St Louis UBF UBF Bible Study : Luke 6:12-26 (2010)

Bible Study Materials

Luke 6:12-26 (2010)

by Paul Choi 11/07/2010

Question

JESUS CHOOSES THE TWELVE APOSLTES

Luke 6:12-26

Key Verse: 6:13

Read verse 12. Why was it necessary for Jesus to pray all night before choosing his disciples?

Why did Jesus choose the twelve disciples? What do you know about Simon (Lk 5:10; Jn 13:37) ? Andrew? (Jn 1:29; 6:8; Mk 6:37a) James and John (Mt 20:20) Philip and Bartholomew? Matthew? Thomas? James the Son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas son of James? Judas Iscariot? (Mt 27:5) Why do you think Jesus picked men of such diverse character?

Read verses 20-22. What basic inner attitude must disciples have? (Compare Mt 5:3-6) What will poor people seek the kingdom of God? Why will hungry people be satisfied in their souls? (See Ps 42:1)

Read verses 21b-22. Why does the unbelieving world persecute Christians? What promises does Jesus give us? What attitude should disciples have toward the world? From whom are woes reserved?

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JESUS CHOOSES THE TWELVE APOSLTES-questions (Lk 6).doc

Message

JESUS CHOOSES THE TWELVE APOSTLES

Luke 6:12-26

Key Verse: 6:13 “When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:”

Last Sunday we learned that Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus defended his disciples from the religious leaders who accused them of violating the Sabbath law by eating some heads of grain on the Sabbath. Jesus taught the religious leaders that God desires mercy, not sacrifice and that love is the fulfillment of the law. Above all, Jesus taught them that Jesus himself is the Lord of the Sabbath, which means he is the true object of worship on the Sabbath. Thank God that we focus on worshiping Jesus each Sunday. Let us continue to pray that Jesus may be the center of our worship service. Amen.

In today’s passage Jesus chooses his twelve disciples. We learn how Jesus chose his disciples and whom he chose. Lastly we learn what kind of attitude they should have as Jesus’ disciples.

First, Jesus chose the twelve after all night prayer (12). Look at verse 12. “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.” Jesus is the Son of God. He could do whatever he desired to do. But, he did not do so. Jesus humbly prayed in order to work together with God the Father. In fact, Jesus prayed first before he did something. He was very busy in healing the sick and teaching the word every day. Still every early morning he went out to a solitary place where he knelt down and prayed (Mk 1:35). We must learn Jesus’ prayer life. No matter how busy and tired we may be, we must start every day with prayer by kneeling down before God. Amen.

Jesus spent all night in choosing his disciples. Jesus was well aware of the necessity of raising disciples. People were like harassed and helpless sheep without a shepherd. The religious leaders were not shepherds. They were like wolves disguised with sheepskins. Jesus had compassion on God’s sheep. So he prayed to God for raising spiritual leaders and shepherds who would take care of God’s flock of sheep. Jesus spent all night in prayer. He totally depended on God in choosing the disciples.

Here we learn that it is God who chose Jesus’ disciples. Jesus prayed and God chose the twelve. In John 17:6 Jesus prayed to God the Father saying, “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.” Jesus said in his prayer that God the Father chose the twelve and gave them to him. Right! In the same token, we did not choose God, but God chose us by his sovereign will to become shepherd for this generation. Jesus said in John 15:16, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last.” In choosing Jesus’ disciples there is God’s sovereign will and plan. That is why we should depend on God in raising Jesus’ disciples. That is why we have to pray. Sometimes we labor much in raising disciples by our own will and efforts. However, we must humbly ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and depend on him. Let us pray that God may send 12 disciples of Jesus from each campus in St. Louis area and raise them as shepherds for God’s people. Amen.

Second, the twelve apostles of Jesus (13) Look at verse 13. “When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: According to this verse there were many other disciples who followed Jesus. According to Luke 10:1, there were seventy two disciples who were sent out for a mission trip. However, today Jesus chose only the twelve. Why? The number twelve reminds us of the twelve sons of Jacob who later became the ancestors of the twelve tribes of the Israelites. In the light of Jesus, the twelve disciples represent the whole world as the twelve tribes do the whole nation of Israel. Then, who are the twelve? Look at verse 14. “Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,” As we know, Simon was a fisherman. He did not have any hope on this earth but catching lots of smelly fish. The night before he met Jesus on the beach, he was despairing of his failure. But, he simply obeyed Jesus’ word when he was asked to put down the net in deep water. Jesus restored Simon’s failure by letting him catch lots of fish. Then Jesus called him to follow him. Simon left everything and followed Jesus. Simon had a simple faith. He also had innate leadership among his peers. After his confession of faith, Jesus changed his name from “Simon” which means ‘shaky”, to Peter”, which means “Solid.” (Mt 16:18)

Andrew was Simon’s brother. According to John’s gospel he brought his brother Simon to Jesus. Andrew was not a popular leadership-material like his brother Simon, but he was a man of heart. He brought five loaves of bread and two fish to Jesus for feeding five thousand people. James and John were also fishermen like Simon and Andrew. But they were ambitious. So one day they encouraged his mother to ask Jesus for the left and right side of Jesus’ messianic kingdom (Mt 20:20, Mk 10:35). They were faithful to Christ to the point of death. Later James became the first martyr among the twelve (Ac 12:2), and John wrote John’s gospel, 1,2,3 John and the book of Revelation in his old age. Philip’s occupation was not known. But he was very smart. In modern term, his major will be computer science or statistics. He calculated very fast the cost of feeding the five thousand people. (Jn 6:7) Bartholomew was known as Nathanael in John’s gospel. He was a true Israelite according to Jesus’ word. (Jn 1:47) He was also a faithful man who never missed eating fellowship or other meetings.

