Jesus chose twelve disciples to become fishers of men. All of them left behind their livelihood and followed Him. Many thought He would establish His Kingdom on earth and rule on David’s throne again. One, Judas, even thought he would have control of the finances of the kingdom. Only later did they realize that Jesus would set up His kingdom in the Hearts of His believers and reign as King. His Kingdom would be a spiritual Kingdom. When one (or two) wanted a prominent place in His Kingdom, (they even called their mother for recommendation), He said the one who wanted to be a master must first become a servant to all.

After His death and resurrection, He also instructed them to take this Gospel – the good news of the kingdom – to the end of the world. He not only gave them a mandate but also gave them authority and power to accomplish this humongous task. Besides, He promised that He would be with them, even to the end of the world. He also said that the Father would send down His Spirit as per His request. The Spirit would dwell in every one of them to empower them to carry out this glorious ministry, working miracles and wonders to prove that the ministry was God-approved.

Jesus instructed His disciples to go and make more disciples – not devotees. They would emulate their Master in every way during their life on earth. They would show Christ to others and bring them to Him – not to themselves. “When I am lifted up, I will draw all men unto Me”, said Jesus.

Jesus wanted His disciples to be His witnesses – even to the end of the earth, starting from Jerusalem. They were to make no racial discrimination – Judea and Samaria were to be considered equally – not as one favored by God and the other as untouchables. It is then that heaven would be filled with people of every tongue, every tribe, every people, and every land.

Jesus wanted His disciples to be witnesses – not always preaching but by living a life that pleased Him which would be the ultimate testimony for people to be attracted to this Christ; not professors of Christianity but those who had Jesus as their Life. “Not I but Christ lives in me” must be their heartthrob. They are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read!

Jesus wanted His disciples to show love and sow love. They were expected to be peace-makers – between God and man and between man and man. They were not asked to spread a religion that would ultimately divide society. They were to spread “the good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people” – Luke 2:10 – not just good news for Christians.

Why are the disciples of Christ so obsessed with the spreading of the Bible's message? Because, it has been mandated by their Master Himself. He gave this as a commandment (not an option!) – “And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world”. Amen. – Matt 28:18-20. He also said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”. – Mark 16:15. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. – Luke 24:47. He also instructed His disciples to “feed His sheep” – John 21:17. That is why many become ministers of the gospel and choose to be His disciples – each according to His calling – as Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Teachers and Pastors, Elders, (Bishops) Overseers and Deacons (and Deaconesses). It is not a profession to earn them a living – it must be their very life. It is not to feed their stomachs but to feed the lambs and sheep in the fold of God.

The life of Christ in His disciples was so real that they could not keep it to themselves. They dared to even give their own life for the sake of the spreading of this gospel news and bringing people in repentance to His word. Almost all disciples died a martyr (sacrificed their life unto death) for their Master’s mission. While there is no recorded evidence of these in the Scriptures except about James the brother of John (And Herod (Agrippa 1) killed James the brother of John with the sword – Acts 12:2 and it pleased the Jews!), secular history has mentions of these – though not all.

Was Mathias the choice of the Lord as His twelfth disciple to replace Judas Iscariot, the traitor? The twelve disciples were to be the foundations of the Church – their apostolic doctrines would form the basis of all that the Church would believe and build its faith upon. And these doctrines would judge the world in the end.

Nowhere do we find mention of Mathias after his election to the apostleship. This clearly points to the fact that he was not the choice of the Lord. In fact, the Lord never instructed His disciples to choose the twelfth man – he asked them to tarry in Jerusalem for the Promise of the Holy Spirit to be fulfilled. This Holy Spirit would lead them in all truth. The practice of throwing lots would cease once the Holy Spirit would indwell His Church and the hearts of His believers. Paul was used mightily by God to pen down most of the New Testament content. A lot of doctrines that pave the way for godly decision-making and Christian pursuit are contained in his epistles and a major part of the Acts of the Apostles. Would not he be the twelfth? In fact, Paul says about himself that he was one as if born out of time and was called to be an apostle by the Lord himself – an apostle to the Gentiles – without whom the gospel of Jesus Christ could not have reached a large part of the world and me!