His closest companions, His missionary family. During the remainder of
His life He would train them; and when leaving the world trust their
faithfulness and devotion in extending His kingdom. The two pair of
brothers and their early friend Philip are the first named of the
Apostles. The early Bethsaidan group composed almost one-half of the
apostolic company. But within that circle there was another. Three of
the twelve were chosen by the Lord for closer intimacy. They were to be
special witnesses of His greatest power, His most radiant glory, and His
deepest sorrow upon earth. They were Peter, James and John. Two of the
three, Peter and John, were to be united in special service for their
Lord while He was with them, and so continue after He was gone. But of
the twelve Jesus drew one closest to Himself, most loved and the most
glorious of them all: it was John.

In seeking a reason for Christ's fixing the number of His disciples,
some have found a fancied one in the twelve precious stones of Aaron's
breastplate. The most precious stone would represent John, the chosen
one of the Great High Priest. In his own vision of the new Jerusalem
"the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner
of precious stones." "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations,
and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb." It was
that Lamb of God to which he had been pointed on the Jordan, and to
which he points us as he beholds Him by the "glassy sea." As John read
those names did he not recall the day when Jesus chose twelve whom "He
named Apostles"?




_CHAPTER XV_