7. THE TWELVE Mark 3:13-19 (Matthew 10:1-4; Luke 6:12-16) 13 And he goeth up into the mountain,--[Luke (Luke 6:12-13) says: "That he went out into the mountain to pray; and he continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called his disciples; and he chose from them twelve, whom also he named apostles." The example of Jesus going aside and alone praying through the whole night to God as a preparation for choosing twelve apostles is suggestive to us. He felt the infirmity and the weakness of the flesh as we do. He felt the burdens and responsibilities of his position and his actions, on which depended the future wellbeing of the world. While he was divine in person, knowledge and power, it did not relieve him of the feeling of human weakness, so he carried the matter to God, and spent the whole night in humble and earnest prayer to God for wisdom to guide him in the matter. If Jesus felt the need of such prayer and was strengthened by it, how much more do we--poor, frail men and women--need constant help and strength, wisdom and guidance from God in our work? And how constant, humble, and earnest should we be in prayer to God for wisdom and strength." "Pray without ceasing." After praying through the night he called his disciples to him, and they came.] and calleth unto him whom he himself would; and they went unto him.--"He himself" is very emphatic, and lays stress on the fact that the twelve were called and chosen by Jesus, not through the influence or at the suggestion of others. He prepared the way for a spiritual revolution by selecting and training men who should accomplish it. This included the establishment of his church. This revolution was to rest upon his own atoning death as its foundation. For the same reason, he did not develop the whole system of Christian doctrine but left both these tasks to be accomplished after his resurrection and ascension, yet preparing the way for both, by teaching and training those who should complete the church, both as to its organization and doctrine. This preparatory process was a gradual one. The first was in calling disciples to be with him as their teacher, and now selecting from these his apostles, whom he continues to school and prepare for completing the new movement after his departure. They were disciples before they were apostles. They were well trained by Christ before he allowed them to undertake such a public charge. Even then, he sent them the Holy Spirit to guide them in their work. (John 6:13.) We here reach a turning point in the ministry of Jesus. Hitherto his work had been personal and preparatory. This call of apostles begins a broader work by trained workers. 14 And he appointed twelve,--The number twelve is significant. It expresses fullness, completeness, and strength. There were the twelve patriarchs; the twelve tribes of Israel; the twelve stones of the Urim and the Thummim on the breastplate of the high priest (Exodus 28:17-21); the twelve loaves of showbread (Leviticus 24:5-8); the altar and twelve pillars which Moses erected by Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:4); the altar of twelve stones, by Elijah (1 Kings 18:31); the New Jerusalem with twelve foundation stones (Revelation 21:14; "Upon her head a crown of twelve stars" (Revelation 12:1); a wall having twelve gates and at the gates twelve angels (Revelation 21:12);the twelve gates were twelve pearls (Revelation 21:21);and "the tree of life, bearing twelve manner of fruits" (Revelation 22:2). The number occurs often in the Bible. that they might be with him,--Apostle is one sent or commissioned. They were messengers. As constant personal attendants, and as learners, to be trained for their subsequent work. He reveals the purpose for which he appointed them. He appointed them at this time, but did not send them out now. They are in the spiritual college, where they may complete their spiritual training, under Christ. Heretofore, they were in the primary department. and that he might send them forth to preach,--As they were prepared to deliver the message. He "began to send them forth by two and two." (6:7.) After the ascension of Christ, they were to preach everywhere (16:15), but not until after receiving power on Pentecost were they to be Christ's witnesses, in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and unto the utmost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8). 15 and to have authority to cast out demons:--Matthew (Matthew 10:1) adds, "And to heal all manner of disease and all manner of sickness." Jesus would send the apostles to preach with authority to perform the same miracles he himself performed. [This power was given them to attest that God was with them, and that they had authority from him to act and teach for him. Their words were his words. Having given the apostles these signs, the world may rest assured that in hearing the words of the apostles they hear God himself. "He that heareth you heareth me." (Luke 10:16.) 