THE INNER CIRCLE :
JESUS’ DISCIPLES - WHO WERE THEY ?
By :Pastor Mike Stahl
Brothers and Sisters , many people have heard about Jesus’ twelve disciples , but who exactly were they ? I mean , what were these guys all about ?
Well , let me tell you . To start , Jesus would have only three years to prepare the Kingdom-of God movement to carry on without His visible leadership . You see , powerful political and religious forces were already looking for the right moment to terminate Him . He met the challenge with a simple , but brilliant strategy . He would leave behind a cadre of spiritually powerful people . They would be equipped with careful instruction , the living model of His life , one another’s support , and the gifts and power of The Holy Spirit !
According to Jesus’ strategy , the time came to select from the growing number of His followers those who would form the leadership team to lead the assault on the world .
Now , by worldly standards , the people Jesus chose were poorly qualified for leadership . They were ordinary working stiffs , mostly poor , but not impoverished . All were skilled t some trade or craft ( Like Levi’s genius for cheating taxpayers ! ) . They could read and write , but were not well educated . They were untrained in theology - not a clergy-man among them . Polite society denounced some of them as “sinners” - meaning they didn’t obey the religious rules .
As William Barclay so eloquently stated , “ They had two special qualifications . First , they had felt the magnetic attraction of Jesus . . . And second , they had the courage to show that they were on His side. Make no mistake , that did require courage . Here was this Jesus calmly crashing through the rules and regulations ; here was this Jesus heading straight for an inevitable collision with the orthodox leaders of His day ; here was this Jesus already branded as a sinner and labeled as a heretic ; and yet the had the courage to attach themselves to Him . No band of men ever staked everything on such a forlorn hope as these Galileans , and no band of men ever did it with opener eyes .”
So , you see , Jesus’ faithful disciples were ordinary men who became extraordinary because of Jesus Christ . Despite their confusion and lack of understanding during His lifetime , they became powerful witnesses to His resurrection . Their lives were transformed by God’s power . The story of Jesus’ disciples does not end with the Gospels . It continues in the book of Acts and many of the epistles .
NOW . .. ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE TWELVE DISCIPLES . . . .
(1 ) NAME : Simon Peter ( Son of John )
OCCUPATION: Fisherman
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS : Impulsive ; later - bold in preaching about Jesus .
MAJOR EVENTS IN HIS LIFE : One of three in core group of disciples ; recognized Jesus as the Messiah ; denied Christ and repented ; preached Pentecost sermon ; a leader of the Jerusalem church ; baptized Gentiles ; wrote 1 and 2 Peter .
WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT HIM : Named him Peter , “rock” ; called him “ Satan “ when he urged Jesus to reject the cross ; said he would fish for people ; he received revelation fro God ; he would deny Jesus ; he would later be crucified for his faith .
A KEY LESSON FROM HIS LIFE : Christians falter at times , but when they return to Jesus , He forgives them and strengthens their faith .
SELECTED REFERENCES : Matthew 4: 18-20 ; Mark 8: 29-33 ; Luke 22 : 31-34 ; John 21: 15-19 ; Acts 2:14-41 , 10: 1 - 11:18 .
( 2 ) NAME : James ( son of Zebedee ) , he and his brother John , were called the “ Sons of Thunder “ .
OCCUPATION : Fisherman
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS : Ambitious , short-tempered , judgmental , deeply committed to Jesus .
MAJOR EVENTS IN HIS LIFE : Also in core group ; he and his brother , John , asked Jesus for places of honor in His Kingdom ; wanted to call fire down to destroy a Samaritan village ; the first disciple to be martyred .
WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT HIM : Called James and John “Sons of Thunder “; said he would fish for men ; would drink the cup Jesus drank .
A KEY LESSON FROM HIS LIFE : Christians must be willing to die for Jesus .
SELECTED REFERENCES : Mark 3:17 ; Mark 10: 35-40 ; Luke 9: 52-56 ; Acts 12: 1, 2 .
(3 ) NAME : John ( son of Zebedee ) , James’s brother , and “ the disciple whom Jesus loved “ .
OCCUPATION : Fisherman
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS : Ambitious , judgmental , later - very loving .
MAJOR EVENTS IN HIS LIFE : Third disciple in core group ; asked Jesus for a place of honor in His Kingdom ; wanted to call down fire on a Samaritan village ; a leader of the Jerusalem church ; wrote the Gospel of John , 1,2,3 John , and Revelation .
WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT HIM : Called John and James “ Sons of Thunder “ ; said he would fish for men ; would drink the cup Jesus drank ; would take care of Jesus’ mother after Jesus’ death .
A KEY LESSON FROM HIS LIFE : The transforming power of the love of Christ is available to all .
SELECTED REFERENCES : Mark 1:19 ; Mark 10 : 35-40 ; Luke 9:52-56 ; John 19: 26 , 27 ; John 21: 20-24 .
( 4 ) NAME : Andrew ( Peter’s brother )
OCCUPATION : Fisherman
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS : Eager to bring others to Jesus .
MAJOR EVENTS IN HIS LIFE : Accepted John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus ; told Peter about Jesus ; he and Philip told Jesus that Greeks wanted to see Him .
WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT HIM : Said he would fish for men .
A KEY LESSON FROM HIS LIFE : Christians are to tell other people about Jesus .
