Even before the beginning of time the sovereign plan was for Jesus to be born, live amongst us and die for our sins (1 Peter 1:20). This had to be done for without atonement, God’s righteous wrath (Romans 6:23) would forever remain on humanity, who despite their best efforts could not stop sinning (Romans 7)! For centuries the prophets and angels eagerly waited for the time and circumstances (1 Peter 1:10-12) in which Christ would empty Himself of His glory in heaven (Philippians 2:7) and offer flesh and blood the bread of life (John 6:35) needed for them to be adopted as royal priests (1 Peter 2:9), ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) and children of His Father in heaven (Romans 8:14-17)! One would think this message would be gladly received and yet His proclamation, that entrance into the kingdom of God was not based on knowledge (Matthew 7:21-23) or lineage (Matthew 3:9) but on faith in His atoning sacrifice (Romans 3:25), was so profound that it provoked sharp criticism from His immediate family who thought He was crazy (Mark 3:21; John 7:5) and from those professed guardians of the law, the scribes and Pharisees. Knowing that shortly after His death and resurrection He would return to heaven (John 14:3), to whom would the Lamb of God intrust His glorious message?

You would think that Jesus would pick the most powerful and influential people of His time to share such an important message. Would not one of Abraham’s descendants, God’s chosen people, Israel be the “right” ones to declare the truth concerning God’s Son, Jesus? After all, with prophecies in hand would they not gladly make their paths straight (Isaiah 40:3) for He who promised to bind up the broken hearted, proclaim freedom to the captives (Isaiah 61:1-2) and circumcise their hearts with His very own Spirit (Ezekiel 36:22-28)? Surely those who had been waiting since the time of Jeremiah for a new covenant in which laws would be written on the minds and hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34) of His people would be entrusted to the experts in Jewish religion? And yet we are told that Jesus did not choose a single rabbi, scribe, Pharisee or Sadducee or even priest to be His apostle!