Paper 138 Overview: Training the Kingdom's Messengers

Following his declaration of the kingdom's principles in his sermon, Jesus methodically implemented a comprehensive training program for his apostles, transforming them from ordinary men into effective messengers of a new spiritual revelation. This process began with the selection of six additional apostles, chosen strategically by the original six, creating a diverse group of twelve who would represent various temperaments and backgrounds while maintaining unity of purpose. Jesus established a systematic organizational structure, assigning specific responsibilities based on individual strengths and instituting a five-month preparatory period where practical experience alternated with spiritual instruction.

The training methodology Jesus employed demonstrated remarkable pedagogical insight, balancing theoretical instruction with applied experience, collective guidance with individual mentoring, and spiritual idealism with practical necessities. Throughout this formative period, the apostles encountered several disappointments as their preconceived notions about a temporal kingdom collided with Jesus' revelation of a spiritual domain. Despite these challenges, the interpersonal bonds formed during this intensive training period created a foundation of loyalty that would sustain eleven of the twelve through the ultimate crisis of the crucifixion and empower them to inaugurate the worldwide dissemination of Jesus' transformative message after his departure.

After delivering his sermon on "The Kingdom," Jesus convened the six apostles to discuss plans for ministry around the Galilean region, inadvertently initiating a significant familial rupture by excluding his brothers James and Jude from these deliberations. This exclusion marked the beginning of an ever-widening gulf between Jesus and his family that would persist throughout his public ministry, not fully healing until after his resurrection. His mother's attitude fluctuated between faith, hope, and despair, while most family members progressively withdrew from him, convinced he had lost his rational faculties. Only Ruth, his youngest sister, maintained unwavering loyalty to her "father-brother" throughout this tumultuous period.

This familial estrangement exemplified the profound truth Jesus would later articulate: that a prophet receives honor everywhere except in his hometown and among his own family. The spiritual distance that developed between Jesus and his biological family during this critical period highlights the challenging reality that genuine spiritual revolution often requires separation from conventional expectations, even from those closest to the message-bearer.

On Sunday, June 23, A.D. 26, Jesus imparted final instructions to the six apostles before their inaugural missionary endeavor. He directed them to travel in pairs—James and John to Kheresa, Andrew and Peter to Capernaum, Philip and Nathaniel to Tarichea—focusing exclusively on personal ministry rather than public proclamation or baptismal rituals. This methodological constraint reflected Jesus' understanding that they required practical experience in interpersonal engagement before attempting broader public ministry. His pedagogical approach prioritized experiential learning over theoretical instruction, allowing them to develop relational skills foundational to effective kingdom work.

Jesus further revealed his intention to ordain twelve apostles and authorized each of the current six to select one convert for apostleship, assuring John that these new members would receive equal status and instruction. This delegation of selection authority demonstrated Jesus' trust in their discernment while expanding the apostolic circle's diversity. Following moderate debate led by Andrew, who recognized the wisdom in multiplying their teaching capacity, the six departed with mixed emotions. They were excited about their mission but somewhat disappointed by the humble commencement of the kingdom they had anticipated would arrive with dramatic manifestation. Meanwhile, Jesus visited his family in Nazareth and contemplated John the Baptist's imprisonment, resisting the temptation to intervene supernaturally, thus maintaining his commitment to experience human limitations fully.

The initial missionary journey proved remarkably successful, with all six apostles discovering the profound efficacy of direct personal engagement in spiritual ministry. Their return brought enthusiastic reports and nominations for the additional six apostles. After Andrew assumed administrative control of the nomination process, each candidate received unanimous endorsement through democratic voting, demonstrating an early model of collaborative spiritual leadership. Jesus announced they would personally visit each nominee to extend the formal invitation to apostleship, honoring the significance of personal encounter in spiritual recruitment.

The newly selected apostles represented remarkable diversity: Matthew Levi, a customs collector from Capernaum (nominated by Andrew); Thomas Didymus, a fisherman and former carpenter from Tarichea (nominated by Philip); James Alpheus, a fisherman and farmer from Kheresa (nominated by James Zebedee); Judas Alpheus, James's twin brother (nominated by John Zebedee); Simon Zelotes, a former merchant who had abandoned his position in the patriotic Zealot organization (nominated by Peter); and Judas Iscariot, the only Judean among them, a disinherited son of wealthy parents who had previously followed John the Baptist (nominated by Nathaniel). Jesus dedicated an entire day to engaging with these six nominees, addressing their questions and listening attentively to the original apostles' field reports, affirming his methodological wisdom in emphasizing personal ministry before public proclamation.

The apostolic recruitment continued methodically as Jesus and the six approached Matthew's customs office near Capernaum. With characteristic directness, Jesus simply commanded, "Follow me," prompting Matthew's immediate response of surrendering his lucrative position and transferring his responsibilities to his brother. Matthew's spontaneous reaction to host a celebratory banquet for his family and colleagues, with Jesus as the guest of honor, revealed his profound gratitude for this unexpected inclusion. Meanwhile, Peter informed Matthew of Simon's selection and secured his inclusion in the evening's festivities, demonstrating the nascent camaraderie developing among the apostles.

