Slices
Prepare
The first call of the apostles – even before being sent out – was to simply ‘be with’ Jesus (Mark 3:14). Spend unhurried time in prayer, and in reading and exploring God’s Word today.
Bible passage
The twelve apostles
12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Blessings and woes
17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
20 Looking at his disciples, he said:
‘Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
22 Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.
23 ‘Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.
24 ‘But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
Explore
Luke records here two important ‘appointments’: Jesus’ appointment with the Father, followed by his appointment of the apostles. When preparing for decisive moments and before making important decisions, Jesus spent extended time in prayer (see Luke 3:21; 4:1–2; 5:16). A whole night in prayer precedes the appointment of the twelve (vs 12–16) and is followed by an important address to the disciples (vs 20–26).
The word ‘apostle’ means ‘sent’. The twelve, and later others from among the larger circle of disciples, would be sent out by Jesus on mission trips (Luke 9:1–6; 10:1–16). But since this sending would invite opposition and involve obstacles, Jesus often warned them about the cost of discipleship (9:23,24). The address that follows (the ‘Sermon on the plain’) is a reminder that kingdom people must learn to take a long view of life. Disciples are ‘blessed’ with promises of a kingdom and the kingdom blessings of deep contentment and joy (vs 20–23). Yet, while their appointment is a precious privilege, it is also one that brings problems and persecution (v 22).
John Stott described the Holy Spirit as one who ‘before he is the comforter is the disturber’.* Disciples of Jesus must master the spiritual art of being comfortable with being uncomfortable.
*John Stott, Sermon on the Mount, Bible Speaks Today series, IVP, p 98.
Respond
Your daily appointment with God is an anointed time. Treasure it. Safeguard it.
Deeper Bible study
‘Work as if you were to live a hundred years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow.’1
A characteristic theme in Luke’s Gospel is the habitual way Jesus withdraws to pray. He has already gone out to a ‘solitary place’ at daybreak2 and retreated to ‘lonely places’ to pray.3 Here he retires to a mountainside to spend the whole night praying to God (v 12). This is clearly a regular habit, particularly important before significant events such as the choosing of the twelve apostles, and Luke emphasises Jesus’ prayerful dependence on the Father in preparation for this event.
One of the common themes of these references is solitude. This may function as an example for his followers to imitate, but Jesus is not doing it for their benefit but for his own. He needs to get away from everyone and find a place of silence alone. Luke does not tell us what happens in these times of prayer, but they are presumably about hearing from the Father, refocusing on that core relationship and clarifying how God is leading him.
When I was a teenager, I started the regular habit of silent personal retreats, first in a beautiful inner-city convent near my house in Houston. I have maintained this practice throughout my adult life, normally three times per year, before each new term starts (as I work in the academic world). A helpful analogy is a pond – when you drop a pebble in, you must wait to allow the ripples to subside before it becomes calm once again and your reflection becomes clear. Similarly, we all need regular times of retreat, solitude and silence, where we allow ourselves to become still and are then able to see with greater clarity. These have become a lifeline for me and a much-needed chance to hear again from God and realign myself with what he is saying.
Have you discovered your own regular pattern of prayer, silence, stillness and solitude? Consider scheduling a personal retreat in the next few months, to be alone in prayer with God.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Job 5,6; Luke 15
Pray for Scripture Union
Praise God for inspiring children and young people on SU holidays and missions through the volunteer leaders and the way in which they model faith. (This week's prayers all relate to this story.)
