One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. 13 At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names:
14 Simon (whom he named Peter), Andrew (Peter’s brother), James, John, Philip,
Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (who was called the zealot), 16 Judas (son of James), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). (Luke 6:12-16 NLT)
Jesus chose twelve Disciples. Israel had twelve tribes. The Disciples spent three years apprentices with Jesus. The selection of the Twelve shows the inclusiveness of God's family. Matthew was a Tax Collector who worked for the big government Romans. Simon was a Zealot, a revolutionary who wanted to overthrow Roman occupation of Israel.
These men, who held very different political views, were two of the Twelve. They were both invited to follow Jesus and to learn from Him. They were with Jesus on the night of His arrest and saw Him following the Resurrection. They received the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and were sent by Jesus to bring the Gospel to people by teaching them and baptizing them into the Christian faith. Jesus said He came to seek and to save the lost.
There is Room for All in Jesus' kingdom. Jesus loves all people. His love has the power to change and transform lives. Like the Twelve, He calls us to Follow Him and to Connect People to Jesus.
14 Simon (whom he named Peter), Andrew (Peter’s brother), James, John, Philip,
Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (who was called the zealot), 16 Judas (son of James), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). (Luke 6:12-16 NLT)
Jesus chose twelve Disciples. Israel had twelve tribes. The Disciples spent three years apprentices with Jesus. The selection of the Twelve shows the inclusiveness of God's family. Matthew was a Tax Collector who worked for the big government Romans. Simon was a Zealot, a revolutionary who wanted to overthrow Roman occupation of Israel.
These men, who held very different political views, were two of the Twelve. They were both invited to follow Jesus and to learn from Him. They were with Jesus on the night of His arrest and saw Him following the Resurrection. They received the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and were sent by Jesus to bring the Gospel to people by teaching them and baptizing them into the Christian faith. Jesus said He came to seek and to save the lost.
There is Room for All in Jesus' kingdom. Jesus loves all people. His love has the power to change and transform lives. Like the Twelve, He calls us to Follow Him and to Connect People to Jesus.