第4章

The Training of the Twelve.

For the carrying on of His work, Christ did not choose the learning or eloquence of the Jewish Sanhedrin or the power of Rome.Passing by the self-righteous Jewish teachers, the Master Worker chose humble, unlearned men to proclaim the truths that were to move the world.These men He purposed to train and educate as the leaders of His church.They in turn were to educate others and send them out with the gospel message.That they might have success in their work they were to be given the power of the Holy Spirit.Not by human might or human wisdom was the gospel to be proclaimed, but by the power of God.

For three years and a half the disciples were under the instruction of the greatest Teacher the world has ever known.By personal contact and association, Christ trained them for His service.Day by day they walked and talked with Him, hearing His words of cheer to the weary and heavy-laden, and seeing the manifestation of His power in behalf 18of the sick and the afflicted.Sometimes He taught them, sitting among them on the mountainside; sometimes beside the sea or walking by the way, He revealed the mysteries of the kingdom of God.Wherever hearts were open to receive the divine message, He unfolded the truths of the way of salvation.

He did not command the disciples to do this or that, but said, "Follow Me."On His journeys through country and cities, He took them with Him, that they might see how He taught the people.They traveled with Him from place to place.They shared His frugal fare, and like Him were sometimes hungry and often weary.On the crowded streets, by the lakeside, in the lonely desert, they were with Him.They saw Him in every phase of life.

It was at the ordination of the Twelve that the first step was taken in the organization of the church that after Christ's departure was to carry on His work on the earth.Of this ordination the record says, "He goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto Him whom He would: and they came unto Him.And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach." Mark 3:13, 14.

Look upon the touching scene.Behold the Majesty of heaven surrounded by the Twelve whom He has chosen.He is about to set them apart for their work.By these feeble agencies, through His word and Spirit, He designs to place salvation within the reach of all.

With gladness and rejoicing, God and the angels beheld this scene.The Father knew that from these men the light of heaven would shine forth; that the words spoken by 19them as they witnessed for His Son, would echo from generation to generation till the close of time.

The disciples were to go forth as Christ's witnesses, to declare to the world what they had seen and heard of Him.Their office was the most important to which human beings had ever been called, second only to that of Christ Himself.They were to be workers together with God for the saving of men.As in the Old Testament the twelve patriarchs stood as representatives of Israel, so the twelve apostles stand as representatives of the gospel church.

During His earthly ministry Christ began to break down the partition wall between Jew and Gentile, and to preach salvation to all mankind.Though He was a Jew, He mingled freely with the Samaritans, setting at nought the Pharisaic customs of the Jews with regard to this despised people.He slept under their roofs, ate at their tables, and taught in their streets.

The Saviour longed to unfold to His disciples the truth regarding the breaking down of the "middle wall of partition" between Israel and the other nations--the truth that "the Gentiles should be fellow heirs" with the Jews and "partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel." Ephesians 2:14; 3:6.

This truth was revealed in part at the time when He rewarded the faith of the centurion at Capernaum, and also when He preached the gospel to the inhabitants of Sychar.Still more plainly was it revealed on the occasion of His visit to Phoenicia, when He healed the daughter of the Canaanite woman.

These experiences helped the disciples to understand that among those whom many regarded 20as unworthy of salvation, there were souls hungering for the light of truth.

Thus Christ sought to teach the disciples the truth that in God's kingdom there are no territorial lines, no caste, no aristocracy; that they must go to all nations, bearing to them the message of a Saviour's love.But not until later did they realize in all its fullness that God "hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us." Acts 17:26, 27.