Why did jesus choose the disciples he did?

Answer 1

John 6:38 - For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

Jesus frequently made statements to this effect. It's reasonable to conclude that Jesus consulted with the Father regarding who to name as His hand-picked disciples.

Answer 2

Jesus needed a group of individuals to teach the message of the Kingdom of God so that these could continue his work after he left them.

He chose 12 close disciples as 12 was a special number to the Israelites --12 tribes of Israel is an example--as to the Israelite, the number 12 meant "perfection." Another example is in Revelation - the 144,000 in heaven - not that this will be the actual number in heaven, but this indicates a multitude (the 000 part, and 144 which is 12 X 12 or "perfection" x "perfection" - the perfect number for heaven).

Jesus also appointed 72 other disciples as a sort of "outer circle" of friends who would go before Jesus into towns and villages to alert them of Jesus' coming. They also, after Jesus' mission on earth, helped to spread news of the coming of the Kingdom. Note that 72 = 12 X half of 12 (ie 6).

There are several reasons why Jesus chose the specific 12 people people to be his disciples. As God incarnate he would have known the inner secrets of their hearts. In modern-speak, he was an excellent judge of character. He would have realized that Matthew, a hated tax collector, would be unwaveringly loyal to Jesus after his many sins were forgiven by him. Impetuous Peter and the belligerent teenagers James and John (the "Sons of Thunder" as they were called) would become charismatic church leaders. I am sure that Jesus even knew Judas's tendency to betray him long before it happened. So, on face value the disciples were a right motley crew but handpicked and chosen by Jesus because of the content of their character and the loyalty they all (bar Judas Iscariot) would show their master - even, in many cases, dying for the Christian faith that they were instrumental in spreading across the world.

ANOTHER ANSWER:

Actually, Jesus didn't choose them. His Father chose them for Him... and He accepts His Father's decision on all matters:

"...'Father, bring Me into the Glory we shared before the world began. I have told these men [His disciples] about you. They were in the world, but then YOU GAVE THEM TO ME. Actually, THEY WERE ALWAYS YOURS, and YOU GAVE THEM TO ME; and they have kept your Word. Now they know that everything I have IS A GIFT FROM YOU, for I have passed on to them the Words you gave Me; and they accepted them and know that I CAME FROM YOU, and they believe you sent Me. My prayer is not for the world, but for those YOU HAVE GIVEN ME, because THEY BELONG TO YOU.'" (John 17:5-9 NLT New Living Translation)

The Father in heaven has been "giving certain people from each generation to the WORD, His Son, Jesus Christ, from the beginning" -- beginning with Abel, the first man, chronologically, to be sacrificed in the name of God for His Faith [see Heb.11:4].

And Jesus Christ [the 'Creator' WORD of God in the Old Testament, of whom all of God's "chosen ones" have written and testified [see Luke 24:44] has been training each and every one of them that His Father gave Him in accordance with His ways of Righteousness [obedience to His Commandments], so that they all would qualify to hold offices and positions of authority in His Kingdom when He finally establishes it on earth.

And Jesus' Father chose the twelve disciples for Him for that same purpose... to sit on their own thrones of authority in that coming Kingdom [or Government of God] over those whom His Father has chosen for them:

"...Jesus replied, 'I assure you that WHEN I, THE SON OF MAN, SIT UPON MY GLORIOUS THRONE IN THE KINGDOM, YOU who have been My followers WILL ALSO SIT ON TWELVE THRONES, Judging the twelve tribes of Israel... But many who seem to be important now will be the least important then, and those who are considered least here will be the greatest then.'" (Matt.19:28-30 NLT)

Jesus didn't choose His disciples... His Father did. He didn't choose Moses or Abraham, Elijah or any of the other "Faithful" of God... His Father did.

Jesus just accepted His Father's will on every matter... and has been training them in Righteousness and Perfection to eventually "co-rule" the Kingdom of God when He finally establishes it on earth, to teach the rest of the nations in God's Righteous ways.

