Extraordinary: What It Takes To Be a World Changer
April 1, 2010 5:30 AM -0500
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Outline
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Jesus called twelve people to change the world. Discover if you have what it takes to change the world (hint: you probably do!).
Thesis: Jesus calls regular people to be his apostles.
Objective: Challenge believers to realize that they are called to be Jesus' representatives on earth and equipped to change the world with the good news of Jesus Christ.
- Jesus is calling (13).
- There are obstacles (“up on a mountainside;” Jesus didn't just sit down somewhere where it would be easy for those he called to get to him. No, he found a perch halfway up a mountain. Following Jesus, and responding to His call, will not be easy. In fact, it's pretty much guaranteed to be about the hardest thing you've ever done.).
- He calls those He wants (“called to him those he wanted;” Jesus doesn't call left-overs. While He calls everyone to be saved, He calls only those that he knows will follow him earnestly and faithfully to be apostles.).
- We must respond (“and they came to him;” It is essential to note that, even though Jesus made the decision to issue the call, it was the disciples' choice to actually climb the mountain and come to him. We must make the choice to follow Jesus and be a world-changer.).
- Jesus is calling apostles (14-15).
- We must be with Jesus (“that they might be with him” (14); Jesus is not calling roadies or lackeys. He's calling apostles who will be his students and friends, choosing to live their lives alongside him, wherever he may go.).
- We will be sent to preach (“that he might send them out to preach” (14); Jesus is not calling friends to simply hang out with him. He's calling apostles who will take his good news of salvation from sin to the masses and preach it so that they, too, will be challenged to believe. NOTICE: The word “might” here is deceiving. It wasn't that this could happen (i.e., there was an option in the matter). It was that this would happen if they chose to follow. This was the objective. This was the point.).
- We will be equipped (“that he might send them to have authority to drive out demons” (15); Jesus is not calling simple messengers who will just deliver messages. He's calling apostles who will tap into His own authority to drive out demons and do miracles, to demonstrate to others the power of God so that they will believe.).
- Jesus is calling us (16-19).
- He calls the not-yet-steadfast (“Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter)” (16); Jesus called Simon Peter, a masculine variant of the Greek word for rock. It is a great irony that the man Jesus called “rock” would prove wishy washy in Pilate's court. Jesus called him because, as wishy washy and faulted as Simon may be, he would one day be set into an unyielding spiritual leader.).
- He calls the hot-headed (“James and John...” (17); Jesus called James and John, together called “Boanerges” or “Sons of Thunder.” Generally, it is agreed that this is because of their “fiery zeal” and the “fervency of their spirits.” In other words, when they were excited about something, they were EXCITED!!!! Jesus called them because, as explosive as they could be, their extreme passion would carry them through extremely dark and difficult situations.).
- He calls the overlooked (“Andrew, Philip” (18); Jesus called Andrew, the lesser-known brother of Simon Peter who actually led his older brother to the Lord, and Philip, whose work in Syria, Phrygia (Asia Minor) and Greece and eventual martyrdom in Hierapolis was all but overshadowed by that of Paul. Jesus called them because he knew that it wasn't about any one person; it would take humility to effectively communicate the gospel to everyone who needed to hear.).
- He calls the simple (Jesus called Bartholomew or Nathanael, whose name suggests that he may have been a farmer and who Jesus convinced simply by saying that He had seen him under the fig tree, where he was likely praying. Jesus called him because he wanted regular people who would have a simple, unswerving faith.).
- He calls the broken (Jesus called Matthew, the tax collector, who was broken on the inside despite presenting the image of a wealthy businessman on the outside. Jesus called him because, as broken as he was, he would be a tremendous testimony of someone made whole by the love and grace of God.).
- He calls the doubter (Jesus called Thomas, who would proclaim that he would not believe until he saw the resurrected Lord with his own eyes. Jesus called him because he knew that, when the doubter finally believes, his faith will never be shaken.).
- He calls the earnest (Jesus called James son of Alphaeus (James the Less), who would commit himself to a life of spiritual purity. Jesus is looking for people who will live a life of earnest purity.).
- He calls the unknown (Jesus called Thaddeus, who is probably the most enigmatic apostle because we know so little about him except that he worked with others. Jesus called him to demonstrate that we don't have to have a big name to change the world.).
- He calls the misguided (Jesus called Simon the Zealot, the political dissident who would have to be convinced to disregard his former paradigm of a political messiah and militant revolution and embrace a spiritual messiah and personal revolution. Jesus called Simon as a demonstration that he can use even those who are completely off base.).
- He calls the traitor (Jesus called Judas Iscariot, the only Judean of the bunch (i.e., the most likely candidate), who would ultimately betray Him. Jesus called him, and the message is clear: he wants us, even us. We can still fail, but He still wants us.).
Ryrie
- (16-19) “There are four lists of the apostles given in the NT (Matt 10:1-4; Luke 6:13-16; Acts 1:13 are the others).”
- 18) “Thaddaeus is apparently the same as Judas the son or brother of James (Thaddaeus may represent a corruption of Yaddai, a form of Judas).”
