THE CALL OF THE TWELVE DISCIPLES.
By Stephen N. Haskell
IN the early part of the Saviour's ministry, "when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease." Matt. 10: 1. The place where he ordained the twelve that they might be with him, that he might send them forth to preach, was in a mountain. "And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would; and they came unto him. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils." Mark 3: 13-15. The previous night he had spent in prayer to God, realizing in his humanity, although sinless, the need of divine wisdom and enlightenment. Then when it was day, he called his disciples, chose twelve, and ordained them for their work, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have received, freely give." Matt. 10: 7, 8. The disciples understood that there was a meaning in his spending all night in prayer before he ordained the first twelve, and also that there was reason in the number selected; for, while waiting for the outpouring of the Spirit, Peter arose and said: "Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them which took Jesus.135For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. 'For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein; and his bishopric let another take. Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.' Acts 1: 16, 17, 20-22. This impression from Christ's praying had not lost its effect when they ordained their first two missionaries to carry the gospel to the Gentiles. "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." Acts 13: 2, 3. While Infinite Wisdom first made choice of but twelve, he afterwards chose Paul and Barnabas, as is seen from the above, and Epaphroditus, who was the apostle's "companion in labor, and fellow soldier, but your messenger" (apostolus, apostle). Phil. 2: 25. See also 2 Cor. 8: 23. Taking this view, the reader can more fully understand the force of church organization as drawn from the life of Christ, and developed by the Spirit of God through the great apostle to the Gentiles. But it should be remembered that this power or authority over all disease was not confined to the twelve, for in Luke 10: 1, 17-19 we read: "After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, . . . Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Neither could we conclude that these seventy were the only other favored ones; for John, in his zeal for his Master, said to him on one occasion, "Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us; and we forbade him, because he followeth not us." Mark 9: 38. This man was doing the same work as the disciples, but he was not doing it in just the same way as they were. There might have been something peculiar in his manner, but the Saviour was acquainted with him, and had commissioned him to go forth just as really as he had the twelve. More than this; in Matt. 12: 27 we learn that the children of the Pharisees cast out devils, and would therefore be their judges, as they had accepted him, while the Pharisees themselves had rejected him. The gospel itself is "the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Rom. 1: 16. The power given to the disciples when first sent out, was to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and over all unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sicknesses and all manner of diseases. This was authority from Christ over every obstacle placed in their way by Satan. While they possessed humility, they possessed boldness, for they were sent by the Representative of all power in heaven and earth. It was committing to them the gospel, and holding them responsible for its results; and this commission continues to the end of the world; for our Saviour said, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."