The delegation subsequently visited Simon Zelotes at his former business establishment, now managed by his nephew, where Jesus extended the same succinct invitation. The evening's banquet at Matthew's residence attracted numerous tax collectors and social outcasts, creating a conspicuous scene that provoked Pharisaic criticism. When confronted about his association with "publicans and sinners," Jesus delivered a profound response that encapsulated his ministry's fundamental purpose: he had come to proclaim joy to the socially marginalized and spiritual liberation to those in moral captivity, emphasizing that physicians attend the ill, not the healthy. This revolutionary social paradigm established a pattern of inclusive fellowship that directly challenged the rigid class stratification prevalent in first-century Judaism, marking Jesus' kingdom as a radically egalitarian spiritual community transcending conventional social boundaries.

The apostolic recruitment continued as all nine men journeyed by boat to Kheresa to formally call James and Judas Alpheus, the fishermen twins nominated by James and John Zebedee. Their anticipatory waiting on the shore indicated their foreknowledge of Jesus' approach, suggesting preliminary communication about their potential selection. James Zebedee formally presented them to Jesus, who maintained his consistent recruitment pattern with the simple directive, "Follow me." That afternoon, Jesus provided comprehensive instruction regarding communal gatherings, articulating a revolutionary social philosophy that fundamentally restructured conventional religious boundaries.

Jesus' declaration that "all men are my brothers" and that the heavenly Father "does not despise any creature of our making" established an unprecedented theological framework of universal divine acceptance. His insistence that the kingdom's doors remain open to all seekers, regardless of social position, religious affiliation, economic status, or ethnic identity, directly challenged the exclusionary practices of contemporary religious institutions. That evening at the Alpheus residence, during a simple communal meal, the twins were formally received into the apostolic fellowship. Jesus subsequently delivered his initial teaching concerning the nature and destiny of unclean spirits. However, the apostles struggled to comprehend these metaphysical concepts that transcended their conventional understanding, demonstrating the significant conceptual expansion required to fully grasp Jesus' spiritual cosmology.

At Tarichea, Thomas the fisherman and Judas the wanderer awaited Jesus and his entourage at the boat landing, with Thomas subsequently hosting them at his nearby residence. Following the established protocol, Philip presented Thomas and Nathaniel presented Judas Iscariot as their nominees for apostleship. Jesus' comments to each revealed his profound insight into their character: to Thomas, he acknowledged his skeptical nature while still accepting him; to Judas, he emphasized the fraternal unity of the group while making a prescient appeal for loyalty to his Galilean brethren, an admonition that would prove tragically unheeded.

After their refreshment, Jesus secluded himself with all twelve apostles for prayer and instruction regarding the Holy Spirit's nature and work. Despite his thorough explication, the apostles largely failed to comprehend these profound spiritual concepts, constrained by their persistent tendency to reconcile Jesus' revolutionary teachings with their established religious frameworks. This cognitive limitation represented a recurring challenge throughout Jesus' ministry—the difficulty his followers experienced in embracing genuinely new paradigms rather than merely modifying existing ones. The following day, Jesus strategically allowed the twelve time alone to develop interpersonal relationships essential for their future collaborative ministry. Upon reaching Capernaum, they occupied Zebedee's home, where Jesus outlined their non-confrontational approach to civil authorities, emphasizing that their mission transcended political entanglements.

Jesus implemented a systematic educational methodology, dedicating a full week to intensive training where each new apostle received thorough instruction from his nominator while the entire group gathered evenings in Zebedee's garden for Jesus' collective teaching. During this formative period, Jesus established a mid-week sabbatical for rest and recreation, institutionalizing a critical balance between zealous service and necessary rejuvenation that would become standard practice throughout his ministry. This wisdom acknowledged human limitations and established sustainability as an essential component of effective spiritual service.

Jesus repeatedly attempted to differentiate between his personal identity and his message, emphatically directing the apostles to proclaim the kingdom gospel rather than developing a personality cult centered on him. This critical distinction aimed to prevent the message from becoming inextricably linked with the messenger (a prophetic effort that would ultimately prove unsuccessful in subsequent Christian development). Jesus maintained singular focus on his primary mission: revealing the Paradise Father more accurately and establishing a better pathway to God through faith and love. He consistently avoided unnecessary controversies with his apostles except when their misconceptions directly affected their understanding of the Father's nature. His pedagogical approach demonstrated remarkable restraint, avoiding information overload while establishing fundamental principles that would guide their future ministry, consistently emphasizing their mission to "seek for the sinners" and "comfort the anxious" rather than becoming entangled in theological abstractions.