"...They [Abel, Enoch, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Elijah, the twelve disciples, and all the rest of God's chosen] came to life again, and THEY REIGNED WITH CHRIST FOR A THOUSAND YEARS. This is the First Resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years had ended.) Blessed and Holy are those who share in the First Resurrection. For them the Second Death holds no power, but they will be Priests of God [the Father] and of Christ and will reign with Him a thousand years." (Rev.20:4-6 NLT)

That's why God chose the twelve disciples. And why He chose all of them whom He has chosen:

"...in the end, the Holy People [God's chosen ones] of the Most High WILL BE GIVEN THE KINGDOM, and THEY WILL RULE FOREVER AND EVER." (Dan.7:18 NLT)

"Then the King will say to those on the right, 'Come, YOU WHO ARE BLESSED OF MY FATHER, INHERIT THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.'" (Matt.25:34 NLT)

These and more plain statements of biblical fact have always been in God's inspired and Truthful Word about "why" God is choosing whomever He's been choosing over the millennia; For Jesus Christ to train to rule His coming Kingdom on earth with Him!

The question is: why hasn't anyone heard it... or has anyone been preaching it?

Could it be because modern professing Christianity hasn't read it... or, if it has, is too faithless, and mistrusting, and blinded to "believe" it?

Answer 3

A really interesting question!

i's difficult too answer for all the disciples but we know enough about some to realise that Jesus was such a superb judge of character that he chose his disciples with specific tasks and attitudes in mind, to further God's Kingdom on earth.

As examples:

Peter: originally called Simon, Peter was the impetuous guy that opened his mouth and always put his fooot in it! he was well-meaning but unreliable before the resurrection, but afterwards nothing could sway him from his devotion and loyalty to Christ. A bit of a rough diamond and somewhat of a buffoon, but deep down there was an enormous strength of character that earned him his nickname - Peter, the Rock.

John: intensely loyal and Jesus' best friend. Jesus knew that John would be the only disciple never to desert him. One of the 'son's of thunder' as Jesus called he and his brother James, this beligerent teenager, Jesus knew, would become one of the most insightful people ever to have lived, as he was one of the first to recognise Jesus' divinity.

Matthew: as a former tax xollector, Jesus knew that he would be grateful and faithful to him for saving him from his past life. He went on to become the great evangelist.

Thomas: the doubter. The story in John's account of Thomas doubting the resurrection is surely Good speaking to us all. For Jesus knew Thomas's doubts, yet if HE believed (and he DID - he fell at Jesus' feet and called him 'my Lord and my God') then how much more comforted are we to realise that if a doubter like Thomas can believe, then so can we.

These give just a few examples of the way Jesus chose the disciples carefully in order that they carry out God's work to the letter, based on their characters and experiences.

Answer:

Jesus chose whom He did, because they are the ones His Father in heaven "gave to Him" and informed Him that He wanted Jesus to train to know the Truth of God.

"...thine they were, and thou gavest them Me; and they have kept thy Word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given Me are of thee. For I have given unto them the Words which thou gavest Me; and they have received them... I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given Me; for THEY ARE THINE." (John 17:6-9)

"...blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear... many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." (Matt.13:16-17)

Each and every person the Father calls and gives to His Son have their own unique personalities... their own strengths and weaknesses... each, a member of the "Body of Christ."

The Father and His Son have been preparing those whom the Father has predestined to train to rule His coming Kingdom. And we are told in God's Word that the disciples are to be kings over the twelve tribes of Israel when the Kingdom is established:

"...ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration whicn the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Matt.19:28)

Those whom the Father has give His Son, to prepare to rule the Kingdom with Him, Jesus has been making: "...unto our God KINGS and PRIESTS: and WE SHALL REIGN ON THE EARTH."! (Rev.5:10)

You don't hear modern professing Christianity teaching this... but there it is in The Bible for all to read and believe if they want to.

"Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given unto the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the Kingdom." (Dan.7:22)

Jesus is doing what His Father has commanded Him to do in their efforts to prepare and bring the Kingdom of God back to earth, where Satan perverted it in the beginning.

"...The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." (John 5:19)

"...I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me. (John 5:30)

"...the works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent Me." (verse 36)

The disciples... Noah... Abel... Abraham... Daniel... Jeremiah... Ezekiel; all the "called" of God are whom the Father has predestined to rule with Christ in the Kingdom. They are of the Father's choosing... and each of them will have an office of authority and rulership to perform in the Kingdom.

"...he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron..." (Rev.2:26-27).

"Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come ye blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Matt.25:34)

The Father chose the disciples for Jesus to "prepare" for some of the jobs the Father has in mind, to man the offices of His House. Jesus has just been "about His Father's business" -- the business of "creation" and "Kingdom-making."

Answer 4

Christ was able to see into their hearts and knew that they would accept Him as the Christ. He also know that they would preach His gospel even if it was to the death.