The Lord Jesus had 12 original disciples, but those men were just the first of many more followers of Christ.

They are an example for us to learn from and a reminder that God works in ordinary people.

Are you a true follower of Jesus Christ?

Let's study The 12 with Scott Pauli today

and find truth that will help us all to follow more closely to Christ. It has been a fascinating thing to see the emphasis that Mark places on the inner circle

disciples, Peter, James, and John. Now, that does not mean that our Lord loved Peter,

James, and John, more than the rest.

He loves all of us perfectly, but it does mean that the Lord was working in a very definite way

in them so that he could then work through them. And I hope you're making this your prayer. Dear

Lord, work in me and work through me. Don't let me just be a disciple. Bring me as close as I can

be. Make me an inner circle disciple. I have an idea that perhaps Mark knew so much about this.

Of course, he's writing an inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but he had a little insight because of

his personal relationship with Simon Peter.

So very likely most Bible teachers believe that one of Mark's sources, if you will,

for the information from which he drew was the eyewitness account of Simon Peter.

And so here is Peter, one of the inner circle disciples, recounting to Mark, Mark,

writing under inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

And now here we are, thousands of years removed from that, reading the great accounts in

the gospel according to Mark, and praying, dear Lord, do this in our lives.

Now, you'll remember in Mark chapter number three,

we're first introduced to the inner circle as the three disciples that Jesus changed their names,

Peter James and John. Then in Matthew chapter five, we get our first glimpse of them, alone with Jesus,

...