- (17) The nickname “Sons of Thunder” “probably [indicated] the fiery zeal and energy of James and John.”
Henry
- Henry points out that Jesus' call to the apostles was not such that they would think themselves fit to be called because of any condition or qualification of their own, but because He chose them and decided that He would make them fit.
- “Perhaps [the disciples] came to him readily enough, because they were in expectation of reigning with him in temporal pomp and power; but when afterward they were undeceived in that matter, yet they had such a prsopect given them of better things, that they would not say they were deceived in their Master, nor repented their leaving all to be with him.”
- Note that the disciples were called to preach, but they were not sent out immediately. They required preparation.
- It is interesting to note the differences between the different lists of the apostles. Matthew lists himself after Thomas, probably as a sign of humility. Otherwise, the lists are identical.
- Henry suggests that James and John may have earned their nicknames for their “loud commanding voice” or because they were “thundering preachers,” but more likely because of the “zeal and fervency of their spirits.”
Reflecting God
- (14) “In Mark's Gospel the word [apostles] occurs only [here and in 6:30]. The apostles were Jesus' authorized agents or representatives. In the NT the word is sometimes used quite generally. In the technical sense it is used (1) of the Twelve, (3:14) – in which sense it is also applied to Paul (Rom 1:1) – and (2) of a larger group including Barnabas (Ac 14:14), james the Lord's brother (Gal 1:19), and possibly Andronicus and Junias (Ro 16:7).”
- (14) “The training of the Twelve included not only instruction and practice in various forms of ministry but also continuous association and intimate fellowship with Jesus himself.”
- (17) Bartholomew in Matt, Mark and Luke seems to equate to Nathanael. In John Nathanael and Philip are associated, according to John 1:45.
- (17) Matthew = Levi.
- James son of Alphaeus is probably James the younger
- “the Zealot” may have been “either a description of Simon's religious zeal or a reference to his membership in the party of the Zealots, a Jewish revolutionary group violently opposed to Roman rule over Palestine.”
- (18) Thaddaeus = Judas son of James
- (19) Judas Iscariot is “probably the only from Judea, the rest coming from Galilee.”
- (19) “Iscariot” “probably means 'the man from Kerioth,' the town of Kerioth Hezron, 12 miles south of Hebron.”
- (19) Of course, Judas Iscariot would eventually betray Jesus to the cross.
Wikipedia
- Andrew. Younger brother of Simon Peter. Actually the first disciple to follow Jesus when John the Baptist pointed him out as the lamb of God at His baptism (John 1:35-42).
- Philip. Sought out by Jesus in John 1:43, Philip was one of the first to follow Jesus, even though he would be overshadowed by those who came later. Traditionally known as a family man, Philip ministered in Syria, Phrygia (northern Asia Minor) and Greece, eventually being martyred in Hierapolis. Yet his ministry would be virtually unknown compared to that of Paul, who ministered in largely the same area.
- Bartholomew or Nathanael. The fourth to follow Jesus in John 1:44-51, Nathanael followed Jesus because Jesus told him he had seen him under the fig tree, which was probably his quiet place of spiritual refuge. Tradition holds that he went on an evangelistic tour of India, leaving a copy of Matthew's gospel along the way before being martyred in Armenia by either drowning, inverted crucifixion, or being skinned alive. His name, Bartholomew, means “son of the furrows,” suggesting he may have been a farmer.
- Matthew, the tax collector. After being called by Jesus, Matthew went on to preach to Jews in Jerusalem and Judea for some 15 years. He is believed to have taken the gospel to Ethiopia, Macedonia, Persia, and the Parthians before being martyred.
- Thomas, the doubter, ultimately believed to the point that he was martyred in India. Pierced by a lance, according to tradition.
- James son of Alphaeus (aka James the Less). According to Eusebius and Jerome, “[James] was always a virgin, and was a Nazarite, or one consecrated to God. In consequence of which he was never shaved, never cut his hair, never drank any wine or other strong liquor; moreover, he never used any bath, or oil to anoint his limbs, and never ate of any living creature except when of precept, as the paschal lamb: he never wore sandals, never used any other clothes than one single linen garment. He prostrated so much in prayer, that the skin of his knees and forehead was hardened like to camels' hoofs.”
- Thaddaeus (aka Jude). Probably a farmer, the son of Clopas and brother of James son of Alphaeus. Likely a farmer, tradition holds that he and Bartholomew were the first to bring Christianity to Armenia. Martyred in Beirut, Lebanon, with Simon the Zealot.
- Simon the Zealot. Likely a political dissident, Simon had to be completely retrained to accept the notion of a non-political messiah.
- Judas Iscariot, the traitor. Probably the only Judean of the group, Judas was the most likely of all the disciples Jesus called. And yet he was the one who betrayed Him.
- Ryrie, Charles C. Ryrie Study Bible Expanded Edition. Chicago: Moody Press, 1994.
- Barker, Kenneth, ed. Reflecting God Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000.
- Numerous articles from http://www.wikipedia.org.