Training of the Twelve
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love. But not until later did they realize in all its fullness that God
“hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face
of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the
bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply
they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from
every one of us.”
Acts 17:26, 27
.
In these first disciples was presented marked diversity. They were
to be the world’s teachers, and they represented widely varied types
of character. In order successfully to carry forward the work to which
they had been called, these men, differing in natural characteristics
and in habits of life, needed to come into unity of feeling, thought,
and action. This unity it was Christ’s object to secure. To this end He
sought to bring them into unity with Himself. The burden of His labor
for them is expressed in His prayer to His Father, “That they all may
be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may
be one in Us;” “that the world may know that Thou has sent Me, and
hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.”
John 17:21, 23
. His constant
prayer for them was that they might be sanctified through the truth;
and He prayed with assurance, knowing that an Almighty decree had
been given before the world was made. He knew that the gospel of the
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kingdom would be preached to all nations for a witness; He knew that
truth armed with the omnipotence of the Holy Spirit, would conquer
in the battle with evil, and that the bloodstained banner would one day
wave triumphantly over His followers.
As Christ’s earthly ministry drew to a close, and He realized that
He must soon leave His disciples to carry on the work without His
personal supervision, He sought to encourage them and to prepare
them for the future. He did not deceive them with false hopes. As
an open book He read what was to be. He knew He was about to
be separated from them, to leave them as sheep among wolves. He
knew that they would suffer persecution, that they would be cast out
of the synagogues, and would be thrown into prison. He knew that for
witnessing to Him as the Messiah, some of them would suffer death.
And something of this He told them. In speaking of their future, He
was plain and definite, that in their coming trial they might remember
His words and be strengthened to believe in Him as the Redeemer.
He spoke to them also words of hope and courage. “Let not your
heart be troubled,” He said; “ye believe in God, believe also in Me.