrew – No Notoriety – brings Peter and Greeks to Yeshua (Jesus)
4. Peter – Impulsive; Denials
5. Simon – Zealot – Galilee
6. Matthew – Roman Tax Collector
7. Judas – Betrayal – Pushing for the Kingdom to come?
B. Consider Their Common, Ordinary Background -- 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4.13
1. Not “Ivy League” Education
2. Recognized they had been with Yeshua (Jesus) because they acted/sounded like him
C. This Was a Complex Group Yeshua (Jesus) Called and Led
III. The Apostles Were Convicted Men
Abraham Lincoln said, "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day.”
A. They Witnessed Firsthand:
1. The Ministry of Yeshua (Jesus)
2. The DBR of Yeshua (Jesus)
3. The Resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus)
B. They Experienced His 40 Days of Teaching – After his death he showed himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. During a period of forty days they saw him, and he spoke with them about the Kingdom of God. Acts 1.3 (CJB)
IV. The Apostles Were Converted Men
In 1922 Max Flack of the Chicago Cubs and Cliff Heathcote of the St. Louis Cardinals were traded for each other. This is not unusual, except that they were traded after the first game of a double-header between the two teams. During the second game, both men played in different uniforms. The eleven remaining apostles made sure whose team they were on.
A. Each Was a Determined Disciple
1. Better understanding
2. Deeper conviction
B. Each Part of God’s Family – they were “A Band of Brothers”
1. Some were literal brothers – James and John; Peter and Andrew
2. All were brother Israelites and descendants of Abraham
3. Now they were brothers in Yeshua’s (Jesus’) Family
31 And his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you.” 33 And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Mark 3.31-35
a. In spite of ideological differences – Matthew and Simon
b. New purpose together – from deserters at the cross to defenders of the cross
V. The Apostles Were Commissioned Men (Matthew 28.18-20)
1. People come to matter more than self
Norman Schwarzkopf tells an interesting story in his autobiography. His father was an ambassador to Saudi Arabia. He once traveled with his father to visit some Bedouins.
They were welcomed into a large tent where their hosts had spread a traditional Bedouin feast. The centerpiece of the feast was a camel, fully cooked, but still mostly intact. The chief of the Bedouin tribe immediately took a liking to young Norman and offered him the choicest morsel on the table; the camel’s eye ball. Schwarzkopf writes that his father didn’t even have to look at him. He knew what he had to do. He popped that eyeball in his mouth and swallowed; and kept it down. Any other response would have been an unforgivable insult. He squelched the gag reflex.
Helping people feel welcome and accepted is more important than suiting your own tastes.
2. It was true with Yeshua (Jesus) – it will be true of his disciples
3. We are Called; Complex; Convicted; Converted; Commissioned
