A short search of my own reveals that St. John uses the following names of Apostles: Simon (Peter), Andrew, Philip, Nathanael (St. John 1), Thomas (St. John 11:16, 14:5, 20:24-29), Judas, “not Iscariot” (St. John 14:22), Judas Iscariot, “son of Simon” (St. John 6:71, seven others). None of the others, James, himself, Matthew or James, son of Alphaeus are mentioned by name. St. John does not record this specific event nor provide a list of the Apostles separately.

A short comment on the difference between “disciple” and “apostle” may be appropriate at this time. The Greek term for disciple was in common usage in Jesus’ day. Specifically, it meant: “a pupil, a student”; and, when used in relation to a person or group, it meant: “a follower, one who followed a specific teaching”, like John’s disciples, disciples of the Pharisees, Jesus’ disciples. To be a disciple, one had to receive, and accept, the teaching of the leader or group; and, then, they had to live their life based on that teaching. There is a huge difference between a follower and a disciple; and sometimes these terms are confusing by their usage in the Bible. A follower is just that, “one who follows”; and, when misunderstanding, confusion, and confrontation arise they cease to follow; and, generally, find someone or something else to follow because they are unwilling to pay the cost of discipleship to anyone or anything. We need to insure that we are in the “disciple” group, first of all. This is one reason for this disquisition about Jesus’ teachings.

If we don’t really know what He taught, how can we base our life thereupon? No teaching is revealed with a superficial reading or re-reading. One must study it, time and time again. And, certainly, this is not a definitive study. Learn how the different utterances combine to give us the real picture, the big picture. Because, our God is a great big God, with a great big Love, with Grace beyond measure, and Forgiveness for all who answer His call, or is that our call? And, even these words: God, Love, Grace, Forgiveness, can become so common, so popularly used, as to lose their flavor. They become platitudes and by-words of some in-group which, by their own narrow-mindedness, leave out the very ones who need the flavoring. So Jesus chose the word “apostle” for the name of His closest disciples, which is a transliteration of the Greek word, “apostolos”, which, at Jesus’ time was an archaic word, rarely used. Its meaning is: one sent, an ambassador. Given the context of His choosing these twelve, it is very appropriate that Jesus called them “apostles”. Given the “great commission” of the church, we should, each one of us, strive to fulfill the true implications of that calling……… or is that sending? We are first called to be a “disciple”; then, we are sent as an “apostle”; and that is “we”, not me, not I, not you; all of us, called by the name Christian. The only way out is to declare yourself a follower; God have mercy if you do.

Another word that has lost its savor: Christian. Anyone can claim it, hoping to improve their station in this life; anyone can slander it, showing a total ignorance of its true implications; without any apparent fear of consequences. The 60’s term “Jesus Freaks” at least separated the peace, love, dove group of dissenters from the totally psychedelic drug trippers. Today, a “Christian” is anyone who “believes in God”, as opposed to those “evolutionists” who “believe we came from a monkey”. Quite frankly, I don’t believe in the God which the evolutionists portray, nor do I believe I descended from a monkey. Knowing what little I know about our animal relatives, and man; the difference between rational being and instinctual animal is as distinct as “organic” and “inorganic”, without which none of us could exist. To deny that there is some truth in man’s (the evolutionist’s) information about the creation ignores man’s abilities of classification and naming. But, to deny that the sum total of creation is not Intelligent beyond our wildest imagination (if you want to totally de-personify God) is equally ludicrous. I know of, at least one, evolutionist who advocates the acceptance of a concept of Universal Mind as a replacement for the Christian God. Changing the name does not change the object. When we all understand that what we are talking about is the “source of all life”, we will all get much closer together; both, to each other, and to the Source.

“Christ” is a Greek word used for the Hebraic “Messiah”, which means anointed one. We capitalize these words when in reference to Jesus. Otherwise, they are common, everyday terms applied to rulers, governors, elders, priests and prophets. “Christian” is very quickly becoming a common, everyday term with about as much distinction as water, rain, river, lake, ocean.

It is only by our life that we demonstrate that we are not just followers, not just disciples, but apostles of Jesus, the Christ. It is only by our life that our name “Christian” can become anywhere close to signifying what it should. If we don’t strive to be “the christ”, the anointed one; then we might as well join the Universal Mind crowd. It is only by “the anointing” that we can really be “christian”; and; it is only by the Anointed One that we can truly be called Christian. If you don’t meet His standards, you ain’t one. If you are one ……… Look at what you get: “he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” Deny this, and you deny all that the Bible teaches about, and all that the Church believes about, the Christ. He ain’t able? Maybe, you just ain’t willing, follower? Just want to be part of the “church crowd”? Go and learn what that means.