“One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles” (Luke 6:12-13 NLT)

One of Christ’s most profound actions was to appoint the Twelve. As he did before other important times, he prayed in preparation. On this particular occasion Jesus prayed all night on a mountain top. I wonder what the weather was like. Was it a clear night? Did a wet dew fall? Did a chill set in before the sunrise? Jesus had such stamina for prayer. He was so committed to getting what he needed from the Father that physical things such as cold, fatigue, hunger and thirst seemed only to focus his intensity. We don’t know what he and the Father discussed that night. But we do know that at daybreak he appointed the Twelve, even choosing the betrayer, Judas with full knowledge of what was ahead. Jesus performed many amazing miracles. Yet, on this night he accomplished an easily overlooked part of his mission: He appointed the Twelve “to be apostles.” And they proclaimed the good news of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection to the world.