Luke 6:12-16 - “The Humble Beginning of an Indestructible Kingdom”
On the Mountain we see Christ’s Obedience v12
went out - Before major decisions or major events Jesus goes off, just Him and His father and prays
spent all night - from 8-6? , in the morning his hair was wet with dew, the dew that He created.
in prayer to God - interesting phrase here- as one writer puts it the phrase - “suggest not only prayer to God but prayer in conformity with the very nature and will of God” -
“Jesus was a human being just like us, except He was God and sinless. He put the exercise of his attributes, like his omniscience, at the discretion of the Father.” - Kent Hughes
D. So what?
The Kingdom of God will never fail because its built on the obedience of Christ!
What seems like a contradiction , in his obedience His Authority is really put on display for all to see.
II. In the Morning we see Christ’s Authority v13
Notice the Verbs
Summoned- called - no doubt a large number by this time - shows his authority
Chose - divine Election- shows Divine Election. It is Gods right, alone, to call and choose as HE wills and for His purpose.
Named - In Jesus; day the only one who had the right to change a name or give a name was the owner and master himself. Jesus named them apostles and in doing so gave them the purpose for which he called and chose them.
E. Apostle - to send. This is the Mission of the 12.
These men were
- unique -Acts 1:21 - So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”
foundational for the church - Ephesians 4:11 -And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
ever to be remembered Revelation 21:9-14
Chosen and Commissioned by God, these men under the Authority of Christ, played significant roles in God’s redemptive plan.
The Kingdom of God will never fail because it is built on the Authority of Christ!
III. In these men we see Christ’s Redemptive Plan v14-16
Always 3 groups of 4,
a motley crew -surely not the beginning of an earth changing movement?
a diverse crew - Peter the rambunctious and Thomas the Doubter, Simon the Zealot (the patriot) and Matthew the Tax Collector, John the beloved and Judas the traitor.- The Call of Christ is not a call to conformity to a crowd but a call to sacrificial diversity. They’re so different, they’re supposed to be! Same for us! We aren’t called to all be the same but we are called to be on mission together. We are a motley crew!
What about Judas- Was he a miscalculation of character?
Job 42:2 - “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Isaiah 14:27 -For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?
- 2 things to remember -
1- Judas was never a believer - John 6:44, 60-71
2- Judas was not a puppet - became a traitor . And its all on Judas and yet the greatest act in redemptive history was set in motion by Judas’ rebellion and sin!
Running with the crowd is not the same thing as believing for yourself. Assumptions are dangerous! Do you believe?
The Kingdom of God will never fail because its built on God’s plan of redemption!
Conclusion
Though it began small, this Kingdom is indestructible and everlasting.
Despite the attacks of emperors and kings, organizations and societies, enemies within and without, the kingdom marches forward, ever growing, ever protected, ever being the people of God. How? Because its built on Christ! Why? For HIs glory!