Jesus calls His twelve apostles to serve with Him during His ministry and to provide leadership for the church after His ascension. Twelve were probably selected because their number corresponds to the twelve tribes of Israel.
The terms apostle and disciple are often used interchangeably in referring to these men. But a disciple is a learner or follower, while an apostle refers to one who is sent with a special message or commission. The Twelve were definitely apostles; when Jesus called them He had a specific mission in mind for them-- to carry on His work after He ended His earthly ministry.
We know that we are ALL disciples of Christ. We are followers who are learning and growing in His Word and are representatives of Him as His body on the earth. Before He sent them out, it says in verse 1, that Jesus summoned His disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. This happened while they were yet disciples and not yet sent out with their mission as apostles! That means that while we, too are disciples the same authority has been given unto us and is to be used by us! Praise God! That is Good News, friends!
While we may not have received a commission from the Lord to go to a far off land to preach and heal the sick, we are ALL called to walk in the authority Christ provided for us and to help those closest to us to receive freedom from bondage and sickness! God is ever searching for those He can find who are willing to be vessels for Him to use. We are His hands on the earth, to reach out and let Him meet needs through us. And we must never forget, that while we are here on the earth, we are still a part of His body. As He is "seated in heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named..." (Eph. 1:20, 21) therefore we, too, are seated in that place!
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