Luke 6:1-16
The Pharisees challenged Jesus about His disciples’ violation of the Sabbath. Their religious structure
turned the Sabbath from a blessing to a restriction. Pharisees opposed even the healing of a man’s
withered hand on the Sabbath. Jesus healed him anyway and they were infuriated. In this context we
read: “It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in
prayer to God. And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom
He also named as apostles:…” (12-13). In the context of rising opposition, Jesus prayerfully selected a
team to both surround Him and facilitate His mission. Like Jesus, all ministers need to prayerfully select
friends!