The Apostle

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

THE APOSTLE

Luke 6:12-16

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.

NIV

We know these are the twelve that Jesus chose and designated as apostles and that is who they will forever be throughout all of history for as long as the bible stays in existence. However, we do wonder when we look into the Greek word, apostolos. Certainly, we can see the English word apostle, but the meaning is where we get caught up in thinking about where this may apply to some believers in our culture today. First, and foremost, the word apostolos means to be a delegate; especially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ. This word can also be seen as a messenger, one sent forth with orders. When we look into what Paul said in his letter to the Ephesians where he stated the four gifts God gave to the church to prepare God’s people for works of service, this same word appears in the list, apostles, evangelists, prophets, pastors, and teachers. What this means, at least to me, is that although Jesus chose or selected twelve of his closest followers to be messengers sent forth with orders, that was not the end of apostles in the church. We know that an apostle is distinctively different than an evangelist, a prophet, or a pastor and teacher. We would think that each of those people who fulfill those positions in the church, do so because of the calling they heard from God. Because they are called by God to be one of those gifts to the church, each of them fills a vital role in the spiritual and physical growth of the church. However, the Apostle is sent as a gift to the church to serve as an ambassador of the Gospel. These apostles of today still have special orders to be a commissioner of Christ. We are not sure why they are included as ones that prepare God’s people for works of service unless, they are meant to bring Christ to the forefront of the church, and yet, as we look back at the twelve, they ministered to those who had not yet accepted Jesus as the Christ, but also served as the spiritual leaders of the new church. The twelve had special powers, when Jesus sent them out, power to heal the sick, drive out demons, and perhaps even more power we have not heard of. Would the apostles of today have those same powers, or are they simply called to be a messenger of the gospel, or maybe even serve as spiritual leaders of the church? One thing we know for certain is that somewhere in the church, and we are not sure if that means the church at large, or within each local church, there is at least or should be at least one apostle, just as they should be an evangelist, a prophet and pastors and teachers. But where are they? Who is the apostle?