"When God sent His Son into all the world He went all in. When Jesus went to the cross to die for our sins, He went all in. When He went to find the very best to follow Him and to learn with Him, to travel with Him and even die with Him, He chose 12 men. to go all out for Him!" (James Merritt calls Jesus his Commander In Chief)
Jesus begins his minister by 3 priorities! First, His Baptism, then His defeating Satan in the desert, and then Third, His calling of the disciples to help Him in proclaiming the gospel. We find these men listed in Matthew, Mark and Luke and Acts and their names are Peter, Andrew, James, and John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (or Levi), James, the Son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the zealot (or Simon the Canaanean) and Judas Iscariot. Mathias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot as mentioned in Acts 1:26.
A disciple is described as a follower, or a student or a pupil of an important teacher or leader. These men were were not just 'onlookers of the crowd. but they were totally committed to Jesus, as they left their jobs and families, to learn all they could about their Lord and savior. There were others who gave up following Jesus because of what Jesus was asking them to do. (John 6:60,66)
Jesus gave closing statement to his disciples from the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20) To go out and make disciples in all national/ethnic groups." " And they did as the growing band of followers of Jesus are now called "Disciples." In Acts, Jesus 12 disciples are now called Apostles of our Lord.
One of the amazing things is the way Jesus selected His disciples -- they were all different in their characters. They were very diverse in their ages, and talents, and their temperaments and experience. Matthew the tax collector eating with a fisherman! Wow! Jesus saw them from the beginning, they would change the world with God's Love and Grace.
A book on leadership, "The Leadership Lessons of Jesus" by Ray Pritchard, said, "Jesus saw something in these men and wasn't afraid to choose them both for the same team. Only a great leader could do that. Only an extraordinary leader could pull that off."
CONCLUSION: The Commander in Chief chose His men and women to become His Disciples to follow Him. Can you too, become His Disciple and follow Him where ever He asks you to go? Jesus AND His Disciples includes You! Amen.
