Jesus and the 12

From a worldly wisdom standpoint, Jesus made a number of mistakes when He chose the 12.  By Peter's own admission he was a sinful man.  Matthew made a living cheating his Jewish brethren.  Simon the Zealot longed to kill all the Romans.  Why did He chose these men?

Jesus did not made a mistake when He chose these men.  Despite their mistakes, their blunders, and their sins, they believed He was the Christ.  When He called, they came.  Does it grieve you when you fail Him?  Is it the passion of your heart to be what He wants you to be?  It doesn’t take much of a man to be a Christian, but it takes all of him.


What longsuffering He had! 

Longsuffering – makrothumia –
–Patience with regard to people
–Long-tempered, the opposite of short-tempered
–Quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish
–The opposite of anger
–Associated with mercy (Vine)

Jesus is a longsuffering, merciful, loving Savior!

The Mighty God

The miracles of Jesus served to confirm the word He spoke.

Hebrews 2:1-4; NKJV

—1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.

—2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward,
—
3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
—
4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

This miracle worker is none other than God Himself...

Isaiah 9:6; NKJV

—For unto us a Child is born,
—Unto us a Son is given;
—And the government will be upon His shoulder.
—And His name will be called
—Wonderful,
—Counselor,
—Mighty God,
—Everlasting Father,
—Prince of Peace.

The Primary Purpose of Jesus' Parables

All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.” (MATT 13:34-35; NKJV; see PS 78:2; MK 4:33-34)

The primary purpose of the parables was to “conceal.”   Jesus began speaking in parables because of the hardness of many people's hearts (MATT 13:10-17).  By resorting to parables, Jesus effectively separated the truth-seekers from the curiosity-seekers!  Those seeking the truth would say "Explain to us the parable...“ (MATT 13:36), whereas the curiosity-seekers could easily be sent away.

 Listen to His parables.  Long to understand them.  Look for Him to reveal their meaning to you.

Hidden in My Heart

"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17; NKJV)

Certain Women

Luke 8:1-3; NKJV

1 Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, 

2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities — Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, 

3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance. 

In first-century Jewish culture, women were usually treated as second-class citizens with few of the rights men had.  But Jesus crossed those barriers, and Luke showed the special care Jesus had for women.  Jesus treated all people with equal respect.

Jesus raised women from the slavish position which they held to their true moral dignity and importance and made them equal with men as heirs of salvation.

Appreciation…Acceptable service…Honor and respect for women…true Christlikeness.

 

Seek Ye First

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33; KJV)

Seek – to seek after, seek for, aim at, strive after (Thayer’s).

First – first in time, place, order, or importance (Strong’s).

All – all, any, every, the whole - food, drink, clothing, etc,; everything we need will be given to us by our Father if we first seek His rule and righteousness in our lives.

Added – lay beside.

The Resurrection of Life

John 5:25-30; NKJV

25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.  

26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,  

27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.  

28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice  

29 and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

Consider the resurrection of condemnation.  Do good in your life.  Look forward to coming forth to the resurrection of life.  

Pray Privately

Mark 1:35; NKJV
 
Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

Jesus taught us to do what He did:  “…go into your room, and when you have shut your door…” (Matthew 6:6; NKJV).  Our Father in Heaven is not impressed with public displays of piety.  A special place can become to you what the Garden of Gethsemane became to Jesus – a holy place, the place where God meets with you (Mark 1:35).

Pray like He taught us to pray.  Pray like He prayed.  Pray privately.

Come and See

Christ has given us the great responsibility to teach others about Him (Matthew 28:18-20).  It may be that we fail to teach others because we do not know what to say or where to begin.  Consider this.  When Jesus began His public ministry He called Philip to “follow Me” (John 1:43).  Philip then found Nathanael and explained that they had “found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45).  Nathanael was less than impressed.  Nathanael believed that folks from Nazareth were from the wrong side of the tracks so he dismissed Philip’s idea that this Nazarene was the Messiah altogether (John 1:46).  Philip simply said, “Come and see” (John 1:46).
 

