Information Related to "The Apostles: A Case Study in Conversion"
| Audio/Video |
Sidebar: The Apostles: A Case Study in Conversion
The Apostles: A Case Study in Conversion
The coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) transformed
the apostles of Jesus Christ from a group of ordinary men into some of the most remarkable
and dynamic leaders the world has known. To appreciate the magnitude of their transformation,
we need to take a closer look at the same men before they received God's Spirit.
The four Gospels-Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - provide us with insight into their
lives. We see no indication that any of the 12 apostles had an exceptional education
or any position of influence. They were common men, regarded as "uneducated
and untrained" by the rulers and religious authorities of that time (Acts 4:13).
Matthew was a tax collector, a member of one of the despised professions of his day
(Matthew 9:9; 18:17). Peter, his brother Andrew and two other brothers, James and
John, were partners in a modest fishing enterprise (Matthew 4:18-22, Luke 5:1-10).
Along with Philip, they lived in the town of Bethsaida in the northern province of
Galilee (John 1:44). The only special thing about them was that they were disciples-students
and followers-of Jesus Christ.
Even more striking is the level of their lack of spiritual comprehension during their
time of training. Their minds were still controlled by their fleshly nature. Their
thinking and behavior were "carnal" (Romans 8:5-7). Jesus rebuked them
for their lack of belief and hardness of heart (Mark 16:14).
Their attitudes and behavior during that time illustrate that even living in the
presence of Jesus Christ while He was on earth-personally hearing Him teach and seeing
His example-was not sufficient to transform their thinking from carnal to spiritual.
Jesus sternly chastised James and John for their attitude toward some who had rejected
Jesus. "But they (the Samaritans) did not receive Him . . . And when
His disciples James and John saw this, they said, 'Lord, do You want us to command
fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?' But He turned
and rebuked them, and said, 'You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For
the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them'" (Luke 9:53-57). John would later become known as "the apostle of love"-quite
a turnaround for a man who had urged Jesus Christ to annihilate a village.
The disciples were selfish. They argued among themselves as to who would be the greatest
(Mark 9:33-34; Luke 22:24). James and John even tried to finagle Jesus into awarding
them the two most prominent positions in His Kingdom (Mark 10:35-37).
Like any other people, each of them greatly overestimated his faithfulness and loyalty
to Christ. ". . . Jesus said to them, 'All of you will be made to
stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: "I will strike the Shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered"' . . . Peter said to Him, 'Even if
all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.' Jesus said to him, 'Assuredly, I say
to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny
Me three times.' But he spoke more vehemently, 'If I have to die with You, I will
not deny You!' And they all said likewise" (Mark 14:27-31).
As they spoke those words, the disciples believed they would loyally do as they had
said. Yet within hours they all abandoned Jesus to suffer alone (Mark 14:50). Peter
even cursed and swore that he had never even known Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75; Luke 22:54-62).
After Jesus' execution, Peter and six of the other apostles decided it was time to
give up all they had learned and resume their career as fishermen (John 21:2-3).
They had heard Jesus speak about His death and resurrection, but their limited perspective
blinded them to the significance of Jesus' sayings. That same blindness is a part
of all human beings until God opens their understanding to see what He really says
in His Word.
Even after hearing reports of Jesus' resurrection, Thomas was so skeptical that he
commented, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger
into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe"
(John 20:25). Jesus later appeared and provided Thomas with the precise proof he
requested (verses 26-29).
These were the men Jesus chose to carry His gospel to every nation. As yet they had
not received God's Spirit. They were as powerless as any other human would be to
fulfill their intentions and commitments to faithfully serve their Savior. It was
impossible for them to be the special servants of Christ on their own strength.
Now we can understand Jesus' remark when His disciples asked Him, "Who then
can be saved?" His answer: "With men this is impossible, but with God all
things are possible" (Matthew 19:25-26).
©1999 United Church of God, an International Associtaion
Related Information on Our Site:
Table of Contents that includes "The Apostles: A Case Study in Conversion"
Conversion examples: