Disciples

1. Was there any sense in Jesus’ choice of disciples?

Though the Bible does not tell us directly what His reasons were for calling those specific twelve men to be His disciples, we can make conclusions when we look at the unfolding story. God placed Andrew and John at the right spot at the right time and He inspired them to take the right steps (John 1). After Jesus had convinced them, He used Andrew to engage Peter too. Jesus called Philip and sent him to bring his friend Nathanael. Later Jesus Himself called Matthew.

For the first few months of His ministry, these six men followed him intermittently while they also proceeded with their daily jobs (except for Matthew). The fishermen among them served Jesus with their boats. Matthew served Him by making notes of His messages which he later put into his gospel. By choosing ordinary people as disciples, Jesus showed that we don’t have to be extraordinary to follow Him.

Later Jesus called another six men to be His full-time assistants. While Matthew had been collaborating with the Romans, Simon the Zealot was a hard-line opponent of the Romans. Jesus called both these men as His disciples, showing that political adversaries can be brothers and sisters in the church. Some of the disciples were on the foreground often (Peter, James and John); some came forward occasionally (Andrew, Philip, Thomas and Matthew); of another four nothing was recorded except for their names; and Judas became the notorious epitome of treason.

Irrespective of personality, gifts, background, status, or contributions, Jesus reached out to all of them, and to all of us, and invites us to follow Him, and to be changed into apostles or ambassadors  for His kingdom.

2. Was Judas chosen for his role as traitor, or could he have decided not to take the job?

Those who believe in predestination and those who believe in free choice will never agree on this issue. After the disciples had been with Jesus for two years, Jesus said that one of the disciples was a devil (John 6), and shortly after that He announced that He would be “delivered” to His enemies.

Though Jesus knew of Judas’ plans, He kept on to reach out to him. He did not expose him to the other disciples. He trusted him with their money. He let him share in the privileges of the others. He heard Jesus’ messages and saw His miracles. Jesus washed his feet before the Last Supper. In the garden of Gethsemane He called him by name, He called him a friend, and urged him to think what he was doing by asking, “Why are you here? Do you betray Me with a kiss?”

Would Jesus have reached out to Judas if their was absolute no chance for him to change his mind? Either Jesus’ reaching out to Judas was genuine or it was just a show. Which one fits the character of Jesus?