Page 3 - September 2024 - Truth & Tidings

t’s a song etched into many of our Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone
minds from long ago. “There were (Eph 2:20). We are indebted to them for
Itwelve disciples Jesus called to help giving us our charter – “the ‘apostles’ doc-
Him, Simon Peter, Andrew, James, his trine” (Act 2:42). The twelve will sit upon
brother John; Philip, Thomas, Matthew, thrones in the coming kingdom of Christ
James the son of Alphaeus, Simon, Thad- judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Mat
daeus, Judas, and Bartholomew. Jesus calls 19:28). And their names are inscribed on the
us too …” These twelve men were “The twelve foundation stones of the heavenly
Chosen.” Why them and not others? None city, New Jerusalem (Rev 21:14). What hap-
of them were rabbis, priests, scribes, Phari- pened to make such run-of-the-mill men
sees or Sadducees. Members of the Jewish turn into incredibly useful vessels for their
religious establishment were overlooked Lord and receive these honors? We don’t
for men who were rather unimpressive – want to overlook their faithfulness, but the
fishermen, a tax collector, and the like. The real key to their usefulness lies not within
choice of these twelve served as a judgment these men but in the Lord they served. It
against a system that had become corrupt. was Christ who empowered them, sending
And why the number twelve? The twelve the Holy Spirit after His ascension. The
tribes in Israel had largely turned away men we see from Acts 2 and onward look
from the Lord. In Jesus’ day, the nation’s markedly different from those huddling
leadership was filled with legalists and in fear in the upper room just days before.
hypocrites and godless men. In choosing The principle in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
twelve, Christ was, in effect, starting over would prove true. God chooses to use the
with new leaders who would turn to the weak, the lowly, even the despised, that
Lord in faith and obey His Word alone. no one may boast, and that God alone will
They not only were ordinary men but be glorified.
had serious character flaws. They were Twenty centuries later, by the record
often slow to understand what the Savior of their lives and writings, these men are
was teaching them. They were proud and still turning the world upside down (Act
argued among themselves who would be 17:6). So, we invite you to read on and get
the greatest in Christ’s coming kingdom. to know them and, more importantly, get
1
The Lord often chided them for their lack to know more about the Man who called
of faith. And they all had commitment is- them to be “The Chosen.” And don’t for-
sues – they abandoned Jesus when He was get the line of that chorus – “Jesus calls us
arrested in Gethsemane. too.” We too have been chosen (Eph 1:4;
But the twelve left an indelible mark 1Th 1:4); we have the same message, serve
upon our world. They blazed a gospel the same Master and are empowered by
trail across the globe, taking the message the same Spirit.
to nations near and far. Almost all died a 1
As an article on Saul the “chosen” apostle to
martyr’s death, but not without first win- the Gentiles (Act 9:15; 22:14) was included in
ning many thousands to the Savior. They this issue, space did not allow for articles on
are part of the Church’s foundation, with Thaddeus or Judas’ replacement, Matthias.

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