Chap. 2 - The Training of the
Twelve
For the carrying on of His work, Christ did not choose the
learning or eloquence of the Jewish Sanhedrin or the power
of Rome. Passing by the self-righteous Jewish teachers, the
Master Worker chose humble, unlearned men to proclaim the
truths that were to move the world. These men He purposed
to train and educate as the leaders of His church. They in turn
were to educate others and send them out with the gospel
message. That they might have success in their work they
were to be given the power of the Holy Spirit. Not by human
might or human wisdom was the gospel to be proclaimed,
but by the power of God.
For three years and a half the disciples were under the
instruction of the greatest Teacher the world has ever known.
By personal contact and association, Christ trained them for
His service. Day by day they walked and talked with Him,
hearing His words of cheer to the weary and heavy-laden,
and seeing the manifestation of His power in behalf
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of the sick and the afflicted. Sometimes He taught them,
sitting among them on the mountainside; sometimes beside
the sea or walking by the way, He revealed the mysteries of
the kingdom of God. Wherever hearts were open to receive
the divine message, He unfolded the truths of the way of
salvation. He did not command the disciples to do this or
that, but said, “Follow Me.” On His journeys through country
and cities, He took them with Him, that they might see how
He taught the people. They traveled with Him from place
to place. They shared His frugal fare, and like Him were
sometimes hungry and often weary. On the crowded streets,
by the lakeside, in the lonely desert, they were with Him.
They saw Him in every phase of life.
It was at the ordination of the Twelve that the first step
was taken in the organization of the church that after Christ’s
departure was to carry on His work on the earth. Of this
ordination the record says, “He goeth up into a mountain,
and calleth unto Him whom He would: and they came unto
Him. And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him,
and that He might send them forth to preach.” Mark 3:13, 14.
Look upon the touching scene. Behold the Majesty of
heaven surrounded by the Twelve whom He has chosen. He
is about to set them apart for their work. By these feeble
agencies, through His word and Spirit, He designs to place
salvation within the reach of all.
With gladness and rejoicing, God and the angels beheld
this scene. The Father knew that from these men the light of
heaven would shine forth; that the words spoken by
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them as they witnessed for His Son, would echo from
generation to generation till the close of time.
The disciples were to go forth as Christ’s witnesses, to
declare to the world what they had seen and heard of Him.
Their office was the most important to which human beings
had ever been called, second only to that of Christ Himself.
They were to be workers together with God for the saving
of men. As in the Old Testament the twelve patriarchs stood
as representatives of Israel, so the twelve apostles stand as
representatives of the gospel church.
During His earthly ministry Christ began to break down
the partition wall between Jew and Gentile, and to preach
salvation to all mankind. Though He was a Jew, He mingled
freely with the Samaritans, setting at nought the Pharisaic
customs of the Jews with regard to this despised people. He
slept under their roofs, ate at their tables, and taught in their
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streets.
The Saviour longed to unfold to His disciples the truth
regarding the breaking down of the “middle wall of partition”
between Israel and the other nations—the truth that “the
Gentiles should be fellow heirs
