Chapter 6: The Twelve
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And he said unto them, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9.23 Dear Jesus, it's my heart's desire to follow after you. I only want to be where you are and where you lead. Being in the heart of your will is the safest place to be. I realize you may lead in ways that are foreign to me. I may not understand where you're taking me.

And I honestly may not even want to go there. But it is in those times that I must deny myself, pick up my cross, and crucify my flesh so I can follow you. It is painful to let go of my expectations of what I thought I wanted in my life. But that's what it means to follow you and take up my cross. As surely as you said in the garden the night before your crucifixion, not my will but thy will be done.

I too must have that steadfast perseverance to Thy will and not my will as I follow You. Even as Jesus was obedient unto death, He was raised up, and You glorified Him above all others. As I pursue You into Your plan and purpose for my life, I will accomplish more than I ever thought possible. You will lead me into Your divine destiny and reward me for my obedience. In Jesus' name.

Amen. Stay tuned to immerse yourself in the greatest stories ever told from Pray.com's podcast, Heroes in the Bible.

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Please follow this podcast on Apple or Spotify to get the latest episodes so you can continue strengthening your relationship with Jesus. Welcome to The Greatest Story Ever Told. It is a story of a shepherd's heart for his sheep, a father's love for his children, and a hero's triumph over death and darkness. This is a story that continues to shape and mold the world around us, bringing the divine heart of God right into the hearts of you and me.

In this episode, the 12 apostles are chosen, men brought from different backgrounds, united under one common goal, following Jesus. Along the way, we will meet some Pharisees and scribes who push against Jesus' tactics. Their self-righteousness is placed before us as a contrast. The heart of Christ is to serve and set people free, while the religious leaders would rather be served and bind people with needless regulations.

As we hear about these interactions between Jesus and the religious leaders, we are invited to consider our self-righteous tendencies. Have we puffed ourselves up with vain religious practices? Have we been so focused on our own morality that we have ignored the needs of others? Perhaps some of us need to be reminded that Jesus doesn't call the righteous imperfect. Rather, he chooses broken and imperfect people to display his glory.

The prelude will remind us of these truths, and we will be continually reminded of them as the episode builds. There are many parts of this story that intertwine and point to the same prevailing message of grace.

I will do my best to point them out to you once the episode is over. For now, enjoy episode 6, the 12th. If you're ready for an epic family vacation, there's no better place than sunny Orlando. Exciting thrills, never-ending food festivals, fresh new dining experiences, outdoor adventures, and Florida's natural springs, and so much more. Orlando has it all. And Visit Orlando's vacation planners can help you plan the perfect trip.

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Brought to you by State Farm. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prelude to Chapter 6. Since the fall, a deep pride had boiled in the furnace of mankind. Men would build kingdoms and monuments to themselves, seeking to be glorified as gods. The ancient people of Babel had once sought to ascend into the heavens by building a large tower. Their vain attempt at immortality was quickly thwarted by God.

He sent them scattering to the far reaches of the earth. However, mankind always found a way to elevate themselves. They sought power, riches, and influence above humility, integrity, and charity. For all of human history, nations rose held by their own arrogance. Even the religious became great in their own minds.

The Pharisees and scribes measured their righteousness against others and created barriers between God and people. Yet even in their hubris, God loved them. As his people fell deep into their own greed, God was generous. When the people of Israel were entangled by sin or captured by a foreign nation, he would deliver them by calling men and women of courage. However, God never chose the strong.

He never chose those who were already exalted. God often chose the weak people of this world to go against the arrogance of mankind. He chose the small family of Abraham to create an entire nation. He used Gideon, the forgotten son of a weak tribe, to conquer an army. He chose Esther, a humble peasant, to influence a king.

He chose David, a ruddy shepherd boy, to defeat a giant. All these people were flawed, forgotten, or fearful, yet God moved in them to save nations and become kings. For thousands of generations since the fall of mankind, God has been using the weak things of this world to thwart the strong.

He continues to search for the humble and the willing, despite their flaws, to accomplish extraordinary works. Chapter 6 The Twelve Simon rested his head against the mast of his boat, lounging in the sun. The tide rocked the vessel back and forth as the gentle breeze tickled his cheeks. He was supposed to be washing his nets after a night of fishing. However, he had labored all night with no catch.

