The Twelve Apostles (and other devotionals)

Why Did Jesus Choose the Twelve Apostles? by Dr. Doug Bookman

In His early months of ministry in Israel, Jesus attracted great multitudes to hear His messages, receive His miraculous healings, and eat the bread He offered. Many of the Jewish leaders had rejected Him and claimed His power came from Satan (Matthew 12), but the people—for the most part—flocked after Him. Then comes John 6. Just as the Jewish leaders had done, the people sought a sign to prove Jesus was who He claims to be: the promised Messiah. What Jesus gave them instead was a teaching that many found far too difficult. He asked them to trust in Him completely and to submit to His authority as the "bread from heaven." Many who claimed to be His disciples rejected Him and left. Since the multitudes had turned away from their promised Messiah, Jesus began a six-month period of private instruction with the Twelve, those He would prepare for the time of this death, resurrection, and departure. Previously, Jesus had not mentioned these events and certainly not in explicit terms, which explains Peter's shock and consternation (Matthew 16:22). But with Israel's rejection, the shadow of the cross grew ever larger. Seeking seclusion to instruct the Twelve, Jesus retreated to what would then be known as "heathen lands." The leaders in Israel harassed him because of their animosity to His teaching, and no place within the region would allow Him a time of true private instruction. The Twelve Apostles would serve as the core of the future church, and this time would prepare them for—from their vantage point—the catastrophe of His death. His instruction during this time culminated in the Transfiguration, witnessed by the three members of the "inner circle," Peter, James, and John, an event that fortified their faith and left an indelible impression on their later ministry (see 2 Peter 1:16-21). ________________________________ Lips of Children  From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. Psalm 8:2 The lips of children lift up the greatness of God in praise and adoration. They do not know any better than to believe God and take Him at His word. They are trusting and pure in their devotion. It is the children that embraced the coronation of Christ in His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. They shouted “Hosanna in the highest.” Humility praises Jesus, but pride is silent. Humility invites Jesus, but pride is threatened by Jesus. Humility wants to sit in His lap, but pride rejects His affection. Children live in a constant state of dependency. They depend on their parents for food, clothing and shelter. Children look to their parents to teach them about God and religion. Parents are a plethora of resources for their children. Boys and girls depend on mom and dad for direction around what they do well and how they can excel best. Parents are a warehouse of wisdom for their offspring. A wise child learns from and depends upon their parents. They are dependents. “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Our relationship with God is no different. We are His children in desperate need of His direction. We may spurn His discipline at times, but we come back because we know He is what we need. We need His wisdom. We need His forgiveness. We need His comfort, love and hope. We need His patience to work effectively with people. We need His security found in Christ. We need His courage in crisis. We need His grace in the middle of criticism. We need His humility to defeat our pride. Children are the conscience of adults. They remind us of our dependency on Jesus. We are but a grain of sand on the seashore of humanity. Jesus is Lord of all and we serve and worship Him alone. The lips of children naturally lift up the glory of God. And we do so supernaturally by the power of the Holy Spirit. We cannot keep quiet because of His lavish love and abundant grace. It’s in our childlike faith that God reveals Himself. We are God’s child; therefore we praise Him!  “I [Jesus] praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children” (Luke 10:21). Prayer: Heavenly Father grow my heart more tender and trusting in Your loving care for me. ~Wisdom Hunters Devotional~ ____________________________ Mark 9:15 The people, when they beheld Him, were greatly amazed, and running to Him saluted Him. How great the difference between Moses and Jesus! When the prophet of Horeb had been forty days upon the mountain, he underwent a kind of transfiguration, so that his countenance shone with exceeding brightness, and he put a veil over his face, for the people could not endure to look upon his glory. Not so our Saviour. He had been transfigured with a greater glory than that of Moses, and yet, it is not written that the people were blinded by the blaze of His countenance, but rather they were amazed, and running to Him they saluted Him. The glory of the law repels, but the greater glory of Jesus attracts. Though Jesus is holy and just, yet blended with His purity there is so much of truth and grace, that sinners run to Him amazed at His goodness, fascinated by His love; they salute Him, become His disciples, and take Him to be their Lord and Master. Reader, it may be that just now you are blinded by the dazzling brightness of the law of God. You feel its claims on your conscience, but you cannot keep it in your life. Not that you find fault with the law, on the contrary, it commands your profoundest esteem, still you are in nowise drawn by it to God; you are rather hardened in heart, and are verging towards desperation. Ah, poor heart! turn thine eye from Moses, with all his repelling splendour, and look to Jesus, resplendent with milder glories. Behold His flowing wounds and thorn-crowned head! He is the Son of God, and therein He is greater than Moses, but He is the Lord of love, and therein more tender than the lawgiver. He bore the wrath of God, and in His death revealed more of God's justice than Sinai on a blaze, but that justice is now vindicated, and henceforth it is the guardian of believers in Jesus. Look, sinner, to the bleeding Saviour, and as thou feelest the attraction of His love, fly to His arms, and thou shalt be saved. ~Charles Spurgeon~