“While most people are aware that Jesus was Jewish (as were the apostles), the significance and implications of this identity marker are often left unexplored. These founders of Christianity worshiped in the Jerusalem temple, lived in booths during the holiday of Sukkot, and upheld the statutes of the Torah. They were wholly committed to the Jewish faith, and this context influenced how the apostles understood who Jesus was and what following him entailed.” Excerpt: Finding Messiah by Jennifer M Rosner.

 

When I first became a Christian and heard Christ’s clarion call, “Follow me,” I was challenged to obey immediately, as did the apostles when they were called. They left everything immediately. I always marvelled at their faith. But it took on new significance a while back.

 

Having shared about the strained relationship with Jesus and his siblings, Jesus’ familial connection with these men might surprise you as it did me. It stands to reason that, as Jewish men, they belonged to the people descended from the twelve patriarchs.

 

Yet, David Pawson’s observation in "Unlocking the Bible" in confirmation blew my mind: “Few realize that at least five, and possibly seven, of the twelve apostles were Jesus’ cousins, which explains why so many of them were present at a private wedding at Cana in Galilee.”

 

Incredibly, apart from Judas Iscariot, Christian tradition holds that most of them were martyred for Jesus’ sake. And Apostle John is widely believed to have lived to an old age, taking care of Jesus’ mother, Mary, and identified by early church fathers as penning Revelation. Their legacy definitely lives on in the new Jerusalem to come.

 

"It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Revelation 21:12-14)

 

God chose to make Israel the apple of his eye, and “tabernacle” with his special people in more ways than one. Jesus’ coming to Galilee, specifically Nazareth, and finding men connected to his own extended family who agreed wholeheartedly to accept the call and follow him sits differently now.

 

The timing of Jesus’ coming tells of a God who leaves nothing to chance. God also puts believers in families. How can you and I be effective members of God’s household?

 

Prayer: Father God, nothing is random with You. Thank you for our salvation. You chose a nation under heaven to be your olive tree and then grafted us all in. We praise your name. Amen.