The Regeneration
This week and last, we are in a study of Jesus’ selection of His twelve disciples. Most of them we know extraordinarily little about but understanding the religious and political climates of their day, surely shows anyone who stayed with Jesus must have had a unique call and gifting to endure what He promised was coming. Mostly, He dealt with the trials and tribulations fostered by the world’s hatred of them. Treated as outcasts, and targets of the same hostilities against Him (Matt. 10:22; 24:9), their lives were nothing less than tumultuous. We are not privy to the many conversations that happened over the course of three years. The gospels are brief concerning the few we have, but we know there must have been many more when they asked hundreds of questions—some answered, some not.
The key to hanging in with Jesus through the tough discussions must have been many more hopeful ones with promises that convinced them that staying was more profitable than leaving. The salvation of their souls was the beginning of their confidence. Salvation changes our heart, and the mind sets its affection on the heavenly rather than the earthly (Col. 3:2). This kept the disciples from placing too much value on temporal gains of which Jesus promised little to none. This does not mean there was nothing significant in their salvation to look forward to in this present life. There is peace that envelopes our souls, a peace the world does not understand. There is contentment even though we may have little of what the world offers. There is sweetness and calmness in life’s troubles that might otherwise depress and make us think life is not worth living.
Amongst all Jesus’ warnings of what would befall them by staying faithful to Him, was an occasional glimpse of the glory they would share with Him. None could be greater than what He said about the regeneration. They would sit on thrones as judges of the tribes of Israel. Jesus spoke of His millennial kingdom when the entire world focuses on Jerusalem and the tiny nation of Israel. Tiny no more, Israel will dominate across the entire globe with King Jesus on the throne. Righteousness will reign and prosperity will abound.
Overlooking and aiding will be the apostles of the King. They are the chief princes of His kingdom. Their faithfulness is the foundation of the church, the bride, built upon the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ. When Jesus showed them this, still being human and still with their sinful nature, the news began to dominate their thinking. “When is it coming? When is it coming?” was their constant repetitious question. Even when ascending back to His Father, they could not resist and let Him go without asking one more time (Acts 1:6).
What a great promise to know in the millennium, their earthly poverty would turn to earthly prestige—prestige without sinful influences but with a fully regenerated mind. At the time of Jesus’ ascension, there was another promise yet unknown to them. Only the apostle John would learn this before his death. The unveiling of this promise comes at the end of the Revelation. As the Bible records the names of the foundational men of the church, so the dazzling city walls of the New Jerusalem has foundations that record the names of the apostles of Heaven’s Lamb of Glory.
Is it worth it to stay with Jesus? Is it worth it to devote your life to Him? Is it worth it to be a pariah because of your faith in Him? Trust Him, believe Him, stay with Him, and one day you can ask the apostles, “Is it worth it?” You will not need to ask. Your faith will end in sight.Pastor V. Mark Smith