The 12 Days of Christmas Day 1
Eleven Pipers Piping
And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.
Mark 3:13-15
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, eleven pipers piping. Now that really sounds strange to us but back in the day, we’re told that a piper would roam through the villages and people would follow his music. Today musicians gather people in huge coliseums and play their music for the masses.
In teaching and defending the faith there is a need to tell the world about the 12 disciples whom Jesus chose and who followed him. But we’re talking about 11 pipers. Well, one disciple dropped out after betraying Jesus and we were left with eleven.
What’s so important about that is that these fishers of men followed Jesus to their death. All but one died for their witness of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This witness is a profound statement about the life and light of Jesus. There are people who will do a lot of things for a lie they are usually self-centered and self-promoting. However, people will rarely die for a lie. In this case, ten died for their faith and John, died in his faith after much persecution. They never changed their tune. They knew what they had seen and heard. These disciples will show us how to walk after Jesus, going in His authority from heaven and on earth to make disciples of all nations.
Jesus once said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32
They were who we are to be. Followers of Jesus who have found the “truth” and who live “free” from the defeated ruler of a dark world. And we, too, are to go, playing the songs of heaven, making disciples of all nations in the power and authority of Jesus Christ.
Are you ready for this life?
From the Kitchen Table 