So Simon was content to doze off while his brother Andrew tended to the chores. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were in the boat beside them. They hadn't caught anything either. It was proving to be a hard time for fishermen. Simon was weary from the evening's toil. An entire night of labor with no fish to show for it. It was frustrating. Many things in Simon's life were frustrating.

He looked up at the clouds and listened to the seagulls fly out to sea. Perhaps the birds would have better luck than him. He sighed and began to close his eyes and rest. Simon's brief moment of peace was quickly interrupted as he heard a commotion approaching the shore. He peeked his eyes open to see Jesus briskly walking away from a large crowd of people. Thousands of people crowded around him. Many of them wanted to touch him so they might be healed.

Others wanted to be as close to him as possible so they could hear every word he said. Andrew smiled at the sight of Jesus. He was much more impressed than Simon was. Simon still had a lingering distrust, or perhaps it was more an inner guilt. He did not find himself particularly worthy to be near a man like that. The crowd was overwhelming Jesus at almost every side. He backed up to the shore, but they were still pressing in.

Jesus looked back to see Simon laying down in his boat, casually watching. "Simon!" Jesus exclaimed. "Could I use your boat to teach from? If I stay near this crowd, they're certainly going to suffocate me." He asked with a chuckle. Simon sat up and rubbed his temple. He had been up all night, and now his one moment of peace was interrupted. He was about to say no until Andrew gave him a swift kick in the shin.

Wincing in pain, Simon gave a frustrated smile and gestured for Jesus to climb in. Jesus boarded the small fishing boat and sat on the bow. He began teaching about the kingdom of heaven. Simon began repairing a few nets, listening to him teach. His words poured forth like heavy rain the parched ground, all in attendance, student silence. Simon found himself entranced by his words.

He had never heard someone teach with so much authority, passion, and gentleness. Jesus finished, and the crowd went back to their homes. He looked back at Simon. Let's go out to the deep, he said. Maybe we'll catch something. Simon buried his face in his hands. He was not emotionally ready for yet another day without a catch. Teacher...

"We had been toiling all night. We tried everything and scoured every section of this lake yet caught nothing." Simon's heart ached from defeat. He looked up at Jesus. He was smiling, awaiting an answer. Andrew was beside him begging Simon to agree. "Nevertheless," Simon said, "at your word I will take us out." So the three of them cast out the nets. James and John launched their boat as well.

Simon was not thrilled to be out there. He was bitter. He gazed out at the horizon, wondering if his wife would ever forgive him for being such a failure. The boat rocked back and forth while Jesus and Andrew watched the nets intently. Simon thought they were foolish. He continued to look out at the water, letting bitterness stew. We should leave, Simon said. It's hopeless.

He stood up to begin unwrapping the sails. Then, as Simon stood up, he heard a slight tightening of rope behind him. Simon froze. His eyes widened and he looked back slowly. The nets were tightening at a fast pace, so fast that if Simon did not act quickly, they would break. He dove for the nets as they were being dragged off the side of the boat. Andrew and Jesus leapt forward to help him. Together, they dragged the nets out of the water.

As they pulled, Simon could see thousands of fish being drawn into the boat. The three of them laughed as they continued to bring in fish. Peter yelled for James and John to come close to them so they could draw more in. The men were screaming with delight. Both the boats were filled with fish. It was the most joy Simon had felt in years. Yet his smile quickly faded. As the other men cheered, Simon looked at Jesus.

His eyes began to water and he fell to his knees. "Depart from me, Lord," Simon said. He felt so much shame for the life he had been living. He had so much bitterness and anger within him. He felt unworthy to be in the presence of Jesus. "I am a sinful man, O Lord. I am not worthy." Jesus understood Simon's heart.

He bent down and met him at eye level. "You have lived with a great deal of fear for so long," Jesus said. He placed a hand on Simon's shoulders. "You no longer have to fear. Follow me and I will make you a fisher of men." Simon looked up. He looked Jesus in the eyes for the first time since they met. Simon nodded, as did Andrew, James, and John. So the four men left their nets and followed Jesus.

The following day was the Sabbath, and Jesus entered into the nearby synagogue to teach. The entire congregation was enthralled with Jesus' words. The other scribes had simply recycled one another's writings. Yet Jesus spoke with a new type of authority they had never heard before, from Jesus' mouth were the very words of God. He cut straight through the rough exterior of religious dogma and right to the heart of his listeners.

