While I’m traveling, I asked some friends to answer a question: What’s the story related to Jesus that is most compelling for you? Today’s post is from Hope Swanson.

Jesus chose twelve disciples to accompany him during his few years of ministry. He didn’t do it all at once, he didn’t hold auditions, he didn’t take applications. He just chose them as he traveled. He said “follow me” and they did.

We only know the occupations of five of them: four fishermen and a tax collector. Judas Iscariot managed the money of the group. Four of the twelve aren’t given much mention apart from the lists of their names throughout the New Testament.

And yet they were chosen by Jesus specifically, intentionally, purposefully.

He chose these twelve guys. He knew that one of them would eventually betray him and hand him over to be killed. He knew that they would all fail him somehow. He knew that they were imperfect humans, that they weren’t well-educated, that they needed to learn and to grow.

He spent about three years with them, teaching them how to love and serve people. He showed them what love really means. He proved his divinity in their presence. He was far more patient with them than they deserved. He died for their sins.

God certainly calls the educated, wealthy, brilliant men and women of the world to use their status for His glory. I think that’s what happened with Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4. (A story for another time.)

But that’s not most of us. Jesus spent time with those of low reputation. He invested in the lives of men and women who recognized their need for something. He met with them wherever they were, and taught them to do the same for others.

Together they changed the world.

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13, ESV, emphasis added)

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Hope Swanson is Jon and Nancy Swanson’s daughter. She thinks and writes and makes pizza, cupcakes, and smiles.