Timothy J. Clarke - The Story of Jesus: With Jesus... The 12 He Chose

I’m going to read just verses 12 and 13 of Luke chapter 6. When you’re there and ready, say, «I’m there and ready.» Let’s read it aloud together. Now it came to pass in those days that He, Jesus, went out to the mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself, and from them He chose 12, whom He also named Apostles. You can be seated, beloved, in the presence of an awesome God.

For the last several months, Deacon Mike, I have, at various intervals, been working my way, Mike, through a devotional that is based on the made-for-TV series on the life of Jesus entitled The Chosen. Since August, I have been working my way through it in intervals, sometimes stopping to use another devotional, and sometimes interrupting it to work on a book of the Bible. However, I have been picking this back up from time to time. This book is actually in two parts, so I did part one, then put it aside to give myself a break. John, a few weeks ago, I picked up part two and have been making my way through it.

If you’ve ever seen this made-for-television series called The Chosen, you know that it deals, in general, with the life of our Lord, but with, how shall I say it, more specificity and particularity? It focuses on the 12 men that our Lord chose. One of the things, Lee, that has struck me and captivated me as I have read again how our Lord, during His earthly ministry, chose these men—put a pin there; I’m going to come back to that. As Muhammad Ali used to say right before a fight, particularly when he was fighting Joe Frazier, he said, «This may shock and amaze you, but I’m gonna beat Joe Frazier.» He also said, «You ought to float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,» but that’s not my sermon for the day. However, I have been, in the words of the late Muhammad Ali, shocked and amazed. I don’t know why, because I know it, but sometimes you remind yourself of what you already know. I have been shocked and amazed at the men our Lord chose.

As I’ve worked my way through this and read, prayed, and reflected, I have been—okay, I’m going to tell the truth—stupefied by the men our Lord chose. When you look at them, none of them would have been chosen by any Fortune 500 company to do anything. None of them would have been chosen—well, I was about to say none of them would have been chosen by Facebook or Twitter, now called Meta, but based on some of the stuff on those platforms, there’s no telling who they would choose! These men would not have been chosen by many of the ranking, influential, and significant corporations and companies of our country. I have been dumbfounded by the men our Lord chose.

Now, let me say this, Tracy, and I’m going to move on from it. You know, we say that He chose these 12 to be His disciples, but if you read the passage—are y’all still awake? If you read the passage, Pastor Kelly read it; Luke tells us, in his analytical, methodical way, that these men were already disciples. Okay, you don’t believe me, so I’ve got to prove everything to y’all. After 40 years, here it is: now it came to pass, verse 12, in those days that He, Jesus, went out to the mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer. Can I put a pin right there? Can I park there and say to you that before every major decision of your life, you want to bathe it in prayer? Angela, DP, y’all ain’t gonna help me! Before every major decision in your life, you should not be so quick, so flippant, and so casual to jump into a decision. If you’re a believer, you ought to bathe every decision in your life in prayer and consultation with God.

And Pastor Kelly, since you’re helping me, I’ll go further: especially any relationship you’re going to get into. Come on, talk to me; talk back to me! No, you are not hooked up with anybody, in business, romance, or even carpooling, without taking that person and dragging their name to God and saying, «Father, what do you think about this one?» And if the Lord gives a thumbs down, you better run—Forest, run! I remember one time—I don’t think he’ll mind me telling this; if he does, he’ll surely tell me—I was having lunch with Bishop Jakes advocating for a preacher. You know I’m always advocating for someone! You ought to do this. Bishop Jakes looked at me and said, «Let me tell you something. When I put somebody down, don’t you pick him up.» He looked me in the eye and said, «By the time I put him down, there’s nothing to him. If God gives a thumbs down on them, don’t you give a thumbs up!» Oh Lord! Everybody say, «Spent all night in prayer.» Keep going! When it was day, verse 13 says, Jesus called—here it is, His disciples. Am I right?