Download - In The Footsteps Of The Master: The Life and Times of Jesus Christ Jesus Calls the Twelve May 10, 2009

In The Footsteps Of The Master:The Life and Times of Jesus Christ

Jesus Calls the Twelve

May 10, 2009

www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

Important?• Why is the calling of the Twelve

Disciples is so important for us today?• Because each and every one of us here

is a continuation of their ministry. • Do you believe that? • Do you believe that Just as Jesus called

Peter and James and John and Andrew and Phillip and the rest to follow Him and carry on His ministry that He has called you in the same manner for the same purpose?

Disciples Setup• From a very early age the “bright” and

“charismatic” children were identified• These children studied under a Rabbi • If you were fishing in the NT, you were

considered neither • These men Jesus called were not the

“Spiritual Elite”• Jesus had no problem working with “Joe

the Plumber” types

Changing the World• If you look at this as like the NFL draft,

they did poorly. • The last line would be… “Wide receiver,

taken out of Jerusalem, Judas Iscariot, has no hand” (30 pieces of silver)

• All of these men have their own issues• Jesus called them and enabled them to

walk powerfully despite the fact that a lot of the time they're absolutely confused.

Jesus Calls the Twelve• Luke 6:12-16

– “12It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. 13And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles: 14Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James and John; and Philip and Bartholomew; 15and Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot; 16Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.”

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Jesus Heals Many• Luke 6:17-19

– “17Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, 18who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured. 19And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all.”

Peter• Author of 2 books of the NT• Peter ran a fishing business in Bethsaida

(John 1:44)• Peter shown fishing even after the

resurrection of Jesus (John 21)• Was depicted as married• One of the few who witnessed the

Transfiguration • Tradition says he was a martyr under

Nero, crucified head down, and buried in Rome

Peter continued….• Peter is always mentioned first in the

lists of the Twelve • Read Matthew 16:18-19• Peter walked on water for a moment, but

sank when his faith wavered. (Matthew 14:28–31)

• When Jesus was arrested, Peter cut off the ear of a servant of the High Priest

• Denied knowing Jesus 3 times


Andrew • Best known as Peter’s brother • Fisherman in business with Peter• Originally a disciple of John the Baptist• First follower of Jesus to be identified by

name (wow)• Part of the inner circle around Jesus• His testimony first led him and John to

follow Jesus (John 1:41)• Andrew is said to have been martyred by

crucifixion

Sons of Thunder (Mark 3:17)• He is called Saint James the Greater to

distinguish him from James, son of Alphaeus

• James and John were with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to follow him

• James was one of only three apostles whom Jesus selected to bear witness to his Transfiguration

James & John• Herod had James executed by sword,

making him the first of the apostles to be martyred (Acts 12:1-2)

• John wrote Gospel of John 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John and the book of Revelation

• According to Tertullian, John was banished to Patmos after being plunged into boiling oil in Rome and suffering nothing from it. It is said that the entire coliseum were converted to Christianity upon witnessing this miracle.


Disciple whom Jesus loved• Though some sources state that John was

95 when he died, others claim he was most likely 104.

• Traditionally, John is said to be the only apostle to die of natural causes.

• His tomb is located in Ephesus.



Philip• Also from Bethsaida• Disciple of John the Baptist• Not the Philip who taught the

Ethiopian eunuch• Later Christian traditions describe

Philip as the apostle who preachedin Greece, Syria, and Phrygia– He was martyred by crucifixion in the city of

Hierapolis, near Collosae


Bartholomew (Nathanael)• Native of Cana• Generally identified with Nathanael

– Bartholomew appears in all fourlists of the Twelve

– However, not mentioned in John– Nathanael not mentioned in the

Synoptics– Philip identified with both

• His name was possibly Nathanael Bar-Tholami• Tradition holds that he was flayed alive in

Armenia and then crucified upside down for refusing to worship pagan gods


Matthew (Levi)• Tax collector from Capernaum• Son of Alphaeus

– Possibly the brother of James• Nothing definite is known of

Matthew's career• After preaching in Judea, different

traditions place his missionary work and possible martyrdom in Ethiopia or Persia

• Author of Gospel of Matthew– Maybe not?


Thomas• Called Didymus (“twin”)• Known as “Doubting” Thomas due to his

misgivings concerning Jesus’ resurrection• Otherwise seen in NT as strong figure

– Ready to travel with Jesus to Jerusalem and die there

• Tradition has him evangelizing in India– Speared to death on the island

of Madras off the coast of India


James the son of Alphaeus• Referred to as James “the Less” to

distinguish between him and Jamesthe son of Zebedee– Possibly Matthew’s brother

• Tradition says he was martyred by crucifixion at Ostrakine in Lower Egypt, where he was preaching the Gospel– Sometimes depicted with a carpenter's saw

because it is also held that his body was later sawed to pieces


Simon the Zealot• Simon is referred to both as the

"Cananaean" and the "Zealot"– May refer to him being "zealous", or to his

membership in the Jewish revolutionary movement known as Zealots

• Nothing else certain is known about him• One tradition says he first preached in

Egypt, before joining Jude and travelling to Persia, where both were martyred– Simon may have been crucified or hacked to

death.


Judas the son of James• Also known as Thaddeus or Jude• According to the Armenian tradition, Jude

suffered martyrdom about AD 65 in Beirut, Lebanon together with the apostle Simon the Zealot, with whom he is usually connected

• Often depicted holding an axe,the instrument thought to havebeen used in his execution


Judas Iscariot• Son of Simon Iscariot

– Iscariot probably refers to the family’s place of origin

• Treasurer of the Twelve• Betrayer of Jesus

– For thirty pieces of silver, a paltrysum

• Hanged himself after realizing what he had done

• The name “Judas” is now synonymous with “betrayer”


The Reach of the Twelve


Next Week• The Sermon on the Mount (Part 1)

Download - In The Footsteps Of The Master: The Life and Times of Jesus Christ Jesus Calls the Twelve May 10, 2009

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