SELECTED REFERENCES : Matthew 4: 18-20 ; John 1:35-42 ; 6:8,9 ; John 12:20-24 ;
( 5 ) NAME : Philip
OCCUPATION : Fisherman
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS : Questioning attitude .
MAJOR EVENTS IN HIS LIFE : Told Nathaniel about Jesus ; wondered how Jesus could feed the 5,000 ; asked Jesus to show His followers God the Father ; he and Andrew told Jesus the Greeks wanted to see Him .
WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT HIM : Asked if Philip realized that to know and see Him was to know and see the Father .
A KEY LESSON FROM HIS LIFE : God uses our questions to teach us .
SELECTED REFERENCES : Matthew 10:3 ; John 1:43-46 ; 6:2 , 7 ; John 12: 20-22 ; John 14: 8-11 .
( 6 ) NAME : Bartholomew ( Nathaniel )
OCCUPATION : Unknown .
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS : Honest and straight - forward .
MAJOR EVENTS IN HIS LIFE : Initially rejected Jesus because Jesus was from Nazareth but acknowledged Him as the “ Son of God “ and “ King of Israel “ when they met .
WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT HIM : Called him “ an Israelite indeed “ and a man “ in whom is no guile “ .
A KEY LESSON FROM HIS LIFE : Jesus respects honesty in people - even if they challenge Him because of it .
SELECTED REFERENCES : Mark 3:18 ; John 1: 45-51 ; John 21: 1-13 .
( 7 ) NAME : Matthew ( Levi )
OCCUPATION : Tax collector .
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS : Despised outcast because of his dishonest career .
MAJOR EVENTS IN HIS LIFE : Abandoned his corrupt ( and financially profitable ) way of life to follow Jesus ; invited Jesus to a party with his notorious friends ; wrote the Gospel of Matthew .
WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT HIM : Called him to be a disciple .
A KEY LESSON FROM HIS LIFE : Christianity is not for people who think they’re already good ; it is for people who know they’ve failed and want help .
SELECTED REFERENCES : Matthew 9: 9-13 ; Mark 2: 15-17 ; Luke 5: 27-32 .
( 8 ) NAME : Thomas ( the Twin ) .
OCCUPATION : Unknown
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS : Courage and doubt .
MAJOR EVENTS IN HIS LIFE : Suggested the disciples go with Jesus to Bethany - even if it meant death ; asked Jesus about where He was going ; refused to believe Jesus was risen until he could see Jesus alive and touch His wounds .
WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT HIM : Said Thomas believed because he actually saw Jesus after the Resurrection .
A KEY LESSON FROM HIS LIFE : Even when Christians experience serious doubts , Jesus reaches out to them to restore their faith .
SELECTED REFERENCES : Matthew 10:3 ; John 14: 5-20 ; 20: 24-29 ; John 21: 1-13 .
( 9 ) NAME : James ( son of Alpheus )
OCCUPATION : Unknown
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS : Unknown
MAJOR EVENTS IN HIS LIFE : Became one of Jesus’ disciples .
WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT HIM : Unknown .
A KEY LESSON FROM HIS LIFE : Unknown
SELECTED REFERENCES : Matthew 10:3 ; Mark 3:18 ; Luke 6:15 .
( 10 ) NAME : Thaddeus ( Judas , son of James ) .
OCCUPATION : Unknown
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS : Unknown
MAJOR EVENTS IN HIS LIFE : Asked Jesus why He would reveal Himself to His followers and not to the world .
WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT HIM : Unknown .
A KEY LESSON FROM HIS LIFE : Christians follow Jesus because they believe in Him ; they do not always understand the details of God’s plan .
SELECTED REFERENCES : Matthew 10:3 ; Mark 3:18 ; John 14:22 .
( 11 ) NAME : Simon The Zealot .
OCCUPATION : Unknown
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS ; Fierce patriotism .
MAJOR EVENTS IN HIS LIFE : Became a disciple of Jesus .
WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT HIM : Unknown .
A KEY LESSON FROM HIS LIFE : If we are willing to give up our plans for the future , we can participate in Jesus’ plans .
SELECTED REFERENCES : Matthew 10:4 ; Mark 3:18 ; Luke 6:15 .
( 12 ) NAME : Judas Iscariot
OCCUPATION : Unknown .
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS : Treacherous and greedy .
MAJOR EVENTS IN HIS LIFE : Became one of Jesus’ disciples ; betrayed Jesus ; killed himself .
WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT HIM : Called him “ a devil “ , said Judas would betray Jesus .
A KEY LESSON FROM HIS LIFE : It is not enough to be familiar with Jesus’ teachings . Jesus’ true followers love and obey Him .
SELECTED REFERENCES : Matthew 26: 20-25 ; Luke 22: 47, 48 ; John 12: 4-8 .
So , my friends , today , ALL Christians can be disciples of Jesus’ . Jesus crossed national , racial , and economic barriers to spread His Good News . Jesus’ message of faith and forgiveness is foe the WHOLE WORLD ! - NOT just our church , neighborhood , or nation . We MUST reach out beyond our own people and needs to fulfill the worldwide vision of Jesus Christ so that people EVERYWHERE may hear this great message and be saved from sin and death !
MAY HE CONTINUE TO BLESS AND KEEP YOU ALL - ALWAYS . .
Your Brother in Christ ;
Pastor Mike