Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You

by John F. MacArthur Jr.

The choosing of the twelve apostles was a judgment against institutionalized Judaism. It was a renunciation of those men and their organizations, which had become totally corrupt.

First of all, they lacked spiritual understanding. They were slow to hear and slow to understand.

second problem that made the learning process difficult for the disciples is that they lacked humility.

Third,

not only did they lack understanding and humility, but they also lacked faith.

Fourth, they lacked commitment.

Fifth, they lacked power. On their own, they were weak and helpless, especially

were all necessary to shape Peter into the man he needed to become.

of the kingdom (vv. 17—19). In the next paragraph, Christ addressed Peter as Satan and said, "Get behind me!" (v. 23)—meaning, "Don't stand in My way!"

Lasting leadership is grounded in character. Character produces respect. Respect produces trust. And trust motivates followers.

Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. This

But he learned to submit—not an easy lesson for a natural leader. Peter especially was inclined

leads. Jesus said, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant

He preached at Pentecost and three thousand people were

saved

When it was Peter's turn to die, he pleaded to be crucified upside down because he wasn't worthy to die as his Lord had died. And thus he was nailed

The only time he is mentioned by himself is in the book of Acts, where his martyrdom is recorded.

James never did actually take first place among the apostles except in one regard: He was the first to be martyred.

In fact, Jesus gave James and John a nickname: Boanerges—"Sons of Thunder."

"Boanerges"

Fourteen years after this, James would become the first of the Twelve to be killed for his faith.

Therefore it is all the more remarkable that John has often been nicknamed "the apostle of love." Indeed, he wrote more than

"Many who are first will be last, and the last first." (Remember, this was virtually the same

Their error was in desiring to obtain the position more than they desired to be worthy of such a position. Their ambition was untempered by humility. And Jesus had repeatedly made clear that the highest positions in the kingdom are reserved for the most humble saints on earth. Notice His response in verses 42-45:

Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Those who desire the reward of glory must be willing to endure the suffering.

All eleven of the disciples fled on the night of Jesus' betrayal and arrest. But every one of them was recovered, and every one of them ultimately learned to suffer willingly for Christ's sake.

But John learned to bear suffering willingly. There is no complaint about his sufferings anywhere in his epistles or the book of Revelation. It is certain that he wrote Revelation under the most extreme kind of hardship and deprivation. But he

Remember, John is the only one of the apostles whom the biblical record places as an eyewitness to the crucifixion. John himself describes the scene as Jesus looked

John' s theology is best described as a theology of love.

"Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him" (vv. 54-56). Obviously,

Judas's office was filled by Matthias (Acts 1:16-26). The apostle Peter said, "For it is written in the Book of Psalms: 'Let his dwelling place be desolate, and let no one live in it'; and, 'Let another take his office'" (v. 20). Matthias was selected because he had been with Jesus and the other apostles "from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us" (v. 22).