Jesus had designed a methodical five-month campaign of personal ministry, intentionally withholding its duration to maintain his apostles' focus on immediate responsibilities. However, this measured approach contrasted sharply with his apostles' expectations, revealed when Peter, James Zebedee, and Judas Iscariot approached him privately seeking information about the kingdom's formal establishment and their anticipated positions within its hierarchy. Jesus' response conveyed profound disappointment at their persistent misunderstanding of his fundamental message, delivering an impassioned correction that emphasized the spiritual nature of his kingdom, not a political revolution but a transformation of human hearts.

Jesus elaborated on the stark contrast between worldly kingdoms focused on power and dominion versus his spiritual kingdom founded on service and divine pre-eminence in human hearts. His apostles' stunned reaction prompted Jesus to send them away in pairs for reflective prayer. Upon reconvening at noon, he recapitulated their shared experiences, including John’s ministry, the Jordan baptism, the Cana wedding, and their recent apostolic selections, to provide context for his kingdom’s progressive unfolding. Despite their limited comprehension, the apostles unanimously reaffirmed their commitment to Jesus, with Thomas' declaration epitomizing their paradoxical faith: loyalty despite incomplete understanding. Upon discovering their financial limitations, Jesus pragmatically directed them to alternate between fishing and ministry for the subsequent months, providing economic stability while allowing incremental introduction to their kingdom responsibilities, exemplifying his consistent balance between spiritual ideals and practical necessities.

After liquidating their initial fish harvest, Judas Iscariot, functioning as treasurer, equitably distributed the proceeds into six portions, with provisions already allocated for dependent families. By mid-August of A.D. 26, the apostles dispersed in pairs to their designated ministry areas according to Andrew's organizational framework. Jesus implemented a rotating schedule, personally accompanying each apostolic pair for two-week intervals, thereby providing individualized mentorship to each apostle before their collective public ministry commenced. This methodology demonstrated his commitment to both personal formation and systematic preparation.

Jesus' instructional parameters reflected strategic focus and discretion: he taught them to proclaim forgiveness through faith without ritualistic penance or sacrificial requirements, while establishing clear boundaries around controversial topics, prohibiting discussion of John's imprisonment, the baptismal divine voice, and the Cana transformation miracle. For approximately five months, they maintained this alternating rhythm, two weeks of commercial fishing followed by two weeks of kingdom proclamation, creating economic sustainability while providing incremental ministry experience. The common people marveled at this unconventional manifestation of piety—apostles who combined religious devotion with joyful disposition, contradicting rabbinical association of righteousness with formal education. Jesus' teachings emphasized that faith constituted the entry requirement for the Father's kingdom, contrasting with John's emphasis on repentance, and focused on experiencing the indwelling divine love rather than performing external religious obligations or seeking miraculous validations.

The alternating pattern of commercial fishing and evangelical ministry constituted a profound testing period for the apostles, revealing their capacity for perseverance despite monotony and occasional disappointment. Their endurance through periods of doubt, grumbling, and temporary dissatisfaction demonstrated remarkable commitment that would later sustain them through even greater challenges. The interpersonal bonds formed through shared experience created a foundation of loyalty that transcended intellectual comprehension, a relationship so profound that all except Judas Iscariot remained faithful even through the crucifixion crisis, not because of doctrinal understanding but because of deep personal attachment to their Master.

Concurrently, Jesus' biological family experienced progressive estrangement from him as his unconventional ministry contradicted their expectations and understanding. By the time he prepared to launch his public work, virtually his entire family except Ruth had withdrawn from him, nearly convinced he had become mentally unstable. Their inability to comprehend his philosophy or teaching exemplified the profound challenge of transcending conventional religious paradigms even for those with intimate familial connection. Meanwhile, the apostles extended their personal ministry throughout numerous Galilean communities, developing practical solutions for supporting their families during their extended absences. By the conclusion of this preparatory period, they had established sustainable support systems that freed them to devote undivided attention to their apostolic responsibilities without domestic financial anxieties.

The apostles established a remarkably effective organizational structure with clearly delineated responsibilities: Andrew served as chairman and director general; Peter, James, and John functioned as Jesus' personal attendants, ministering to his physical and spiritual needs, including accompanying him during nocturnal prayer vigils; Philip managed provisions as steward; Nathaniel oversaw the families' welfare, receiving regular reports and disbursing funds through Judas; Matthew functioned as fiscal agent, maintaining financial equilibrium and authorizing fishing expeditions when necessary; Thomas coordinated travel logistics, arranging accommodations and ensuring efficient itineraries.

Additionally, James and Judas Alpheus managed crowd logistics during public gatherings, appointing assistant ushers as needed; Simon Zelotes organized recreational activities, planning Wednesday diversions and ensuring daily periods of relaxation; and Judas Iscariot served as treasurer, maintaining financial records and distributing funds under Andrew's authorization. This sophisticated administrative framework functioned effectively from their early organization until circumstances necessitated restructuring following Judas Iscariot's betrayal. The apostles maintained this operational system through January 12, A.D. 27, when Jesus formally ordained them as kingdom ambassadors and gospel proclaimers, shortly before their departure for their inaugural public preaching tour in Jerusalem and Judea.