Jesus spoke the poetic truths of God, and a light-hearted spirit of joy filled the room. Then, from the corner of the synagogue, a deep laughter emerged. The rumbling laughter turned into a wet cackle as a man beat his fist against the wall. The crowd stirred. Jesus knew exactly what was happening. This man was possessed by a demon. The man's laughter was painful. He coughed and screamed.

His neck snapped back to look at Jesus. Anger laced the surface of his eyes. Yet behind them there was deep pain. The demon pointed forward to Jesus. What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? The demon looked forward, swinging the man's body against the wall. Blood dripped down his temple. The demon spat. Have you come to destroy us?

The demon was getting louder and more angry. The people were frightened, but Jesus stood perfectly still as the demon approached him. The demon paused to look around the room. He basked in the fear of the people.

He pointed at Jesus again and said, You are the Holy One, the Son of... Be silent! Jesus rebuked. His voice reverberated off the walls, and the demon cowered back. Jesus stepped down from the platform and walked towards the demon. With every step Jesus took forward, the demon took a step back. Come out of him! Now! Jesus commanded.

As Jesus spoke, the man's body flailed back and hit the stone floor. A harsh scream echoed through the entire synagogue as the man writhed in pain. The demon jolted the man forward, then flung his body against the wall again. Then the man slowly slid to the ground, whimpering in pain. The demon was gone. It would torment him no more. Jesus embraced the man and had Andrew attend to him.

Everyone was silent as Jesus left the synagogue to care for him. Up until then, people saw Jesus as a great teacher. They were beginning to realize he was much more. The next morning, Jesus sat on a stone, leaning against the side of the mountain. He looked out, overlooking the sunrise as it slowly peeked over the horizon. His face lit up from the rising sun. Jesus would often pull away to be alone with his Father.

The two would speak of eternity and the kingdom entering the hearts of men. The sun was making its way over the green pastures below, and Jesus could hear the stirring of people gathering at the base of the mountain. He smiled. They were so eager to see him, hear from him, and witness his miracles. However, they would not always be this devoted. Jesus knew the fickle nature of people. Despite this, he loved them.

He would serve them to the very end and ultimately lay down his life for them. Jesus made his way down the mountain. Sure enough, the crowd was growing larger by the minute as people rushed out of their homes. Jesus smiled and greeted them. Without saying a word, he made his way towards the city. As Jesus and the crowd came to the outer wall, a man emerged from the corner. He limped toward Jesus. The right side of his face was missing a cheek.

exposing rotting muscle underneath. His eyes were faded from deterioration and his left hand was missing several fingers. What was left of his body was covered in bandages, tightly holding together his limbs. The man was stricken with leprosy. From the looks of him, he had been slowly dying for many years. He did not look at Jesus,

Rather, he limped towards him with his head held low. "Unclean!" he shouted. "Unclean!" The crowd jolted backwards at the sight of him. The leper fell to his knees. "Jesus, if you are willing, you could make me clean," he said. Jesus was moved with compassion. He knew the pain of leprosy. He also knew the isolation this man felt. Lepers were outcasts, driven out to keep others safe.

This man was slowly deteriorating all along. He knelt down beside the man. The crowd gasped as he drew closer. Jesus took the man's shoulders and embraced him. The leper sobbed in his arms. It was the first human contact he had had in years. "Be clean," Jesus said. "I am willing." As Jesus said this, the man's body was restored.

He looked down at his hands to see all of his fingers attached. He unwrapped his arms and legs to see the sores. He felt his cheek smooth and full. Jesus smiled and whispered, "Depart, and do not tell anyone what has happened today. Instead, go worship God in the temple." So the man departed from there. Invigorated with new life, Jesus had a heart for the sick. Their plight represented the greater woes of humanity.

People were sick with sin and slowly dying. Jesus came so they might have life, and life more abundant. Are you ready to have your bacon-loving mind blown?

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In Orlando, anything is possible if you can imagine it. Plan your escape today and save at visitorlando.com. That's visitorlando.com for everything you need for an amazing getaway. After a few days, Jesus returned to Capernaum. He remained there in the home of one of his friends. It was not long before the home began filling up with people desiring to hear Jesus. Every inch of the home was filled with people.

outside of the home, the three men carrying their friend. He was completely paralyzed, unable to even speak. The men heard that Jesus was in town and were hoping to have Jesus heal their friend. However, they saw the people were overflowing outside of the house. The three men looked down at their companion. "Is this small setback really going to keep him from being healed?" one of them thought. He turned towards the house and scanned its surroundings.

