Choosing of the twelve — Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16 – Jesus chose a few men and focuesed on them
Mark 3:13-14 "Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve–designating them apostles (“sent ones’) —that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach" Luke 6:12-13 "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples (there were many disciples, not just the twelve) to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:"
"Level Five leaders set up their successors for even greater success in the next generation, whereas egocentric Level 4 leaders often set up their successors for failure (thus making themselves look good)." Jim Collins Good to Great "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." Jesus Christ – John 14:12
Jesus chose a few men and focused on them (“that they might be with Him’) so they could then reproduce his life and ministry in others who could then pass it on to the next group as we see in Paul and Timothy’s relationship 2 Timothy 2:2 "And the things you (Timothy) have heard me (Paul) say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." Thus the demonstrated faith of Paul is continues for four generations Paul, Timothy, reliable men and others. Christianity is always just one generation away from extinction.
In The Master Plan of Evangelism, Robert Coleman’s classic book on Evangelism and Discipleship, he lists the eight principles Jesus used to train the twelve: Selection, Association, Consecration, Impartation, Demonstration, Delegation, Supervision, and Reproduction. "We can only change the world through changed men." And we cannot mass-produce "changed men". It takes a lot of time with a person to transfer our faith to them. They must see it in action not just in church. 2 Timothy 3:10-14 "You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings–what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it," (i.e. from Paul’s example and the Scriptures).
We too must spend a lot of time with Jesus to "catch" His faith and vision for the kingdom of God. (See Luke 10:38-42)
Jesus chose a team of different kinds of people (unity in diversity is a reflection of the Trinity) with different personalities, spiritual gifts and backgrounds (Matthew the tax collector — a traitor in the eyes of most Jews and Simon the Zealot who wanted to overthrow the Romans with force. Can you imagine two people any more different?) 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." But the apostles were devoted to Jesus the Person not just the “cause’. The “cause’ was not that clear to them either (See John 6:66 —69) and to other Christians over the centuries (e.g. the Crusaders)