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Illustration of His Methods
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that, if roused to action, would place them among the world’s great
leaders. Such were those who were called by the Savior to be His
colaborers. And they had the advantage of three years’ training by
the greatest educator this world has ever known.
In these first disciples there was marked diversity. Destined to
be the world’s teachers, they represented widely varied types of
character. There were Levi Matthew the publican, called from a
life of business and subservience to Rome; Simon the zealot, an
uncompromising foe of the imperial authority; warmhearted Peter,
impulsive and self-sufficient, with Andrew his brother; Judas the
Judean, polished, capable, and mean-spirited; Philip and Thomas,
faithful and earnest yet slow of heart to believe; James the less and
Jude, of less prominence among the group but men of force, positive
both in their faults and in their virtues; Nathanael, a child in sincerity
and trust; and the ambitious, loving-hearted sons of Zebedee.
In order to carry forward their work successfully, these disciples,
differing widely in natural characteristics, in training, and in habits
of life, needed to come into unity of feeling, thought, and action.
To secure this unity, Christ worked to bring them into unity with
Himself. The burden of His efforts for them is expressed in His
prayer to the Father, “that they all may be one; as You, Father, are in
Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us: ... that the world
may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them, as You have
loved Me.”
John 17:21-23
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The Transforming Power of Christ
Of the twelve disciples, four were to act a leading part, each in a
distinct way. In preparation for this, Christ taught them, foreseeing
all: James, destined to swift death by the sword; John, who followed
his Master the longest in labor and persecution; Peter, the pioneer
in teaching the heathen world; and Judas, in service more capable
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than his associates, yet brooding in his soul—these were the objects
of Christ’s greatest solicitude and the ones who received His most
frequent and careful instruction.
Peter, James, and John sought every opportunity to come into
close contact with their Master, and their desire was granted. Of
all the Twelve their relationship to Him was closest. John could be