He looked down at the base of the home, then up at the roof. A small smile cracked on the corner of his face. I have an idea, he said. Jesus was teaching in the middle of the home. Hundreds of people sat and stood around him, inching as close to him as possible to hear. Jesus was speaking about the coming of God's kingdom. He revealed the reason behind God's law and the depth of his love revealed in it.

As Jesus was speaking, he felt a small piece of plaster fall on his head. Startled, Jesus looked up to see the roof being torn apart from the outside. Jesus stood to his feet and the crowd stepped back as more roofing crashed onto the floor, shattering all around the room. A bright light shone through the ceiling. Then, like an angel appearing, Jesus saw a silhouette of a man on a stretcher being lowered down by ropes.

The three friends had found a way to Jesus. The paralytic was lowered slowly. Jesus went under the man and helped him to the floor. The crowd stirred and shouted up at the ceiling. Jesus looked up. He could see the friends' guilty smiles. Jesus grinned and nodded towards them. The mark of a true friend is how far they are willing to go to get them to Jesus. He looked down at the man.

His face was stagnant and emotionless. However, Jesus could see the longing in his eyes. He placed his hand on his shoulder and said, My child, your sins are forgiven. Blasphemy! A voice shouted from the corner. Jesus looked up to see a scribe scoffing at Jesus. He stepped forward and pointed. What authority do you have to forgive this man's sins?

For we all know he is paralyzed because God is punishing him. Who do you think you are? God alone has the authority to forgive sins. The scribe spat on the ground, teeming with self-righteous anger. He scanned the room, looking for approving nods. Jesus looked back at the paralytic. He put his hand on his head and smiled. Then tell me, scribe. Jesus began. What takes less authority to say? Your sins are forgiven?

or get up and walk." As Jesus said this, the paralytic's toes began to twitch. His eyes widened as he began to move his fingers as well. Then, with a burst of energy, he sat up. He moved his mouth and began to mumble under his breath. He looked up at Jesus, eyes beaming with hope. A large cheer could be heard from the ceiling as the man's friends nearly fell through the hole in excitement. Jesus helped the man to his feet.

He looked down and began hopping up and down. The two of them embraced, and the man ran out to greet his friends. The four of them leapt for joy, laughing and slapping each other around. The scribes shrunk back into the crowd, and everyone applauded as the man left walking shoulder to shoulder with his companions. After these things, Jesus was making his way through the city streets.

People followed at a distance as Jesus conversed with Simon, James, and John. As they made their way through the marketplace, Simon pointed out the long line of people waiting to pay their taxes. "Traitor!" they yelled towards the front of the line, spitting on the floor. "Are you content to feed off of the suffering of your own people?" Jesus looked to see a tax collector being berated by the crowd. Tax collectors were considered Jewish traitors.

They hoard themselves to the Roman government and use corruption for their own gain. Sitting at the booth was Matthew. He slumped down, quietly counting the coin, doing his best to block out the noise. Jesus peered over to see a few tears streaming from his face. Jesus approached the booth. Matthew had grown accustomed to men and women coming to the tax booth to spit on him and ridicule him.

Jesus simply smiled and said two simple words that would change Matthew's life forever. Jesus said plainly. Simon and Andrew gasped when they heard Jesus. They looked at Matthew. He seemed just as shocked as they did. Jesus began walking away. The choice was Matthew's to make. He had made a great deal of wealth being a tax collector. He had favor with Rome and coins in his purse.

Yet there was no favor with man or riches of the world that could truly satisfy him. He longed for purpose. He longed to be known for those he helped, not exploited. Was Jesus worth following? Matthew looked at Jesus, walking away. "Yes, he is worth everything," he thought to himself. Matthew stood to his feet and ran after Jesus. "My Lord," he yelled. "My King!" Jesus turned around and laughed, the two of them embraced.

Simon and Andrew were perplexed. "Why did Jesus choose a tax collector?" they thought to themselves. "Doesn't he know they are all corrupt?" Yet they did not understand what Jesus understood, that there are none that are righteous. Jesus did not choose Matthew because he was morally higher than the rest or more talented. He saw beyond what man saw. He saw the heart. That night, Jesus and his followers ate at Matthew's house.

