THOSE HE CALLED; THE FORMATION OF DISCIPLES.

*Those He Called: The Formation of Disciples**

Before we embark on this discussion, let us first examine the scripture from the Bible:

**John 2:24-25 KJV**  

[24] But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, [25] and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

It is a profound truth that God possesses a greater understanding of us than we do ourselves. Often, we remain unaware of our own potentials—both positive and negative—due to deceptions sown by the adversary or our own ignorance. However, Christ, our Creator, is fully aware of our composition, every aspect of our being, and our capabilities.

Have you ever contemplated the individuals whom God selected as His disciples? Are you not struck by His choice?

Consider that Christ, the Son of God, manifested in human form and endowed with immense power and authority, known for His miracles and wonders, chose to call upon a tax collector, fishermen, and others of low standing—ordinary men—to be His disciples.

This observation arises from our human viewpoint. Nevertheless, God recognized their true essence. He possessed the authority to summon them to Himself and maintain their upright relationship with Him. He has the capacity to justify them.

**Romans 8:30 KJV**  

[30] Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Throughout Jesus's ministry with His disciples, their human nature was evident—reflected in their inquiries, their fears, their lack of comprehension, and their displays of weakness and powerlessness.

Let us examine several incidents documented in the Bible:

**Mark 6:35-37 KJV**  

[35] And when the day was now far spent, His disciples came unto Him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: [36] send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. [37] He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto Him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give?

In the event of feeding the 5,000, the disciples approached Jesus, requesting that He dismiss the crowd to find food. After the miracle of feeding 5,000, a similar circumstance arose in **Matthew 15**. In this instance, Jesus called the disciples and expressed His compassion for the multitude, stating they had been with Him for three days, possibly to test their faith. T**Those He Called: The Formation of Disciples**

Before we embark on this discussion, let us first examine the scripture from the Bible:

**John 2:24-25 KJV**  

[24] But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, [25] and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

It is a profound truth that God possesses a greater understanding of us than we do ourselves. Often, we remain unaware of our own potentials—both positive and negative—due to deceptions sown by the adversary or our own ignorance. However, Christ, our Creator, is fully aware of our composition, every aspect of our being, and our capabilities.

Have you ever contemplated the individuals whom God selected as His disciples? Are you not struck by His choice?

Consider that Christ, the Son of God, manifested in human form and endowed with immense power and authority, known for His miracles and wonders, chose to call upon a tax collector, fishermen, and others of low standing—ordinary men—to be His disciples.

This observation arises from our human viewpoint. Nevertheless, God recognized their true essence. He possessed the authority to summon them to Himself and maintain their upright relationship with Him. He has the capacity to justify them.

**Romans 8:30 KJV**  

[30] Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Throughout Jesus's ministry with His disciples, their human nature was evident—reflected in their inquiries, their fears, their lack of comprehension, and their displays of weakness and timidity. 

Let us examine several incidents documented in the Bible:

**Mark 6:35-37 KJV**  

[35] And when the day was now far spent, His disciples came unto Him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: [36] send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. [37] He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto Him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give?

In the event of feeding the 5,000, the disciples approached Jesus, requesting that He dismiss the crowd to find food. After the miracle of feeding 5,000, a similar circumstance arose in **Matthew 15**. In this instance, Jesus called the disciples and expressed His compassion for the multitude, stating they had been with Him for three days, possibly to test their faith. 

The disciples' reaction following the miraculous event was a reiteration of their previous doubt:  

"Where shall we obtain enough bread in the wilderness to satisfy such a large crowd?"

Do not be astonished yet; it is remarkable how quickly we overlook God’s goodness, although this is not the primary focus of our discussion.

**Matthew 15:32-33 KJV**  

[32] Then Jesus called His disciples unto Him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. [33] And His disciples say unto Him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

Subsequently, in **Matthew 16:6-7**, Jesus cautioned them to be vigilant regarding the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees; they deliberated among themselves, attributing it to their failure to bring bread.

**Matthew 16:6-7 KJV**  

[6] Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. [7] And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

In response, Jesus remarked:

**Matthew 16:9-10 NLT**  

[9] Don’t you understand even yet? Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up? [10] Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up?

The disciples’ frailty and fearfulness were further evidenced when Jesus foretold His death and during His crucifixion:

**Matthew 26:37-38 NLT**  

[37] He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and He became anguished and distressed. [38] He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

**Matthew 26:40, 42-43 NLT**  

[40] Then He returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?”  

[42] Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” [43] When He returned to them again, He found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.

Peter, too, succumbed to the fear of denial, denying Jesus thrice. Following Jesus's death, the disciples, engulfed by fear and disarray, retreated into hiding, with some opting to return to their former occupations, disregarding His teachings regarding resurrection.

