Luke 5:12-16 Choosing the Twelve Apostles.
When Jesus met the apostles at first, he just said "follow me" and they became followers, as they stayed with him they became disciples, and then they became the "sent ones"
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Also, this is the same list used in Acts which has Luke as its author.
Is Judas son of James the same person as Thaddaeus mentioned in Matt and Mark?
Matt 10:1He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil[a] spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
The Appointing of the Twelve Apostles
Mark 3:13-16Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve—designating them apostles —that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter) James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
In Acts 1:19-24the group who met in the upper room were referred to as believers and then lots are cast to see who would be designated as an apostle to take Judas's place.
"For," said Peter, "it is written in the book of Psalms," 'May his place be deserted;let there be no one to dwell in it,'(Psalm 69:25) and," 'May another take his place of leadership.'(Psalm 109:8) Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection." So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen
When I read the two psalms in their context I wouldn't have come to the conclusion that it was necessary for Judas to be replaced. Was this necessary or did Peter want to keep the continuity and numbers straight?
We don't hear about Matthias after his election but we hear about Joseph/Justus/Judas AKA Barsabbas. Acts 15:22 They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers.
So after all that, what is to be gleaned from today's scripture.
Firstly, that Jesus prayed before sending people on a mission. He took disciples,ie trainees of the Kingdom and then they became the "sent ones" of the Kingdom.
Is this the progression we can expect to be carried forward for today?
Is there a mission brewing in your heart this morning?
Remember "God is a work in you to will and to act according to his good pleasure"!!
Secondly, in the case of Barsabbas and Matthias; The lesson I see is, just because you got looked over to be a "sent one" by others, God will still send you on the mission He intends for you. God's will, will be done on earth as it is in heaven -
Thirdly, Where is and who is "Thaddaeus"? If I resolve two out of these three points, I'll be happy!!
Blessings on your day
Siobhan
1 Corinthians 15:55-57
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For Thaddaeus and Judas being the same person, it might help to know if one name is Hebrew and the other Greek. That is often the case when differing names are given for the same person in Scripture.
ReplyDeleteYou make a very good point with the Barsabbas issue. It is interesting that the disciple threw lots to decide, depending on God to direct the dice, so to speak. Yet we never hear of the one they choose but hear of Barsabbas. Did they get it wrong? Which begs the question of our modern way of dicphering the will of God by fleeces, mysterious emotions and other religious practices that could be viewed as superstitous.
I have discovered we are humans and no matter how much time we spend in prayer and searchinig the scriptures we will remain human until the Lord delivers us from our falible body.
I of course am not pointing out the uselessness of prayer and Bible reading. On teh contrary it points to the importance of it. But I am recently accutely aware that though these things will lesson the risk of error, they cannot eliminate them altogether.
Shirley Fay