More tax collectors came to eat with them. Jesus enjoyed their company, enduring the glares of the Pharisees far off. The Pharisees stood outside the house with their arms crossed. They stopped one of his disciples and said, "Look how he dines with tax collectors and sinners. Aren't you ashamed to follow him?" The disciple paused, unsure of how he should answer. Before he could say anything, Jesus stepped outside and approached them.

His eyes were piercing, filled with deep wisdom. There was a silence between them. Although the Pharisees were the religious rulers of the time, Jesus still intimidated them. Tell me, Jesus said, who needs a doctor more, the sick or the healthy? The Pharisees said nothing, knowing the answer was obvious. You sit here praising yourselves for your good health, all the while ignoring those who suffer around you.

I've not come to sit at the table of the righteous and bask in my own glory like you do. I've come to help the sinners in need. Jesus left with his disciple back inside. As he left, he gestured for the Pharisees to join them. They sneered and left. Jesus never scoffed at the sinners. He did not shame the prostitutes or shun the tax collectors. He ate beside them. He laughed with them. He heard their stories.

He taught them about a life lived with God. When people met Jesus, they became righteous. They did not become righteous to meet Jesus. Not long after, Jesus and his disciples were walking through the grain fields on the Sabbath. They had been walking for quite some time and were beginning to get hungry. Andrew slid his hand through the grain as they sauntered beside it. Taking one in his hand, he plucked the grain and tossed it to John.

The men were hungry, and the outer layer of the grain fields were okay for eating. They continued to pluck, eat, and walk until they spotted the Pharisees walking their way. Simon quickly tossed his grain away, and John scarfed his down in his mouth. Jesus chuckled, seeing how they became flustered children when the Pharisees arrived. Are you going to do anything about your followers, Jesus? They're harvesting grain on the Sabbath.

Jesus took a piece of grain and rolled it on his fingers. "Aren't you men who know the Scriptures?" Jesus asked sarcastically. "Do you not remember how David ate bread designated for the temple when he was overcome with hunger?" The Pharisees were insulted by the insinuation that they had not read the story.

Jesus tossed a piece of grain in his mouth. "Something greater than the temple is here. I suggest you read more and find the meaning behind the words of God. I desire mercy over sacrifice. If you truly knew what that meant, you would not come here badgering men who've done nothing wrong. For the Messiah is Lord over the Sabbath, not you." Jesus continued walking toward the synagogue with his disciples behind him.

A faint laughter could be heard from them. They had never heard anyone speak to the Pharisees that way before. Jesus entered the synagogue and sat to listen to the word of the Lord. The Pharisees trickled in as well. They came behind Jesus and gestured towards a man with a withered hand. "Tell us, Jesus, is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" They were goading him, trying to catch him breaking more Sabbath law in front of more people.

Jesus stood to his feet and walked towards the man with a withered hand. He brought him before everyone. He was not ashamed. "Tell me, Pharisees, how many of you have sheep or goats?" A few of them nodded and raised their hand. Jesus took the man's withered arm and examined it. Looking back at the Pharisees, he asked, "How many of you, if your sheep fell in a pit on the Sabbath, would take hold of it and lift it out?" They did not respond, since the answer was clear.

Jesus was angry at them. They could not see past their pride. Tell me, who is of more value, your sheep or this man? I will say this once to you, so hear me. It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath, for the Sabbath was made for man to rest in God, not hide in fear of judgment. He turned to the man and said, Stretch out your hand. And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.

The crowd awed, and the Pharisees slipped out, conspiring how they might end him. After this, Jesus took some of his followers up to a mountain. The crowd followed them and remained at the bottom. Jesus paused and looked out at the sea of faces. He did not see what others saw. He saw sheep that were without a shepherd. They need guidance. They needed to be empowered and enlivened by God's Spirit. There were a few followers beside him.

He looked at them and pointed down at the crowd. "Look out at them. The harvest is plentiful. There is no shortage of people longing for hope. Do not pray for the people to come, for they are already among you. Pray for the laborers. Pray for men and women to rise up and work in this field. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few." With those words, Jesus appointed twelve men to be his apostles.

Chosen men that would follow Jesus everywhere. These men were not chosen for their wisdom, influence, or skill. Each of them had gifts and each of them had flaws. They were imperfect vessels chosen by God to do mighty works. God chose them for their hearts, but also for their weakness. For in their weakness, God is shown to be strong. He chose Simon, who he would now call Peter, which means rock.

