Expert: Clive Heath - 4/14/2010

Question
Hi Clive. Greetings from sunny South Africa. I hope you can help. In Luke 6:12 Jesus went to the mountain to pray all night. After praying he chooses the 12 disciples. I assume He prayed for guidance to know who to choose. So do you think Jesus knew all along who would be the disciples or did He give that up so that He would rely solely on the Father? I ponder a lot about the divinity and humanity of Christ. I know both is true but it makes it difficult in this instance to know which is which or how its both?
Thanks
Oliver Dixon

Answer
Hi Oliver,

Greetings to you from an unusual sunny England!

Thank you for this question and I will do my best, but as you say it is both.

Desciple means follower, believer, student and supporter. There were infact 72 Desciples chosen, but only 12 were chosen to be close to Him, this as you know including Judas Iscariot. 12 were chosen as the number 12 is meant to be perfect as it signifies the 12 tribes of Israel.

The others were more of an outer circle of people who went in front of Jesus to pave the way for him.

The 12 were chosen as He knew their hearts and Souls, Peter, John and James were known to be the closest to Him. He also knew that Judas would betray him as this was how it had to be.

In Mark 3;13-14 it says:
And he went up the mountain and called to Him, those Himself wanted and they came to him.
Then He approached 12 that they might be with Him and that he might send them out to preach.

Once He had taught them the message of the Kingdom of God, they would be able to continue his work when he was gone.

Now we have to remember that Jesus was God incarnate, so it was both.

I hope this is ok, I can not see any defined answer, because the Lord God and Jesus were one.

Best Regards and God Bless You Oliver

Clive Heath