The Twelve Mighty Men of Jesus Christ

In 2 Samuel we read of the Thirty Mighty men of King David of Israel. They were great warriors and had shed much blood in the defense of Israel. They are listed by name and therefore were memorialized forever.

In the New Testament we read of the Twelve disciples of Jesus Christ who might also be considered to be mighty men. They weren’t involved in physical warfare brandishing swords and shields and accompanied by the sounds of trumpets and battle cries vanquishing their enemies.

Rather they were spiritual heroes fighting a spiritual war against the enemies of Jesus Christ. They didn’t slaughter their enemies with the sword but rather allowed their own selves to be killed, tortured and slaughtered in the spreading of the good news of salvation offered by Jesus Christ.

Like the Thirty their names have been memorialized for eternity.

Who hasn’t heard the names of Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the zealot and Matthias who replaced Judas.

The Thirty’s mission was to kill and conquer their enemies… the twelve’s mission was to convert and build their enemies into fellow spiritual soldiers.

The Thirty were memorialized for their mighty deeds of war and accrued great honor and glory but their honor and glory paled in comparison to the honor and glory of the Twelve mighty men of Jesus Christ.

Who could have predicted that?