Jesus and his "staff"

It is generally assumed that Jesus was about 30 years of age when he began his public ministry.  Assuming that he was born about 4-6 BC that would make him 30 in AD 24-25. In any case, the way Jesus selected his disciples was not customary. Today we would appoint a committee to decide such issues as how many disciples from each province, who was equipped to handle financial details, and who would be the best spokesman in case Jesus wasn’t well that day. No, that wasn’t what happened. Andrew was the first to join Jesus in ministry, but before that he was one of a group that was following John the Baptist. When John pointed out that Jesus was the Lamb of God, Andrew told his brother Simon, whose name was changed to Cephas (which means Rock). Philip came from the same town and then there was Nathanael
       The interesting thing is that the disciples, one by one, simply seemed to understand that Jesus was someone so different, that without hesitation, they left whatever they we doing and went with him. It wasn’t the charisma of the popular speaker, but the quiet drawing power of authenticity.  Never in his ministry do we get the idea that Jesus was a crowd pleaser who, at the close every service, would give his audience the opportunity to be blessed by investing in that ministry.  
       In this initial gathering of disciples, Jesus set the tone for all that would follow by pointing out a bright and promising future. No matter how difficult a task may be along the way it will move steadily toward a conclusion if its reason for being is clearly understood. So to Nathanael, who was surprised that Jesus knew he was an “Israelite without deceit,” Jesus told him that he would see something greater than that – “heaven standing wide open and the angels of God coming down on the Son (John 1:51). When the future is bright with promise, a group will work together without complaining or drawing back. The task that lay ahead called for complete dedication and there was nothing more compelling than a clear understanding of the prize it offered.
       Jesus was a natural leader, not simply because he set forth a task rich in potential, but because he was exactly who he said he was. I’m sure that that personal quality had been seen earlier in the days when Jesus managed the home due to Joseph’s early decease (this assumption comes from Jesus’ late entrance into public ministry, the lack of any further information about Joseph, and the fact that he was the oldest male in the family). Men gave up everything to go with him and were awarded rejection by the existing authorities. The fact that one of the twelve betrayed him is understandable and probably, as we say, “par for the course.” The others continued in the mission of spreading the gospel even though the majority gave their lives as part of the responsibility. Good leaders are important, but without faithful colleagues the cause will stop in its tracks. Not so in the cause of Christ because his disciples throughout the years have faithfully carried out their responsibilities.