Lesson 232: “Just Wondering”
Realizing that everything that Jesus did or said could not be contained in one book for us to read (John 21:25), and understanding that we are not to add to or take away from His Word (Rev. 22:18-19), this is not my intentions. However, there are parts of the scriptures that rouse my curiosity and I cannot help but wish the writers had of given a more detailed description to the happenings. One of these events is when Jesus fed the 5000 (John 6:5-14). There are no recorded reactions of the people being fed. When they pulled off a piece of the loaf, were they amazed that the bread replenished itself? Did they take a whole fish and marvel when the “plate” was repeatedly filled or did they pinch off parts sparingly so others might not be deprived? What was said among them? “Hey! Watch this you guys! Ten of us divided one loaf of bread but it remains a full loaf! Do you want to try this?” Did they scoff when Jesus took the little boy’s lunch of five loaves and two small fish and told the disciples to distribute them among the people? Did some crowd to the front in order to be fed? Did others say, “No thank you” out of embarrassment or pity for taking the small boy’s lunch?
All we know is that they stayed and obeyed when told to sit down on the grassy area and after all had enough to eat they believed. “After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, ‘surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world’” (John 6:14). Another thing we know is what the disciples said when Jesus told them to fed the mob of people following after them. “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite” (John 6:7)! The contrast here was that Jesus saw opportunity; the disciples saw problems and the hungry? Well, they saw the Bread of Life (John 6:33-35). What did you see in this story? What do you see around you when you are overwhelmed by the crowd of people that are hungry for the Word of God? Do you say; “O, it would take a life time to teach them”? Or would you, like the small boy, give all you have or the widow who too gave all she had (Luke 21:1-4)? If you were offered the bread, would you believe that even the left-over crumbs had the same healing-saving power (John 6:12, Matt. 15:26-28)?
Speaking of the disciples, have you ever wondered why Jesus chose them out of all the people in His circle? Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew (Nathanael), Thomas, Matthew, James the lesser, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas were the twelve that Jesus called to follow Him (Matt. 10:2-4). Matthew, a tax collector, was spoken of in the same manner as sinners, disbelievers and pagans (Matt. 18:17); Bartholomew (Nathanael) asked if anything good could come from Nazareth when told of Jesus (John 1:46); Judas was a devil (John 6:70, 13:26-27); Peter denied Him (John 18:17, 25-27); Thomas doubted His Resurrection (John 20:24-25); James and John were known as sons of thunder, likely because of their harsh personalities and were rebuked by Jesus (Mark 3:17, Luke 9:51-56, Mark 10:35-45). The other James, son of Alphaeus, was of comparatively little importance and is not mentioned in the gospels beyond the listing of the disciples (Matt. 10:3, Acts 1:13) and is not the author of the book of James. This “disciple in list only” also holds true with Philip who is not to be confused with Philip in Acts 8:26-40. Two other disciples that are listed only are Thaddaeus and Simon the Zealot. Little more is known about Andrew (Mark 13, Acts 1:12-14) possibly first a disciple of John the Baptist and his told his brother Peter about finding the Messiah (John 1:35-42). Other un-named disciples on hearing Jesus’ teachings said that the lessons were too hard and could not accept it. Many turned back and no longer followed Him (John 6:60-66).
Now, have you “studied up” and found the answers? I still do not know what the people that were fed that day said or did but I think I have found answers to why Jesus chose the disciples that followed Him. I read through the book of Romans and found that God shows no favoritism (Rom. 2:11) and His Son died while we ALL were yet sinners (Rom. 5:8). I found that the disciples, like Paul were not ashamed of the gospel (Rom. 1:16), they were not lacking in zeal (Rom. 12:11) and did not stumble beyond recovery (Rom. 11:11). In Corinthians I found that they believed that keeping God’s commands counted (1 Cor. 7:19b). I believe God anointed them, set His seal of ownership on them and put His Spirit in their hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come (2 Cor. 1:22). I believe they were sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:26) and that He chose them before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight (Eph. 1:4).
After researching the faults and finding the truth as to why He chose the disciples then I can better understand why He chose me! Of all the people in His circle, why me? I do not believe that any of us will ever be as hard pressed as the original disciples, prophets and apostles of Christ (2 Cor. 4:8) but believe that it is God who makes all of us stand firm in Christ (2 Cor. 1:21). “It is written: ‘I believe; therefore I have spoken’. With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus” (2 Cor. 4:13), “therefore we do not lose heart” (2 Cor. 4:16). Believing that God chose each and every one of us and has given each of us our gifts, talents and ministries (1 Cor. 12:4-11), I ask that you “pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:19) and “pray that I proclaim it clearly as I should” (Col. 4:4). May God bless the reading of His Word!