They followed Jesus for three solid years. Living with Him, moving from place to place, observing His: interactions with the people and with religious leaders; His compassion, mercy, kindness; aura of authority; righteousness and His justice; His many miracles; and listening to His many parables.
What a magnificent, priceless, hands-on experience! Imagine it in your mind!
What do you think? Exciting? Likely puzzling too. No other such Person, before nor since, could elicit the emotions and reactions from the various sectors of people that were expressed before them daily for those three action-packed years.
Training-direct from Jesus Himself! Who wouldn't want it?!
We know that after Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension back up to Heaven, that the Holy Spirit was then sent to the disciples, not just the twelve (minus Judas Iscariot plus Matthias) but to all who were "in Christ" in the secluded upper room at the time of Pentecost. The twelve, though, had become apostles--followers who had become sent ones and who had been prepared for their "call"; that commitment to preaching of salvation through Jesus and the teaching of God's Word. As apostles they'd been given extra responsibility due to their three year preparation with Jesus.
We never know what our upbringing is preparing us for; no matter how painful and traumatic it may have been. Our education (or lack thereof--many of the apostles were uneducated), family or environment, all culminate in our "preparation" to commitment to service for Christ in one way or another. We may not have appreciated it all, like Moses and his sheep, but if we can see it as training in our Father's "university" we can become more and more "fit for the Master's use".
We're prepared; are we ready for the sacrifice? This is a crux of the matter. For the sacrifice. For the commitment no matter how long term. No matter what it encompasses. Are you really committed? Ready for the full extent? These are questions to examine ourselves with.
John Mark (Acts 12:25; 13:13) was not. Paul, Barnabas and Silas were. Countless missionaries through the ages were. Are you? Can you say, "Whatever, Lord?" "Yes, Lord." "Here I am, send me." And that without stipulations, or terms and conditions, imposed on God?
....to be continued...Chapter 3
~ERC 2015~
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