Day 54 – His Apostles
Study Luke 6:12-16
“Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12
Jesus’ ministry was quickly reaching a critical turning point. He had deeply offended the cherished traditions of the religious leaders, and they, as well as the political authorities of the day, began secretly plotting His destruction and death. Huge crowds still followed Him everywhere, but most were drawn by the miracles rather than a genuine hunger for spiritual truth. They were a fickle crowd, easily swayed and quick to turn.
Faced with mounting pressure and the shifting tide of public opinion, Jesus withdrew Himself for a time of targeted, intentional prayer. While we know Jesus prayed constantly, this specific need called Him up to the mountain alone. As Charles Spurgeon so beautifully put it: “Jesus, therefore, to prevent interruption, to give himself the opportunity of pouring out his whole soul, and to avoid ostentation, sought the mountain.”
Jesus was on the verge of selecting His twelve apostles—a decision that was arguably one of the most critical moments in His three years of ministry before the cross. These were the very men who would carry His message to the ends of the earth. Without them, the work He started would not reach the whole world. It’s no wonder Jesus devoted an entire night of prayer to this decision!
Although Jesus was fully God, He didn’t simply lean on His omniscience to pick the apostles. Instead, He wrestled in prayer all night long. Just like every other trial He faced, Jesus approached this as a man—one who sought the Father’s will and depended entirely on the Holy Spirit, setting the exact example for how we must live.
It is also a crucial reminder that disciples always belong to Jesus alone. They never belong to any earthly leader or ministry; they are His disciples. These chosen twelve formed the foundation of God’s new covenant people—just as old covenant Israel was built on twelve tribes; Jesus established His church upon twelve apostles.
The Greek word used here for apostle is 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘴, meaning “a sent one.” It describes an ambassador carrying the authority and message of the one who sent them. In the grandest sense, Jesus Himself is the ultimate Ambassador sent from heaven, just as Hebrews 3:1 reminds us to “consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.”
Pray with me: Jesus, thank You for the example of prayer You gave before making important and world-changing decisions. May we be the ambassadors that You sent to where You need Your word to be spread. Amen. ©
Love, Iriza
