Paper 140 Overview: The Ordination of the Twelve

On Sunday, January 12, A.D. 27, Jesus gathered his twelve apostles to a hillside north of Capernaum for their formal ordination as public preachers of the gospel of the kingdom. The apostles had anticipated this important moment and gathered solemnly as Jesus led them through this significant ceremonial transition. This ordination marked the formal beginning of their public mission and included Jesus' instructions about the nature of the spiritual kingdom they would be proclaiming.

Through the ordination sermon and subsequent days of teaching, Jesus clarified the fundamental principles of the kingdom: that it was spiritual rather than political, focused on inner transformation rather than outward conquest, and based on a relationship with the heavenly Father. He emphasized that the apostles were to represent him in the world just as he had represented the Father, and cautioned them to expect opposition while promising his continued spiritual presence with them. The days following the ordination were dedicated to further instruction, preparing them for their eventual departure to begin their public ministry.

Just before noon on January 12, A.D. 27, Jesus assembled his apostles for their ordination as public preachers of the gospel of the kingdom. The apostles had been anticipating this calling and were not far from shore that morning, with some lingering near the shore repairing nets and tending to their fishing equipment. Jesus walked along the shore gathering his apostles two by two, beginning with Andrew and Peter, then signaling to James and John who were in a boat with their father Zebedee.

After gathering all twelve apostles, Jesus led them to the highlands north of Capernaum to instruct them in preparation for their formal ordination. On this momentous occasion, all twelve apostles were unusually quiet and reflective, even Peter, as they realized they were about to participate in a solemn ceremony of personal consecration and collective dedication to the sacred work of representing their Master in proclaiming the coming kingdom of his Father.

Before the formal ordination service, Jesus addressed the twelve as they sat around him, declaring that the hour of the kingdom had arrived and that he had brought them apart to present them to the Father as ambassadors of the kingdom. He reminded them that they had previously heard him speak of this kingdom in the synagogue when first called, and had learned more while working with him in the cities around Galilee. Jesus proceeded to explain more about the nature of this new kingdom that his Father was establishing in the hearts of his children on earth.

Jesus described the kingdom as an everlasting dominion without end, emphasizing that his Father was not the God of just Jews or Gentiles, but of all who desired to do his divine will. He explained that the power of this kingdom would not consist in armies or riches, but in the glory of the divine spirit teaching minds and ruling hearts of the reborn citizens—the sons of God. This kingdom, which they would soon proclaim, represented the desire of good people of all ages, the hope of all earth, and the fulfillment of the wise promises of all the prophets, though entry would require faith and the fruits of his Father's spirit in their lives.

Jesus instructed the twelve men who had just heard his declaration about the kingdom to kneel in a circle around him. The Master then placed his hands upon the head of each apostle in turn, beginning with Judas Iscariot and ending with Andrew. After blessing them, he extended his hands and offered a prayer to his Father, bringing these men as his messengers who would represent him as he had represented the Father.

Jesus asked his Father to give these men wisdom as he placed all affairs of the coming kingdom in their hands, and requested to remain on earth for a time to help them in their labors if it aligned with the Father's will. When Jesus finished praying, the apostles remained bowed in place for several minutes, with even Peter hesitant to look up at the Master. One by one, they embraced Jesus in silence, as a great solemnity pervaded the place while celestial beings looked down upon this sacred scene—the Creator of a universe placing the affairs of the divine brotherhood of man under the direction of human minds.

Jesus began his ordination address by explaining that the apostles were now ambassadors of his Father's kingdom, a class separate and distinct from all other men on earth. He told them they were no longer as ordinary men among men but enlightened citizens of another heavenly country among the ignorant creatures of this dark world. Jesus emphasized that more would be expected of them than before, as more is required of a teacher than a student, of a master than a servant, and of citizens of the heavenly kingdom than of the earthly rule.

Jesus commissioned them to proclaim liberty to spiritual captives, joy to those in bondage of fear, and healing according to his Father's will. He taught them the beatitudes, describing the happiness of the poor in spirit, those who hunger for righteousness, the meek, the pure in heart, the merciful, the peacemakers, and those persecuted for righteousness. He called them "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world," instructing them to let their light shine so others would see their good works and glorify their Father in heaven. Jesus warned them not to forcibly resist injustice, to love their enemies, to do good to those who hate them, and to pray for those who mistreat them, always showing the mercy that their heavenly Father shows to all.

The "Sermon on the Mount" was not Jesus' gospel but rather his ordination charge to the twelve apostles—his personal commission to those who would represent him in the world as he represented his Father. When Jesus called them "the salt of the earth," he was speaking of salt as something precious that flavors food and preserves it, making other things more tasty by being spent. Similarly, when he called them "the light of the world," he was teaching that their light should shine to guide others without attracting attention to themselves.

Strong character development comes not from avoiding wrongdoing but from actively doing right. Personality remains fundamentally changeless, while moral character can grow and change. The major error of modern religions is negativism—the tree that bears no fruit is "hewn down and cast into the fire." Moral worth cannot be derived from mere repression or obeying prohibitions; fear and shame are unworthy motivations for religious living. An effective philosophy of living combines cosmic insight with emotional responses to one's environment, integrating these responses to produce a unified personality and enhanced happiness.

From the Sermon on the Mount through the Last Supper discourse, Jesus consistently taught his followers to manifest fatherly love rather than merely brotherly love. While brotherly love means loving your neighbor as yourself (fulfilling the "golden rule"), fatherly affection requires loving fellow mortals as Jesus loved them—a significantly higher standard. Jesus himself loved mankind with a dual affection: as the Son of God with a fatherly love (as Creator and universe Father), and as the Son of Man with brotherly love (as a true man among men).

