Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve-designating them apostles that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. NIV

The crowds had been surrounding You all day. Wherever You went they followed, but now was a special time. A time of choosing Your close group of twelve disciples and so You went up into the mountains to call those that You wanted to be Your apostles.

I wonder why the mountain side? It often seems that down the centuries if someone wanted to draw particularly close to Your Father then they would ascend the mountain and wait. I wonder what the disciples thought as they puffed and panted their way up the steep slopes away from the shores of the cool lake and into this dry and dusty place. We read that You chose who You wanted and appointed them as apostles or sent ones. That is such an encouragement, especially when we often think that it is us doing the choosing.

There were a number of close followers that had left everything to follow You. Peter tells us in the book of Acts that they needed to choose a replacement for Judas from among those who had been with You right from the start. So finally twelve are chosen and receive Your anointing and blessing so that they might carry Your ministry onwards. We are not told the criteria but Samuel was told centuries earlier that You look at the heart rather than the outer appearance. But You also chose them as friends to accompany You in the lonely walk towards the cross. There would be times when Your message would fall on closed ears and men would turn away and stop following. But not these twelve. You were shaping them into a group of men who would one day turn the world upside down.

You chose Judas even though You knew he would fail and betray You.

What amazing love.