Unlikely Disciples:
The original twelve men that we now know as the first disciples were a motley crew. Why would Jesus pick such an unlikely bunch of men? It's not like there was a shortage of qualified and trained professionals. Everywhere you looked there were lawyers, priests, scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, and another group of people that, to this day get little attention — the Wouldntsees and the Couldntsees. Jesus overlooked them all for a bunch of nobodies. How could a fisherman, a tax collector and the like ever be of any value to the plans and purposes of God? Now we know that was his plan. The Bible says that not many noble or mighty were called to serve, not because God wouldn't use them, but too often, that type of person is seldom available to be used in God's service. Jesus chose the common man and woman to carry out his will in the world. Consider Simon Peter. He seemed to be one of the most unlikely disciples of them all. Unlike any of us I am sure, he was arrogant, unstable, and even the Bible says that he was, 'double minded'. Depending on his mood and the circumstances, he was like hot and cold water and you never knew which one you were going to get. Peter would go from the valley of arrogance, faithlessness and despair to the mountaintop of personal revelation, confidence and faith. Peter goes on to produce a miracle that he alone shared with the Lord. In Matthew 14, we see him walking on water while the others clung to the sides of the storm-tossed boat. Does Peter reflect our inconsistencies and fickleness? Maybe Jesus purposely chose the common man that it may be an example to us that He can and will take our shortcomings and goofiness and do wonderful things in us! What we now know, as revealed in Scripture and as we have seen over many years, is that Jesus didn't pick extraordinary men to be His disciples. He chose prideful, weak, defiant and fearful men and taught and trained them to be entrusted with the gospel, knowing that His grace would make all the difference. And it did, and still does in you and me. That's the only basis that I qualify as a disciple.
Ken Owen
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