by Helen Jesze 11th September 2026
The story goes that after the Resurrection an angel came to Jesus, and pointing to the
disciples, said,
“You don’t mean you’re going to trust the Good News to this bunch! Surely you don’t
think you can save the world with that load of good-for-nothings! Why, there’s Peter
who denied he ever knew you, and Judas – well, he’s already hanged himself!
“There’s Thomas who couldn’t believe that you had risen from the dead. Come to
think of it, not one of them believed you would rise from the dead, did they? And
when you personally sent Mary to tell them, they still thought it was an old wives’
tale!
“Look at James and John, they were squabbling over who would sit at your right
hand and at your left, in your Kingdom, and that was just before you went to Calvary!
Not one of them except John came and stood by the cross to be near you in your hour
of need – everyone forsook you.
“Jesus, I think you have made a mistake. You’ve got the wrong ones there. – Or have
you got some more lined up? Have you got some other men in reserve if these fail?”
“No,” Jesus said, “I have got nobody else lined up. These are the ones I have chosen.
Satan may have sifted them like wheat, but I have prayed for them. I believe in them!
Everyone is a winner. They’re going to make it!”
Well, it probably did not happen as this story goes, but the facts are true that Jesus
had many obstacles to overcome in the lives of these men he had chosen to
evangelise the world. But he never gave up on them – and they did make it, more
than made it!
Thomas the Doubter, as he was called – eventually went as far as India. He did not
remain a doubter, but he preached for 20 years, established 7 churches and died as a
martyr. Each of the disciples except Judas Iscariot, who hung himself, became a
mighty witness for Jesus and we know all about their stories and exploits! Each of
them except John, were also martyred for their faith and service to Jesus. They were
caught up in their love and devotion to their Lord, and had become giants in the
Faith!
George came across the following ‘letter’, which I would like to share with you, as it
goes together with our story above:
MEMORANDUM JMC
To: Jesus, son of Joseph
Woodcrafter, Carpenter’s Shop
Nazareth
Dear Sir,
Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have picked for
management positions in your new organisation. All of them have now taken our
battery of tests; we have not only run the results through our computer, but also
arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational
aptitude consultant.
It is the staff’s opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background,
education and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They
do not have the team concept. We would recommend that you continue your search
for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability.
Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has
absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers James and John, the sons of
Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a
questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel that it is our duty
to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better
Business Bureau. James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus definitely have radical
leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale.
One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and
resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind and has contacts in
high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious and responsible. We recommend
Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man. All of the other priorities are
self-explanatory.
We wish you every success in your new venture.
Sincerely yours,
Jordan Management Consultants, Jerusalem
This is the age-old problem that Mankind thinks they know better than God, but they
are seeing from only the perspective of ther limited mind and intelligence. God has a
plan for each person and He knows them not only as they are now, but what they
could become if they give their lives to Him and allow Him to change them by the
power of the Holy Spirit.
The angel-story was looked at only from man’s perspective, likewise the JMC letter
to Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus knew why he had chosen each of His disciples. He knew
their weaknesses and flaws, but He also knew their qualities and what they would
become! Even Judas Iscariot was chosen in the Father’s Plan. Jesus came to die and
Scripture says that one who ate bread with me has lifted up his heel against me –
someone close to me will betray me. This does not mean that Judas had no
responsibility and that he was pushed into this position. No, I think Judas had the
opportunity to follow Jesus but he had hardened his heart, and satan entered in, and
we know the results.
Seen from the JMC’s perspective, Judas might have showed excellent qualities
compared to the rest of the disciples, but they could not see from God’s perspective,
only man’s. What a catastrophe it would have been if Judas had become Jesus’ righthand man, as they recommended!!
What does all this mean to us today? Well, we can be encouraged that God and not
Man has the last word over our lives; that He never gives up on us. I used to have a
poster with two rabbits, and one was saying to the other: “Don’t give up on me,
God’s not finished with me yet!” How true! Right until we go up in the Rapture or
until we die, we are constantly learning – that is, if we have a teachable attitude – and
if we allow God to change us, it will always be for the better!
Also, those of you who are in leadership of some kind, have to choose different
people for positions and jobs, in the secular world and in the Church world. When I
was in the German Women’s Aglow work for many years and had to choose workers, I
did not just look at their natural abilities and gifts although these were important.
I also looked for those who were women of prayer, of compassion, who had a
teachable spirit, were willing to go the second mile and who would work well in a
team.
Sometimes God pointed someone out to me I would not have chosen. But later, I
found out how wise He was. They became invaluable workers and Board members.
So dear Friends, God is working on your case and will give you and me wisdom in
this area. And if any of you are feeling more like the disciples in the ‘angel story’,
God knows why He has called you and He will bring you into His plan, and away
from the paths and thinking which you might have chosen so far, if they were not His
way.
With the help of the Holy Spirit, each of us is going to make it!! So be
encouraged, and let each of us choose to think as GOD thinks and not to rely on
our own judgement, remembering what we read in Isaiah 55:8+9 (NIV):
‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’
declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” Amen!