need a friend?

Jesus was building a reputation with His gentle ways and firm grasp of Scripture.  He had received attention after His Cana miracle and He was inspiring the Jews to get back to their heritage and serve God according to the Bible.

Jesus was ready to begin His mission but He needed help.

Jesus asked 12 special gentlemen to join Him. Jesus didn’t offer them a good time or a salary – just the chance to make a difference. This was back in the day when you looked someone in the eye and spoke to them. There was no text messaging; no email. No emoticons or tweets. Can you imagine?

Jesus texts:  Simon -  🐟 👨??? C-me.   JC    Simon texts back:  👍. S

No – Jesus approached, watched and then spoke to them. Remember that Jesus knew already that the 12 people He would spend the next years with would be the same 12 that loved and protected and denied and betrayed Him. But He asked them anyway. And they accepted. They went to their families and other friends and said goodbye. They saw this was the opportunity of a lifetime.

There are indications in the New Testament that occasionally the 12 would go back to their boats or homes, but that was not a permanent situation and since Jesus' years in ministry are not documented minute by minute, perhaps He needed a breather every now and again too. His travels were extensive but He was still just a guy from Nazareth.

His duty as a man, son of Mary and Joseph, did not totally vanish when He started His ministry as the son of God. There were probably some things He still had to do as part of mortal life. He was a dutiful son and needed to finish many things before He could go off with His friends. 

And when the gang got back together, with Jesus as the lead, it was wonderful. 

I can’t think how moving it would be to be in the group that would be considered Jesus’ Apostles, but even more that the group would be His friends.

The Apostles didn’t know all they were getting into but they knew one thing for sure. When Jesus needed friends, THEY were chosen first.