Peter was loudmouthed and made rash decisions, yet within him was the heart of a leader. He chose James and John, the sons of Zebedee. He nicknamed them Sons of Thunder for their fire and enthusiasm. However, it often got the better of them. He chose Andrew, Philip, and Bartholomew, the silent and humble servants. He chose Matthew, the tax collector, and Thomas, the skeptic. He chose James and Alphaeus,

One of the most unique men he chose was Simon the Zealot. He was one of the notorious Daggermen, a league of assassins trying to overthrow Roman rule. However, Simon renounced his old ways for the sake of following Christ. Finally, he chose Judas Iscariot, the man who would betray him. He chose him and loved him despite knowing who he would become. This was the heart of Christ.

Jesus' first call to the Twelve was for them to be with Him. Their closeness to Jesus would prove to be the source of their strength. Moments sitting by the campfire, sharing stories and laughing would prove to be useful. They would learn to be with God before doing anything for God, so they too would not grow prideful like the Pharisees. Out of that relationship, Jesus would send them out to preach, heal and cast out demons in His name.

The disciples were empowered by Jesus, and their strength grew day by day. Jesus overlooked the crowd below. He knew many would eventually turn on him. He turned to the twelve and said, Whoever desires to come after me must first pick up his cross and follow me. Whoever holds his life too dear to lay it down will lose his life. However, whoever loses his life for my sake will truly find it.

For what does it profit a man if he gains the world's possessions but loses his own soul? Jesus called his disciples to a higher standard than the Pharisees or scribes. He called them to deny themselves instead of elevate themselves. He did not call them to religious repetition or vain practices. He called them to lay down their lives, money, and convenience so that others may thrive. Jesus would model this himself.

He would sacrifice everything so that people could be renewed.

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We begin with the call of Simon, who would later be called Peter, a rough fisherman from Galilee. His failure to catch fish all night left him grumpy and tired, but Jesus quickly broke down his rough exterior.

Andrew, Simon, James, and John's failure to catch fish, followed by immediate success when Jesus was with them, is a metaphor. We, on our own, are unable to truly be effective for the kingdom of God. No matter how much we toil, we are unable to succeed without the presence of Jesus leading and empowering us. As long as he is in our boat, we know we are on the right path. There will be many scenes with Jesus in a boat with his disciples in future episodes.

Pay attention to those and search for meaning when you encounter them. When the boat was overflowing with fish, Andrew, James, and John cheered, but not Peter. He fell on his knees and wept. Why? Wasn't he happy about the fish? What compelled him to hide his face from Jesus and say, "'Depart from me, Lord.'" I think it was because Simon knew he was unworthy to receive anything from Jesus."

Simon was a salty fisherman from an unremarkable city. We also know he had a temper and a tendency to run his mouth. To put it plainly, Simon was a sinner. When he came face to face with the goodness of Jesus, he no longer felt worthy to be in his presence. Those who truly come in contact with the holiness of God feel this way.

In Psalm 8, David looks up to the heavens and says, When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have made, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you visit him?

When we truly consider the splendor of God, we feel small and insignificant. Who are we that God would bless us and call us? The fact that God regards us at all is humbling. I think that is what Simon experienced on the boat that morning. He experienced the glory of God and was humble. Jesus responded to Simon with a call. With tenderness and power, he said, follow me and I will make you a fisher of men. This statement is consistent with the theme of the episode.

Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James, and John and told them he would make them fishers of men. It wasn't that they were already fishers of men. Rather, Jesus would make them into what they were meant to be. This is similar to the call of Abraham in Genesis 12.

God called Abraham to follow him and said, I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great and you shall be a blessing. God didn't call Abraham because he was already great. He called Abraham and made him great. In the same way, the disciples were not called because they were already great, but Jesus would make them great.

Let this encourage you today. Who we become when we follow Jesus is more important than who we are when we begin following Jesus. After the interaction with Simon in the boat, we were thrust into another scene with the demon. The scene was supposed to scare us a little bit and remind us that there is another spiritual realm outside the line of sight. Jesus didn't just come to help people catch fish. He came to wage war against the dark forces at work in the hearts of men and women.

Jesus preached great sermons and helped many people with their physical ailments, but he also came to establish authority over people's hearts. Jesus quickly established dominance over the demon and cast him out. This event is a small taste of the spiritual battle waging around us. There are dark entities at work, and we would be wise to not ignore them. Nevertheless, we shouldn't be scared. This scene also reminds us that Jesus has ultimate authority and power over the demons.

