He went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons: (he appointed the twelve:) Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him. (Mk 3:13-19)
Jesus had come into the world with the mission. His mission was to bring in the kingdom of God. Though it was a mission given to him he did not do it alone by himself. As he began his mission he realized the mission was enormous he could not do it alone. He needed the assistance of others and people who were in the world.
As the Gospels present he chose twelve men. This choice proved that Jesus remained within the culture of Jews. Twelve was to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. Twelve also had the meaning of totality. So the twelve had a link with the past history of Israel and it also signified the completeness and totality of the discipleship.
The twelve did not remain as mere numbers. They had their names which meant that they had their identity. The names signified their personal characters. They had their own lives but by joining with Jesus in the mission of Jesus they added a special colour to their lives and mission.