Most folks we will try to teach will be similar to Nathanael.  They will be unimpressed.  Unimpressed that we have Lord’s Day Bible classes, that we preach from the Bible, that we come together on Wednesday evening to read and study God’s word.  Why not simply say to them, “Come and see”?  This seems to be an effective way to bring others to Jesus.  For Nathanael did come and Nathanael did see (John 1:47-49).  In fact, this same method is used by Jesus and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 11:27; Revelation 22:17).
 

As the Lord’s Day approaches, let us be about the business of inviting others to “come.”  To “come and see.”  To “come” and hear the good news about Jesus; the good news about His death, burial and resurrection; the good news about the forgiveness of sins; the good news about a heavenly home.  Let us say to those who need Jesus, “Come.”

Be A Voice!

Isaiah 40:3-5; NASBU

3.  A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.
4.  Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley;
5.  Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

John the Baptist was not "the voice."  He was "a voice."  He prepared the way for "the voice."

Be like John.  Be a voice.  Be a voice for "the voice."

Hidden in My Heart

"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17; NKJV)

Seeing, Holding, Receiving

Luke 2:25-35; NKJV

25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel."

33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."





1.  Simeon saw Jesus.


2.  Simeon held Jesus.
3.  Simeon received Jesus.


Seeing, holding, receiving...


1.  I want to be seen by Jesus.
2.  I want to be held by Jesus.
3.  I want to be received by Jesus.

The Genealogies of Jesus

Genealogy through Joseph (Matthew 1:1-17)
–Legal heir to the throne of David

Genealogy through Mary (Luke 3:23-38)
–Physical descendant of Adam, Abraham, David
–“…concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, born of the seed of David, according to the flesh…” (Romans 1:3; NKJV)

The Christ of Both Testaments

"The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." (Mark 1:1; NKJV)

In the Old Testament Christ is...

1.  Concealed
2.  Anticipated
3.  Contained
4.  Promised
5.  Pictured
6.  Predicted

In the New Testament Christ is...

1.  Revealed
2.  Acknowledged
3.  Explained
4.  Proclaimed
5.  Present
6.  Fulfilled

Read the New Testament and see the Christ of the Old Testament in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.

The Silence is About to Break

When “the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons,” as we come to the mountain of Jehovah (Galatians 4:4-5; Isaiah 2:1-4; Micah 4:1-5; Hebrews 12:22-29).

Daniel 8:17's "The Time of the End"

The “end” is mentioned several times in Daniel, but not one time does it refer to things that pertain to the end of this present world order (7:26, 28; 8:17, 19; 11:6, 27, 35, 40; 12:4, 6, 8, 9, 13).

Daniel is shown things to come that will bring an end to the Jewish economy governed by the Law of Moses.

In its place the Kingdom of Jehovah would be governed by a new covenant with Christ as the mediator (see Hebrews).

The desecration caused by Antiochus related to events that would occur during the days of the Kingdom when there would be another “desolation” brought upon the Temple in Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14).

Not only would the Temple be destroyed, bringing to en end the animal sacrifices of the Jewish economy, but also the new spiritual temple of Jehovah would be tested.

The suffering of “the holy people” under Antiochus parallels the similar experience of Christians when the Roman Caesars ordained themselves to be worshipped as “god” and persecuted all who refused (Revelation 13:15-17).

The Years of Silence

1.  Over 400 years separated the final events (Nehemiah 13) and final prophecy (Malachi) recorded in the Old Testament from the beginning actions (Luke 1:5-25) narrated in the New Testament (425 – 26 B.C.).

2.  Because there was no prophetic word from God during this time, this period is sometimes called “the years of silence.”

"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, "that I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.  They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, but shall not find it.”  (Amos 8:11-12; 755 B.C).

3.  Though the voice of God was silent, the hand of God was actively directing the course of events during these centuries (Daniel 2:31-45; 7:1-28; 8:1-27; 11:1-35; 606 – 536 B.C.).

4.  When “the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons,” as we come to the mountain of Jehovah (Galatians 4:4-5; Isaiah 2:1-4; Micah 4:1-5; Hebrews 12:22-29).

Hidden in My Heart

"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17; NKJV)

1 Chronicles 1-9

God keeps up with His children; He knows their names and keeps them in a book (1 Chronicles 1-9; Psalm 56:8; Nahum 1:7; Malachi 3:16; Matthew 10:30; 2 Timothy 2:19; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8;  20:12, 15; 21:27)