Mark 3:13: "Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he
wanted,
and they came to him.Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his
apostles."
"The Lord initiates the call"
----------------------------
Thomas was among "those he wanted" to call. The Lord wanted Thomas to be an
Apostle.
"Thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: Fear
not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name: you are mine" Isaiah 43:1
Since our topic is focused on Thomas, we can summarize that Jesus called Thomas
"by name". (just like the others)
His will was to bestow on Thomas the glory of being the Apostle of India.
"They came to him".
------------------
When the Lord called, they answered his call. They responded and obeyed. Out of
this group which obeyed his call were the apostles chosen to be sent out into
the world. And Thomas was among them.
Obedience to the call of the Lord is an unmistakable character of Thomas. In the
beginning of time we see God making another call - at that time to Adam - "Where
are you?" (Genesis 3:9). Adam, ashamed of himself due to his disobedience, did
not face the Lord then.
That was the beginning of time. In contrast, in the fullness of time, the Lord
calls once again and here we see Thomas and the others obeying the command of
the Lord. When the Lord called - "they came to him". The obedience is of prime
importance. From this select group that "came to him", he handpicked his
Apostles.
"He appointed twelve"
---------------------
This was the time when the original twelve Apostles of the Church were chosen.
At another place we see -
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when
the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also
sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Matthew 19:28)
You who have followed me - will sit on twelve thrones. Twelve thrones for the
twelve.
The throne for Thomas was set in the Church of the East, for he was to become
the first Catholicose of the East. The Church of the East was to be crowned with
his martyrdom in Madras in a land that was unknown to him then, but which the
Lord had carefully picked out for him.
The setting of Mark 3:13 was when the Lord fulfilled an important step in his
plan for establishing the Holy Church firmly in the world ("so that the gates of
Hades will never overcome it" Matthew 16:18), and in that grand vision was the
blueprint for the local Church in the East - this day He selected the able
guardian for the Church of the East for eternity - St. Thomas the Apostle, a
devoted follower transformed by the Holy Spirit into a great leader and powerful
intercessor for an Entire Church for generations to come.
Christ is risen!
Mathew Samuel,
Albany, NY
----------
Part 1:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/23219
and they came to him.Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his
apostles."
"The Lord initiates the call"
----------------------------
Thomas was among "those he wanted" to call. The Lord wanted Thomas to be an
Apostle.
"Thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: Fear
not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name: you are mine" Isaiah 43:1
Since our topic is focused on Thomas, we can summarize that Jesus called Thomas
"by name". (just like the others)
His will was to bestow on Thomas the glory of being the Apostle of India.
"They came to him".
------------------
When the Lord called, they answered his call. They responded and obeyed. Out of
this group which obeyed his call were the apostles chosen to be sent out into
the world. And Thomas was among them.
Obedience to the call of the Lord is an unmistakable character of Thomas. In the
beginning of time we see God making another call - at that time to Adam - "Where
are you?" (Genesis 3:9). Adam, ashamed of himself due to his disobedience, did
not face the Lord then.
That was the beginning of time. In contrast, in the fullness of time, the Lord
calls once again and here we see Thomas and the others obeying the command of
the Lord. When the Lord called - "they came to him". The obedience is of prime
importance. From this select group that "came to him", he handpicked his
Apostles.
"He appointed twelve"
---------------------
This was the time when the original twelve Apostles of the Church were chosen.
At another place we see -
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when
the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also
sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Matthew 19:28)
You who have followed me - will sit on twelve thrones. Twelve thrones for the
twelve.
The throne for Thomas was set in the Church of the East, for he was to become
the first Catholicose of the East. The Church of the East was to be crowned with
his martyrdom in Madras in a land that was unknown to him then, but which the
Lord had carefully picked out for him.
The setting of Mark 3:13 was when the Lord fulfilled an important step in his
plan for establishing the Holy Church firmly in the world ("so that the gates of
Hades will never overcome it" Matthew 16:18), and in that grand vision was the
blueprint for the local Church in the East - this day He selected the able
guardian for the Church of the East for eternity - St. Thomas the Apostle, a
devoted follower transformed by the Holy Spirit into a great leader and powerful
intercessor for an Entire Church for generations to come.
Christ is risen!
Mathew Samuel,
Albany, NY
----------
Part 1:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/23219
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