16 and Simon he surnamed Peter;--The apostles are now named. Peter stands first and Judas at the end. [Andrew, Peter's brother, was one of the two disciples that came to Jesus on the testimony of John. So soon as he saw Jesus he believed he was the Christ. "He findeth first his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah (which is, being interpreted, Christ)." (John 1:41.) To Andrew and Peter he first said: "Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men." (Mark 1:17.) And now when he calls them to qualify for the work of apostles, Peter is the first called. In all lists of the apostles his name is first, indicating a preeminence. In enumerations in the New Testament the greatest come first.] 17 and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James;--[James was the elder of the two, from the order of their names. They were called to the discipleship immediately after Peter and Andrew.] 18 and Andrew,--[Andrew was the brother of Peter, the first to find Jesus and bring Peter to him. Occasionally he is mentioned next to Peter as his brother, but when not so placed he was mentioned first after James and John. He seems to have had Peter's promptness in deciding his aggressive force in pushing work forward. We have no account of his afterlife. Tradition says he preached in Scythia, in Greece, in Asia Minor.] and Philip,--[He was of Bethsaida, the home of Andrew, Peter, James, and John. Jesus told him, "Follow me," among the first of his disciples called. He sought Nathanael and told him: "We have found him, of whom Moses, in the law, and the prophets, wrote." (John 1:45.) Philip is always placed first in the second group of three; is mentioned a few times in the life of Jesus by John, but of his afterlife we know nothing.] and Bartholomew,---[He is thought to be Nathanael, called to Jesus by Philip, in connection with whose name his is always associated. He asked, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" and when he came, Jesus said of him: "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" (John 1:47.) He is mentioned in John 21:2 as of Cana, in Galilee, to whom, with others, Jesus appeared after his resurrection. Tradition says he preached in Judea.] and Matthew,--[Matthew was a publican, a gatherer of taxes, is called "Levi the son of Alphaeus." (2:14.) He wrote the gospel of Matthew. Of his later life nothing is known.] and Thomas,--[Of him we know but little. He is mentioned as one of the twelve apostles. When Jesus determined to go into Judea against the protest of his disciples that they had sought to kill him, Thomas said: "Let us also go, that we may die with him." (John 11:16.) This shows doubt and gloomy forebodings, yet he was willing to go with him and share his fate. Again he asks of Jesus, "Lord, we know not whither thou goest; how know we the way?" (John 14:5.) Then after his resurrection he refused to believe the testimony of the apostles that they had seen Jesus, but when Jesus showed him his hand and side, he said: "My Lord and my God." (John 20:28.) Tradition says he preached in Persia.] and James the son of Alphaeus,--[Or Cleophas, and brother of our Lord, was the brother of Jude.] and Thaddaeus,-- [He was called Judas. (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13.) He is brother of James the Less. He is mentioned in John 14:22 : "Judas, not Iscariot, saith unto him, Lord, what is come to pass that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?" He, with James, is called the brother of the Lord; is thought to have written the epistle of Jude.] and Simon the Cananaean,-- [Luke calls him Simon Zelotes. (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13.) Smith's Bible Dictionary says "These names point him out as belonging to the faction of the Zelots who were conspicuous for their fierce advocacy of the Mosaic ritual." This refers to his position before he became a follower of Christ. We have no account of his later life. Beyond his name we really know nothing.] 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.--[He completes the list, and is always placed last as a mark of his unworthiness. We know but little of his early life. He is said to be the son of Simon, and is supposed to have been born in Judea in the village of Kerioth, hence the name Iscariot. But this is supposition without much ground. If he was of Judea, he is singular in this, since all the others were of Galilee. In John 6:70-71 Jesus says: "Did not I choose you the twelve, and one of you is a devil? Now he spake of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve." He was doubtless chosen because of his fitness in character for the work to which he was called. Jesus must be betrayed. One in character fitted for the work must do it. God could not impose such work on a good man. Peter might impulsively deny him, but could not coldly betray him. Judas was with the disciples during the ministry of Christ, seemingly earnest as his follower, and was endowed with miraculous powers as were the others. (Matthew 10:1.) He was like many others. While without temptations and while things went favorably, he ran well. When the pathway darkened and the temptations multiplied, he failed and fell. He was weak, with sinful propensities that could not resist temptation, and when tried, fell. God tries all men, and unless they can stand temptation they are not fitted for his service.]