Calling of the Twelve Disciples

This window portrays Jesus calling his disciples. Shortly after beginning His public ministry Jesus began to teach about God, Himself, and all things related to judgment and eternal life. People were amazed at His teaching and began to follow Him in large crowds. Early on in His ministry Jesus choose for Himself twelve particular men to be his disciples, men who would be with Him constantly and intimately for the three years of his ministry. Of these twelve, eleven were faithful in their love to Jesus. But in spite of all the miracles and teaching of Jesus, Judas Iscariot still would never love Jesus. In the end Judas would betray Jesus unto death, and then take his own life in despair over the evil he had done.

After the ascension of Jesus the eleven faithful disciples chose another faithful man, who had been with the followers of Jesus from the beginning. Matthias was chosen to fill the vacant position left by Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:12-23). Together these faithful disciples went on to become the firm foundation of the early Christian church. According to early church tradition all of these men were eventually martyred, with the exception of John, for their bold faith in Jesus as Lord.