They know him and quake in fear of him. The scene with the leper on the side of the road and the paralytic lowered from the roof were both related to the scene with the demoniac. When Jesus heals people, it is meant to be a metaphor for the inner healing he does in all of us. The sin that plagues our heart decays our souls like leprosy.

The shame of sin paralyzes us and keeps us from walking a life of purpose. Jesus addresses the physical needs of these men, but the greater work is the salvation and sanctification of our souls. Jesus reminded us of this by forgiving the paralytic sins before healing his body. We are all in need of God's forgiveness, and we are able to receive it because of Christ's work on our behalf.

The friends that lowered the paralytic are placed in the story as a contrast to the Pharisees and religious leaders. Think about it for a moment. The Pharisees and scribes were meant to bring people close to God. It was their job to teach and serve people according to the law and prophets. Instead, they created barriers between people and God.

They set up a system that made it difficult for others to access the heart of God. However, the friends of this paralyzed man did whatever they could to get their friend close to God. They risked their safety and convenience to see their friend healed. They are a stark contrast to the Pharisees. Their faithfulness causes us to question the idea of friendship and love. Do we have the same devotion as these men? Do we lay aside our own convenience for the sake of our friends being close to Jesus?

What lengths are we willing to go to make sure those close to us can experience freedom in Christ? So far in the story, we have seen Jesus reach out to the reject, the lowly, and the sick. However, we have yet to see him reach out to someone who is universally hated among the Jews, tax collectors. Tax collectors were among the most hated people of the time. They were called race traitors and apostates due to their loyalty to Rome.

They traded their kinship for money and actively exploited their fellow Jews. Surely a man like this wouldn't receive any attention from the Messiah, right? Wrong. Tax collectors were often sought out by Jesus, and they often sought Jesus out. He gave them the love that the countrymen refused to give. Matthew, one of the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus, was one of them. Jesus gave him a simple call, follow me.

This is the call he gives to all of us. It is an invitation to adventure, growth, and glory. But the call of Jesus comes at a cost. Those who desire to follow him must die to their old ways and embrace the new way of living. Matthew considered the cost and chose to follow Christ. The Pharisees didn't understand Jesus' motives. They questioned his righteousness because he ate with sinners. Jesus, however, had some coarse words for them. Tell me, Jesus said.

Who needs a doctor more, the sick or the healthy? The Pharisees said nothing, knowing the answer was obvious. You sit here praising yourself for your good health, all the while ignoring those who suffer around you. I have not come to sit at the table of the righteous or bask in my own glory like you do. I have come to help the sinners in need.

Jesus, being God, refused to flaunt his righteousness like a merit badge. He knew that true righteousness was acted out in love, not displayed to make others feel inferior. A big sticking point between Jesus and the Pharisees was regarding the Sabbath. Many rules and regulations were formed around the Sabbath, which was a day designed for rest and worship. So many rules had been formed around the Sabbath that it was basically a job to keep them.

The irony was lost on the religious leaders, but not on Jesus. When his disciples plucked some grain to snack on, they were angry. Jesus, however, was swift to point out their hypocrisy. If the Sabbath was a day made for rest and worship, then what good was it to place so much burden on people to keep it? Like many vain religious traditions, they accomplished the opposite of what they claimed to do. That's why Jesus made it a point to heal the man with a withered hand on the Sabbath.

He wanted to show everyone that nobody should refuse to do what is right just because it went against some moral tradition. This is what the apostle Paul meant when he said, but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Love, faithfulness, kindness trump any religious tradition. Against these things there is no law.

This episode ended with the calling of the twelve. Their appointment brought us back to the prelude, reminding us that God doesn't call the brave, strong, and perfect. He chooses the fisherman, the tax collector, and the dagger men to display his glory. All vain displays of religiosity are put aside as Jesus appoints a band of sinners and makes them saints. I enjoyed my time with you today. Our next episode will feature Jesus' most famous sermons.

He establishes the kingdom ethos and reminds us that character triumphs over sanctimony. Join us next time for Episode 7, My Burden is Light.

Thanks again for listening. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers, and wisdom to last a lifetime, go to Pray.com. And to expand your Heroes in the Bible journey, download the Heroes of the Faith devotional at TonyEvans.org forward slash heroes. Follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify to get the newest episodes right as they come out so you can strengthen your relationship with Jesus. God bless.

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