**Matthew 17** further illustrates their lack of power when a man beseeched them to heal his son:

**Matthew 17:15-16 NLT**  

[15] “Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. [16] So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”

These accounts demonstrate that God did not select these men based on their human qualifications; rather, He chose them because "He knew all men." He understands their hearts more profoundly than they understand them themselves. Recall what He communicated to Nathaniel:

**John 1:47 NLT**  

[47] As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”

**Romans 8:29 NLT**  

[29] For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

These men transcended their ordinary existence once the Holy Spirit descended upon them.

**Acts of the Apostles 2:1-2, 4 NLT**  

[1] On the day of Pentecost, all the believers were meeting together in one place.  

[2] Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.  

[4] And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

Following this divine encounter, the Scriptures indicate in verse 14 of Acts chapter 2 that the same Peter stood up alongside the eleven apostles and proclaimed to the crowd—not merely with boldness, but with authority. His words struck deep within their hearts, leading them to ask, "Brothers, what should we do?"

**Isaiah 32:15 NLT**  

[15] Until at last the Spirit is poured out on us from heaven, then the wilderness will become a fertile field, and the fertile field will yield bountiful crops.

It is indeed the Holy Spirit that empowers us, transforming our surroundings of scarcity into realms of abundance. From mere men unaware of their potential, they grew into remarkable figures of faith and strength. The Holy Spirit enables us to conform to the likeness of the Son, in whom we are justified.

I earnestly pray that we permit God, in His infinite knowledge of us, to maximize our potential through His Spirit.

**PRAYER:**  

Heavenly Father, we humbly beseech you for the grace to be your disciples. Grant us the strength to deny ourselves daily and to follow you until we are transformed into the image of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. In His name, we pray. Amen.he disciples' reaction following the miraculous event was a reiteration of their previous doubt:  

"Where shall we obtain enough bread in the wilderness to satisfy such a large crowd?"

Do not be astonished yet; it is remarkable how quickly we overlook God’s goodness, although this is not the primary focus of our discussion.

**Matthew 15:32-33 KJV**  

[32] Then Jesus called His disciples unto Him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. [33] And His disciples say unto Him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

Subsequently, in **Matthew 16:6-7**, Jesus cautioned them to be vigilant regarding the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees; they deliberated among themselves, attributing it to their failure to bring bread.

**Matthew 16:6-7 KJV**  

[6] Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. [7] And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

In response, Jesus remarked:

**Matthew 16:9-10 NLT**  

[9] Don’t you understand even yet? Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up? [10] Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up?

The disciples’ frailty and fearfulness were further evidenced when Jesus foretold His death and during His crucifixion:

**Matthew 26:37-38 NLT**  

[37] He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and He became anguished and distressed. [38] He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

**Matthew 26:40, 42-43 NLT**  

[40] Then He returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?”  

[42] Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” [43] When He returned to them again, He found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.

Peter, too, succumbed to the fear of denial, denying Jesus thrice. Following Jesus's death, the disciples, engulfed by fear and disarray, retreated into hiding, with some opting to return to their former occupations, disregarding His teachings regarding resurrection.

**Matthew 17** further illustrates their lack of power when a man beseeched them to heal his son:

**Matthew 17:15-16 NLT**  

[15] “Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. [16] So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”

These accounts demonstrate that God did not select these men based on their human qualifications; rather, He chose them because "He knew all men." He understands their hearts more profoundly than they understand them themselves. Recall what He communicated to Nathaniel:

**John 1:47 NLT**  

[47] As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”

**Romans 8:29 NLT**  

[29] For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

These men transcended their ordinary existence once the Holy Spirit descended upon them.

**Acts of the Apostles 2:1-2, 4 NLT**  

[1] On the day of Pentecost, all the believers were meeting together in one place.  

[2] Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.  

[4] And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

Following this divine encounter, the Scriptures indicate in verse 14 of Acts chapter 2 that the same Peter stood up alongside the eleven apostles and proclaimed to the crowd—not merely with boldness, but with authority. His words struck deep within their hearts, leading them to ask, "Brothers, what should we do?"

**Isaiah 32:15 NLT**  

[15] Until at last the Spirit is poured out on us from heaven, then the wilderness will become a fertile field, and the fertile field will yield bountiful crops.

It is indeed the Holy Spirit that empowers us, transforming our surroundings of scarcity into realms of abundance. From mere men unaware of their potential, they grew into remarkable figures of faith and strength. The Holy Spirit enables us to conform to the likeness of the Son, in whom we are justified.

I earnestly pray that we permit God, in His infinite knowledge of us, to maximize our potential through His Spirit.

**PRAYER:**  

Heavenly Father, we humbly beseech you for the grace to be your disciples. Grant us the strength to deny ourselves daily and to follow you until we are transformed into the image of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. In His name, we pray. Amen.