There weren’t always twelve disciples.

Whenever we think of the disciples, though, we always think of them as a group of twelve.

Over and over again, the Bible refers to them in that number, sometimes even referring to them as “the twelve” instead of “the disciples”.

But for a brief period of a couple months, they were not “the twelve”, they were “the eleven”.

The subtraction story - how they became 12-1=11 - is well known.

We know his name: Judas.

We know his sin: betraying Jesus.

We know his demise: suicide.

And then there were eleven.

In Matthew 28, in the famous verses I’ve placed at the head of this article, Jesus gives a “great commission” to the entirety of the Christian Church on earth.

He speaks to “the eleven”!

Most pastors have had to answer all kinds of challenging questions when the subject of Judas comes up.

“Does a person automatically go to hell if they kill themself?” (No)

“Is Judas in hell?” (The hell if I know)

“Was Judas actually trying to save Jesus by diverting Him from inevitable crucifixion?” (Um, no)

And others.

It’s almost inevitable that when we hear the disciples referred to as “the eleven” our minds travel to Judas.

But let’s consider the eleven.

The only difference between Judas and the rest of them is that Judas has killed himself.

Beyond that, there isn’t any difference.

All twelve have fallen away.

All twelve have abandoned Jesus.

All twelve would be saved by the grace of God alone.

But there’s Jesus, up in Galilee, giving the eleven remaining disciples a blueprint for the rest of human life on earth.

That blueprint: the church should make disciples through baptism and teaching.

And Jesus gives this instruction to eleven, not twelve disciples.

The first thought I have is that the church should always see itself as an “eleven” and not a “twelve”.

We should always be cognizant of the fact that there is an empty space for another.

It’s that empty twelfth spot that the church should be constantly in a search to fill.

Every baptism is, in that sense, a “twelfth”.

Every visitor is a “twelfth”.

Every waiter or waitress, every person sitting beside us on the airplane, every counter clerk and grocery bagger is a “twelfth”.

And you are one of “the eleven”.

You’ve been given the great commission from the Lord of the Mission to make disciples out of baggers and clerks and strangers and jerks.

Jesus commissioned the church to grow because the church is not complete. Not yet.

The second thought I have is that there is really no difference between being an “eleven” or a “twelve”.

You, if you are reading this, most likely already know that Jesus has suffered and died for you.

Maybe the next “twelfth” you meet doesn’t really know that yet. So maybe there is a small difference between you and them.

But that’s where the differences stop.

You, like Judas(!) have fallen away, have abandoned Jesus, and are only saved by the grace of God.

Go back and read those verses at the top. Some of “the eleven” doubted! Really?

Standing right there, weeks after the resurrection, having already put their fingers in his wounds, having already eaten meals with him, seeing him, hearing him, probably even smelling him (!), and they are still doubting him?

Yes. 

Because there isn’t much difference between being an “eleven” and being a “twelve”.

“The eleven” are quite a mess. 

Hey, wait a minute, I’m a mess too.

Exactly.

You aren’t an “eleven” because you go to church, read and share your pastor’s blog posts, or devote significant resources to ministry.

All of those are good (especially the part about sharing these blog posts!), but they are not qualifications for salvation.

Jesus qualifies you. And through you He is qualifying a “twelfth”... and another, and another…

One of the things that makes it so easy to talk to people about Jesus is that Jesus is the same for everyone.

So talk to people about what Jesus means to you.

There’s an indiscernible line between 11 and 12. Stop trying to discern it.

The third thought I have is that as “the eleven”, we are empowered to carry out God’s will.

It’s this incomplete, barely competent, still confused, awkward group of Eleven that Jesus speaks to with an incredible promise: “I am with you”.

Those words are power.

Jesus doesn’t say, “I will be with you”. He says, “I am with you.” Right now.

Right now.

He’s with you because you are “the eleven”.

He’s with you when you interact with the grocery bagger.

He’s with you when you grieve that loved one who took her own life.

He’s with you when you fall in love, when you argue with the ones you love, and when you say goodbye for the last time.

Jesus is with you always.

There is no “eleven” without Him. So there’ll be no “twelve” without Him either.

Want to make a “twelfth”? Tell him that Jesus is with him.

It’s not much more complicated than that.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, keep me ever mindful of the saving work accomplished by Jesus. Remind me that your grace is available to all. And give me the words and opportunities to share it. Amen.