The Twelve Apostles

Scripture: Luke 6:12-19

Song: Room In God’s Kingdom

Consider the twelve men Jesus chose.

Simon—impetuous, impulsive, impertinent Peter. There is room in the kingdom for the extrovert.

Andrew—went back to bring his brother Peter. There is room for the second fiddle.

James and John—cousins of Jesus who sought chief seats. There is room for the overly ambitious.

Philip—made the simple reply to doubting Nathaniel, “Come and see.” There is room for simple men.

Bartholomew—likely the Nathaniel whom Philip brought. There is room for the honest skeptic.

Matthew—a publican, an office despised by his countrymen. There is room for the outcast.

Thomas—the doubter. There is room for those with imperfect faith.

James—called “the less” likely because of his youth. There is room for the young.

Simon—member of a militant Jewish nationalist sect. There is room for the misguided.

Judas—called Thaddeus, of whom the gospels record only his naive question. There is room for the ignorant.

Judas—the betrayer. There is room even for the betrayer, except the unrepentant one.

All these men were under construction at the time Jesus called them. There is room in the kingdom for men like them who are willing to become what the Lord can make of them.

Jason Moore