Look at verse15. “Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,” Matthew used to be a notorious tax collector by the name of Levi (5:27). Matthew was a very selfish and money oriented person. But since he followed Jesus, he became a very sacrificial shepherd and great teacher who wrote the Sermon on Mount. Thomas was a man of assurance rather than a man of doubt. He did not believe anything until he was sure. Thomas gives us hope for all those who are skeptical and doubtful. James son of Alphaeus is none but known as “James the younger”, whose mother was Mary at site of Jesus’ crucifixion. (Mk 15:40) Simon the Zealot was one of the revolutionists who protested against the Roman Empire.

Look at verse 16. “Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.” Judas son of James is also called “Thaddaeus” who is recorded in John’s gospel (Jn 14:22) Judas Iscariot was a treasurer of Jesus’ ministry. But later, he was deceived by the love of money and betrayed his master Jesus. It is amazing that Jesus had loved Judas Iscariot to the end even though he foresaw Judas’ betrayal.

Thus far, from Simon Peter to Judas Iscariot Jesus called the twelve and designated them apostles. Here the word “apostles” means “those who are sent.” In another word, “apostles” are “missionaries.” Jesus chose the twelve and appointed them apostles as missionaries who will carry out God’s great world salvation work.

In choosing the twelve, we learn something important from Jesus. First of all, Jesus called the twelve from ordinary people, not from religious leaders. The twelve were all from rank and files. Jesus picked up from ordinary people such as in modern terms from salary man, school teacher, nurse, bank cashier, plumber, and handyman so on. Jesus chose these ordinary people and made them great Saints in human history. It is impossible even to imagine from human point of view. But, nothing is impossible with God. There is the divine sovereign will of God in choosing the disciples and the mighty power of God in transforming them. The Bible says, “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are.” (1 Cor 1:26-28) Since God chose Jesus’ disciples from ordinary people, everybody has hope in Jesus to become great. We cannot change ourselves, but God can change us. God will make each of us great and faithful as long as we follow Jesus and learn of him. Amen.

Second of all, Jesus called the twelve who have different character, different occupation, and different location. In a word there is diversity in choosing the disciples. Why? The twelve disciples represent all peoples of all nations. They should be shepherds who understand all kinds of people with all kinds of problems. People generally understand well those who have the similar character with the sam problems. Simon Peter may understand well those who are erring but have leadership. Matthew may bear with very selfish person like himself. Philip may be a good shepherd for those who are smart, and Thomas for doubtful people. Jesus called them to be shepherd for all peoples of all nations.

Among our church members there is no one who has the same character even among sisters and brothers. Everybody is different and each one has his or her own unique character and merit. We are diverse in character but united in Jesus. There is not only diversity but also unity in Jesus. May God use each of us for his proper mission and in proper place. Amen.

Third, the inner attitude of Jesus’ disciples (17-26) After calling the twelve disciples, Jesus went down with them and stood on a level place. The twelve felt greatly honored and proud of being chosen. But, when they came down to the level place, they confronted tough reality. A large crowd of other disciples and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, were waiting for Jesus. (17) People came to Jesus to hear the word of God and to be healed of their diseases. Jesus touched them one by one and all who were touched by him were healed and those who were troubled by evil spirits were cured. (18,19) By healing the sick and caring the needy Jesus taught his disciples how to become shepherd for suffering sheep of God. By doing this Jesus taught his disciples how to be responsible spiritual leaders in any and all circumstances.

As we know the twelve disciples just started following Jesus. They were not mature enough to become a shepherd. They were still young and worldly. So Jesus taught them how to view the world and what kind of attitude they should have as spiritual leaders. In other words, Jesus wanted them to have Jesus’ worldview and grow in godly character.

In verses 20-21 Jesus taught them who are truly blessed and who are those in woes. Look at verse 20-21. “Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” Most of the twelve disciples were poor. Some of them might feel shame on their poverty. But Jesus said that those who are poor are blessed people. It is because they put their real hope in the kingdom of God not on this earth. As Dr. Samuel Lee said, many people depend on money more than God. They feel secure and satisfied when they have sufficient amount of money in their bank account. They think they live forever on this earth with their money. But, Jesus said in verse 24. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.” Like a rich ruler in chapter 18, those who enjoy comfort and pleasure on this earth with their money but lose eternal life in the kingdom of God are cursed people. On the contrary, those who sacrifice their life, time, money for Jesus’ name sake on this earth will be blessed indeed. The kingdom of God will be theirs. Amen.

Blessed are those who hunger, for they will be satisfied. In this world there are many hungry people both physically and spiritually. Those who are physically hungry will be satisfied with lumps of bread. But those who are spiritually hungry pant for words of life which satisfy their souls. Those who suffer and weep for God’s flock of sheep will rejoice in the kingdom of God. Look at verses 22-23. Those who are hated, insulted and rejected because of Jesus will rejoice and leap for joy. It is because their reward will be great in the kingdom of God. Let us read verse 23. “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.”

In today’s passage we learned that how Jesus called his twelve disciples. There is God’s divine sovereignty in choosing and raising Jesus’ disciples. Jesus chose his disciples from ordinary people. But God has power to transform them into great shepherds and teachers of the world. We are called by God in our generation. We are ordinary but chosen by God. Let us pray that we may grow in God’s character and have Jesus’ worldview. Above all, we should be responsible shepherds for this generation. Amen.

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