have profited so badly under such a master as the Son of God, who is the source
CHAPTER 1: The Calling and Preparation of the Twelve
have profited so badly under such a master as the Son of God, who is the source of all wisdom, and the light of the world. Now what was it then if if they had been sent out at once? How could they have proclaimed the message later committed to them, namely the message of salvation? It is certain that they could not have spoken a word properly. We now see the intention of our Lord Jesus Christ, is that he wanted to prepare these twelve whom he chose for apostles, before giving them the commission of which we will see below And even then he said to them, that when he established them apostles, it was not yet to teach fully, but but to serve as a trumpet sounding, and then another pronounced what was to be said. This is how the apostles served only as heralds, to say that people should listen to Jesus Christ, that his doctrine was received, that the path was prepared, as we have already seen from John the Baptist. But still the apostles did not have so extensive a commission from the first time as John the Baptist, until after the resurrection. But this will be dealt with in its place.
Now therefore we see how our Lord Jesus Christ, following what we have touched on this morning, did not want to exercise the office of Master, Prophet, and Teacher only during his earthly ministry, but he wanted to provide for the future of his church, so that it was not deprived of the doctrine of salvation. And in this we see what care he had for the salvation of all his people. For these twelve were chosen, not only for those who lived at that time, but for our use, and so that today we might still receive the benefit of the instruction they gave. Also today the zeal and constancy of Peter show us the path to salvation, and again John's voice, called a voice of thunder, still resounds everywhere: and we must be deeply touched by it. So let us learn that our Lord Jesus Christ showed that he wanted the gospel to continue its course: and that not only did he want it to be heard from his mouth: but that after his death and resurrection he there should be men to proclaim the reconciliation that he had made with God his Father through him. And for this cause he took those of whom he is speaking here.
Now it is said that he withdrew to the mountain to pray, and that he remained there all night. Here let us touch briefly on prayer, of which it is made mention, because it will be discussed at greater length below: and yet it is not expedient to develop the subject fully now. It is true that our Lord Jesus Christ for himself had no need to pray: but as he was head of the church, and as he was subject to all our infirmities except sin (for there was no blemish in him) and had taken our nature to be truly united with us, he needed, because of this