By: Junior Tate Ministries God’s Pattern – Ordinary People, Extraordinary Work From Genesis to Revelation, God delights in using ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. The twelve men whom Jesus chose as His apostles were not famous scholars, political leaders, or wealthy influencers. They were fishermen, a tax collector, a former zealot, and men with weaknesses, fears, and failures—just like us. Yet under the hand of Christ and in the power of the Holy Ghost, these ordinary men were sent on an extraordinary mission: to take the gospel from a small region in Israel to the “uttermost part of the earth.” The Bible describes God’s method plainly: “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence.” (1 Corinthians 1:26–29, KJV) The story of the Twelve is a living example of this truth. Jesus Chooses the Twelve The choosing of the Twelve was not random, rushed, or accidental. It was done in perfect obedience to the Father’s will, bathed in prayer. “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles.” (Luke 6:12–13, KJV) Mark tells us more about their purpose: “And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.” (Mark 3:14–15, KJV) Notice three key things: They were ordinary men—but chosen and ordained by an extraordinary Lord. Their Ordinary Backgrounds Fishermen: Peter, Andrew, James, and John Several of the Twelve were fishermen—hard-working, common men with calloused hands and simple lives. “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.” (Matthew 4:18–22, KJV) There was nothing remarkable in the world’s eyes about these men. Yet when Jesus called, they immediately left what was familiar to follow Him. A Tax Collector: Matthew (Levi) Tax collectors were despised in Israel as collaborators with Rome and sinners. “And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.” (Mark 2:14, KJV) Matthew’s former life as a tax collector shows that Christ can redeem even a hated profession and turn a man into a Gospel writer and witness of grace. A Zealot: Simon the Canaanite Simon is called “Simon the Canaanite” in Matthew’s list of the apostles (Matthew 10:4, KJV). Luke identifies him as “Simon called Zelotes” (Luke 6:15, KJV). These titles refer to the same disciple and highlight the idea of zeal—an intensity of conviction and passion that, in that era, was often associated with strong resistance to Roman rule. It’s important not to confuse Simon with Judas Iscariot. Matthew lists them one after the other: “Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him” (Matthew 10:4, KJV). Judas is a different man, and the phrase “who also betrayed him” is describing Judas, not Simon. Luke makes this distinction explicit by listing “Simon called Zelotes” and then separately naming “Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor” (Luke 6:15–16, KJV). Jesus took a man known for intensity and redirected that zeal toward the kingdom of God. Whatever Simon’s passions had been before, Christ formed him into a witness whose loyalty was no longer driven by politics, but by the Person of Christ and the mission of the gospel. Their Weaknesses and Failures These twelve were not spiritual super-heroes. The Scriptures honestly record their arguments, fears, doubts, and failures. Peter: Bold and Broken Peter is often the spokesman of the group, quick to speak and quick to stumble. After Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ (Matthew 16:16), he later denied Him three times. Before this failure, Jesus warned him: “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:31–32, KJV) When Peter did deny Christ, the Bible describes his deep sorrow: “And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:61–62, KJV) Peter was an ordinary man prone to fear, yet Jesus prayed for him and later used him mightily. Thomas: Doubting Then Declaring Thomas is often remembered as “doubting Thomas,” but Scripture gives us a fuller picture. When Jesus was going back toward danger in Judea: “Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (John 11:16, KJV) Later, after the resurrection, Thomas struggled to believe: “Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and … Read more
