When after the resurrection Christ appeared to His disciples
Preachers and Preaching 19]
The number was twelve, referring to the number of the tribes of Israel, and the sons of Jacob, that were the patriarchs of those tribes. The Gospel Church must be the Israel of God. These twelve are appointed to be the fathers of that Israel. By their doctrine they were to judge the twelve tribes of Israel (Luke
XXii. 30). 'These were the twelve stars that made up the Church's crown (Rev. xii. 1). They are the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem (Rev. xxi. 12, 14), typified by the twelve precious stones in Aaron's breastplate, the twelve loaves on the table of shewbread, the twelve wells of water at Elim. This was the famous jury (and to make it a grand jury, Paul was added to it) that was empanelled to enquire between the King of kings and the body of mankind; and in their communion they have their charge given them by Him to whom "all judgment was committed''.
Their names are here left upon record, and it is their honour. Yet in this they had more reason to rejoice that their names were written in heaven (Luke x. 20), when the high and mighty names of the great ones of the earth are "buried in the dust''.
3. A FULLER CoMMISSION When after the resurrection Christ appeared to His disciples (see fohn xx. 19 ff.), He elaborated the terms of His commission.
He encouraged them first to accept His commission by assuring them of His peace. ''Peace be unto you." Though His commission would involve them in a great deal of trouble, yet He designed their honour and comfort in it, and in the issue it would be peace to them. Gideon received his commission with this word, 'Peace be unto thee'' (Judges vi. 22, 23). Christ is our peace. If He be with us, peace is to us. Christ was now sending the disciples to publish peace to the world (Isa. lii. 7). And Christ in commissioning His disciples (John
XxX. 21) not only confers it upon them for their own satisfaction but commits it to them as a trust, to be by them transmitted to all the sons of peace (Luke x. 5, 6).
It is easy to understand how Christ sent them. He appointed them to go on with His work upon earth, and to lay out themselves for the spreading of His Gospel and the setting up of His kingdom among men. He sent them authorised with divine warrant, armed with divine power. He sent them as ambassadors to treat of peace and as heralds to proclaim it. He