Jesus' period of obscurity in Nazareth had now come to an end, and he was ready to undertake his public ministry and gather around him those who would become his disciples. They would be the ones specially privileged to be with him in his daily work of preaching, teaching, and healing. They would benefit by his example and learn from his parables and instruction, until they themselves were ready to carry on and extend the work he was now beginning.
It was customary for the teachers of the day to draw around them a circle of understanding followers, earnest students of the law of Moses, which these teachers interpreted. John the Baptist had attracted such a group. So now Jesus also was to bring together men who would assist him in his work, students to whom he would refer in many ways—as his friends, his brethren, even his children and little ones, his servants. These would be the ones to witness the beginning of the development of that kingdom of heaven about which they were to hear much in the days to come.
Thus it was that at or near the scene of the work of John the Baptist, the famous group of twelve men, close followers of the Master, began to take form.
