We Have Been Vetted And Found Worthy

“Lost and Found” by Greg Olsen. Used with Permission. http://www.GregOlsen.com

November 20, 2022

Gospel – 10/27/20 – Luke 6:12-16

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray,
and he spent the night in prayer to God.
When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,
James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon who was called a Zealot,
and Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

This seems such a simple section from the Gospel of St Luke – until you look closer.

Anytime we read scripture we need to do so with context. If you don’t, this passage becomes blase. He’s picking twelve of his disciples to become his Apostles (meaning sent). So, what’s the big deal here?

Who is the audience? Gentiles.

Where? In the area of Syria.

What is the message? That not everyone can take on the responsibility of leading others to Christ.

Jesus went up on the mountain to pray – all night. So, God and Jesus had a very long vetting process of the men he chose. They were very diverse. They were all chosen for their strengths

.And yet, you had Peter – a hard headed and stubborn man.

James and John – sons of Zebedee who were vain.

Thomas – who needed proof of everything to believe.

Simon – who was a Zealot.

And Judas Iscariot – who longed for the Messiah to present himself as King and drive out the Oppressors from Rome.

In other words, we are all represented and that was the message to the “lambs” being introduced to the Gospel of Jesus.

We are chosen by the Father and the Son after vetting us completely and still some of us are so broken that we choose wrongly.

The Gentiles needed to hear that Jesus didn’t discriminate. He chose all of us – no matter how broken.

All are chosen to follow but not all in the same way.

Never question your worthiness to be a child of God. It isn’t by happenstance we follow but because we have been found worthy of being adopted into the family of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

At least that’s what I heard Him say…