Jesus and the Twelve - or the Eleven

 There are some gaps in knowledge of Jesus' inner band after his resurrection.

These rock stacks are a tourist attraction off the coast of Victoria, Australia. They have their own Marine National Park. Strangely, they are called "The Twelve Apostles". I suppose once there were 12. The ocean has been working on their removal!

Jesus had a specific band of 12 men. He named them "Apostles". One betrayed Jesus to the religious unbelievers who wanted him dead. Thereafter the text mentions "the Eleven", but rarely, and apparently not as Peter intended.

and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest  (Luke 24:9 ESV).

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them (Matthew 28:16 ESV).

Jesus had the Twelve; then the Eleven; then....

Jesus' had the particular group from his followers. The Synoptics tell us about their selection: During those days he went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God. When daylight came, he summoned his disciples, and he chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles: Simon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor (Luke 6:12-16 CSB). WasJesus' all night prayer for wisdom and insight? No way to know.

At one point the twelve became a kind of extension or multiplier of Jesus' presence in the land: Then he sent them to tell about God's kingdom and to heal the sick. He told them, “Don't take anything with you! Don't take a walking stick or a traveling bag or food or money or even a change of clothes. When you are welcomed into a home, stay there until you leave that town. If people won't welcome you, leave the town and shake the dust from your feet[a] as a warning to them” (Luke 9:2-5 CEV).

There came a moment when people decided to unfollow Jesus; they were disillusioned. Perhaps they had never accepted Jesus as himself. The pericope is found in John, chapter 6. It ends thus: From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. "You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.) (John 6:66-71 NIV). Note the emphasis on the fact of Judas being one of those Jesus had chosen for himself. Does this suggest that, in his heart, Judas was also leaving then, though he physically remained in the band till the end? What do you think?

Do you think it really strange that Jesus could know Judas as a devil, but still keep him in the band of twelve? I note that Jesus does not speak of him as satan. At one point Jesus did speak sharply to Peter and call him satan: But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things” (Mark 8:33 NRSVUE). Who of us may have a wrong mindset? If Jesus turned away everyone who ever committed evil deeds who would be left?

Late in the account Jesus spoke of the end of all things; about what lay ahead; about true riches not being in perishable wealth.

Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world,[a] when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold[b] and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first (Matthew 19:27-30 ESV). The picture for "everyone" is clear, even if not literal!

In company with Jesus, the twelve are to be the judges of the twelve tribes. That may seem obscure, as the tribal structure had long gone. In the early history of their nation there had been individual judges established by God for the benefit and assistance of his people. They were deliverers.  Whenever the Lord raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge’s lifetime. For the Lord took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering. But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways (Judges 2:18-19 NLT). Evil practices and stubborn ways - really? Why? Why not give up what seems desirable; seems good, but is disobedient to God?

The judges were the final authority in the dominion. Here Jesus gives the Twelve a preeminent place, beneath his place, in his dominion. The picture used is that of the more ancient nation. I wonder how Peter and the others, including Judas Iscariot, understood it?  What new world? What throne? They did carry forward beyond the resurrection their notion of a renovated state. (That was never to be.)

During the final week Jesus left Jerusalem for the night. And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve (Mark 11:11 ESV). That would have restricted any opportunity for Judas to take the action he did. I wonder when Judas decided to commit and made his deal with the unbelieving religious leaders? We read that he took his action during their last meal together (see previous post).  

Jesus died. Jesus rose again. That first day had many strands. The group had direct encounter with the risen Lord. Except for one (actually two). But Thomas (who was called the Twin[a]), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came (John 20:24 NRSVUE). So here, at the end of the first resurrection day, Thomas was elsewhere. I wonder where? Judas was not there - perhaps he was already dead? Still the title "the twelve".

A gruesome description of the fate of Judas' dead body is given in Acts, chapter 1. If the location was widely known it would not survive the Romans in 70 AD. 

In the days following, Judas had been "replaced": They drew names, and Matthias was chosen to join the group of the eleven apostles (Acts 1:26 CEV). The chapter explains how Peter lead a move to make an apostolic appointment. It is not made clear in the account that this action came from Jesus. The principles Peter cites from the Bible are of a general nature. (Matthias is not further mentioned, but then neither are some of the Eleven.)

During the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) in Jerusalem there was a great disturbance marking the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all of the followers (perhaps 120 men and women). A sceptical crowd gathered. But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words (Acts 2:14 ESV). So, unless the meaning is Peter and the eleven others, Matthias must have been counted in the apostolic band. If I take it as the same eleven as previously, then Matthias was not replacing Judas in that description.

Some weeks later the Apostles had an administrative (welfare) problem in Jerusalem. The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables (Acts 6:2 CSB). The moment was resolved. I note the use at that late stage of "The Twelve". Is that title or label "twelve" simply a shorthand for the eleven who had been in the original team? Or was Matthias firmly included in Judas' place?

Is it right to think of Judas as the worst of sinners; as a man who could never receive forgiveness? Jesus did not say that. He did say: For it has been determined that the Son of Man must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him” (Luke 22:22 NLT). Was that about Judas' eternal destiny? Or about his change of heart and ugly end? I want to remember these actual words of Jesus: And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven (Luke 12:10 NIV). Will not be forgiven. Is that because such a person will not repent and seek forgiveness from God?

Jesus had said that the Holy Spirit would bring true conviction to the willing heart: When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8 CSB). Does the Holy Spirit continue to do that? What do you think? Can he be asked to convict?

May you be blessed by God

Allen Hampton

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