Jesus introduced this revolutionary concept by highlighting four faith attitudes as prerequisites: being poor in spirit, hungering for righteousness, practicing meekness, and maintaining purity of heart. These spiritual qualities enable one to achieve divine selflessness capable of demonstrating fatherly affection. Jesus then illustrated four supreme reactions of fatherly love: the happiness found in mourning (showing tenderheartedness), the blessing of being merciful (showing loving-kindness), the joy of being peacemakers (becoming sons of God), and the reward of being persecuted for righteousness' sake. Fatherly love, Jesus taught, delights in returning good for evil and doing good in response to injustice.

Sunday evening, upon returning to Zebedee's home from the highlands, Jesus and the twelve shared a simple meal together. Afterward, while Jesus walked along the beach, the apostles discussed among themselves, struggling to comprehend the Master's teachings. Following a brief conference, Andrew sought out Jesus and explained that his brethren couldn't understand what he had said about the kingdom, requesting further instruction to help them understand the meaning of his words.

When Jesus entered the garden with Andrew, he gathered the apostles around him and taught them further, explaining they needed to be reborn and start afresh as little children, willing to trust his teaching and believe in God. He emphasized that the new gospel couldn't conform to old patterns—it would expand and illuminate rather than destroy what came before. Jesus declared that the righteousness required for the kingdom consisted of love, mercy, and truth—the sincere desire to do the Father's will—rather than outward displays of piety. Throughout the night, each apostle except the sleeping twins privately spoke with Jesus, receiving personal guidance and encouragement until dawn.

After a few hours of sleep, the twelve gathered for a late breakfast with Jesus, who instructed them to prepare for Jerusalem where they would begin preaching the gospel and instructing believers. Thomas expressed concern that they weren't yet ready to undertake such work and requested more time, to which Jesus agreed, deciding they would remain by the sea over the Sabbath. For the next few days, small groups of truth seekers came to Bethsaida to see Jesus, and he assigned the apostles to teach these visitors about the kingdom, giving them practical experience.

During this week of rehearsal, Jesus repeatedly emphasized the two great motives of his mission: to reveal the Father to mankind and to lead people to become son-conscious—to realize through faith that they are children of God. The apostles still struggled to fully comprehend his teachings, though they deeply appreciated the beautiful life Jesus lived among them. After the Sabbath, when Peter and James confidently declared, "We are ready—let us now go forth to take the kingdom," Jesus wisely responded, "May your wisdom equal your zeal and your courage atone for your ignorance," recognizing they still had much to learn despite their enthusiasm.

Jesus recognized that his apostles weren't fully assimilating his teachings, particularly how they continued attaching his spiritual concepts to their old literal expectations of the kingdom. He decided to provide special instruction to Peter, James, and John, hoping they could then help clarify these ideas for their associates. On Thursday afternoon, Jesus took these three out in a boat for a four-hour teaching conference covering numerous questions about the affairs of the kingdom.

Simon Peter later summarized this transformative conversation for his brother Andrew, organizing the Master's teaching into five areas: doing the Father's will (trusting in divine provision while remaining practical), political attitude (remaining neutral in civil matters while focusing on spiritual goals), social approach (treating all people with compassion regardless of status), economic attitude (acknowledging wealth inequality without prescribing specific economic systems), and personal religion (living a life that revealed the Father's character rather than just teaching abstract principles). Through these teachings, Jesus sought to show that his kingdom was spiritual rather than political or social, focused on transforming hearts and revealing the Father's love rather than overturning earthly power structures.

The next Sabbath, Jesus took his apostles back to the highland where he had ordained them for a day dedicated to their consecration. Rather than introducing new teachings, this day was spent in personal communion and encouragement. Jesus reviewed the key points from the ordination sermon, then called each apostle before him individually to commission them for their worldwide mission.

Jesus charged them to "go into all the world and preach the glad tidings of the kingdom," liberating spiritual captives, comforting the oppressed, and ministering to the afflicted with the same generosity with which they had received. He advised them to travel simply, taking neither money nor extra clothing, and warned them of the challenges ahead—being brought before councils, castigated in synagogues, and facing governors and rulers because of their faith. Despite these trials, Jesus promised that his Father's presence would abide with them as they went first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles, and that his spirit would go before them into all the world.

That evening, as rain began to fall, Jesus taught extensively in the house, focusing on what the apostles should be rather than what they should do. The apostles knew only a religion that prescribed specific actions as the means to attain righteousness and salvation, but Jesus repeatedly emphasized that in the kingdom, they must first be righteous through faith in order to do the work. He explained that while John preached a baptism of repentance and sorrow for the old way of living, they were to proclaim the baptism of fellowship with God.

A major challenge in teaching the twelve was their tendency to convert spiritual principles into concrete rules of personal conduct. Jesus would present the beautiful spirit of the soul's attitude, while they insisted on translating such teachings into specific behavioral guidelines. The apostles slowly assimilated his teaching because Jesus embodied everything he taught—what they couldn't grasp from his verbal instruction, they gradually acquired by living with him. Though Jesus wasn't establishing a personal example for that world alone, but creating a high spiritual and inspirational ideal for beings on all worlds, the apostles eventually grasped that the kingdom of heaven consisted in recognizing God's sovereignty, believing in divine sonship, and faithfully doing the will of God.