Excerpted with permission from Friends and Sisters Bible Study by Lifeway Women. Copyright 2026, Lifeway Press.
A picture is worth a thousand words. I love how a picture tells a story. We can look at a picture and learn details such as who was involved, what happened, when it occurred, where it took place, and why it’s memorable. The same principle applies to the people in our lives. Each person tells a story (some hard, others wonderful) and holds an important place in the larger story of our lives.
Early on in His earthly ministry, Jesus called a group of twelve men from different backgrounds and occupations and invited them to be a part of His life (Mark 3:13-19). Most likely, these are men who would not have been friends apart from their relationship with Jesus. Jesus invited these twelve men, as friends and ministry partners, to link arms for the sake of God’s kingdom coming on earth. Let’s get to know Jesus’s disciples through three Gospel snapshots, each giving us insight into Jesus’s close circle of friends, a group that started with twelve, narrowed down to three, and always made time for the one.
Snapshot 1: Their Faith
Mark 4:35-41 is the snapshot of the winds and waves obeying Jesus. By this point in His public ministry, the disciples had witnessed and heard many things. Their faith in the Lord developed as they watched Jesus interact with others and listened to the truths He taught. In this scene following a day of teaching, Jesus invited the disciples into a boat to cross to the other side of the sea. Little did the disciples know that Jesus had a real-time faith lesson in store for them.
35 On that day, when evening had come, he told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” 36 So they left the crowd and took him along since he was in the boat. And other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to die?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”Mark 4:35-41 CSB
A storm came, and the disciples panicked. Meanwhile, Jesus napped at the bottom of the boat. Let’s put ourselves in the disciples’ position. This storm had more than a little wind and rain. It was a great windstorm, and the boat was taking on water. I’m sure I would have panicked too! Not knowing what to do, the disciples ran to Jesus with an interesting question, “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to die?” (v. 38). The disciples did not hold back from sharing their perspective on the situation.
Jesus cared about the faith of His friends. He wanted His friends to know who He was and what He could do. If we zoom out and consider the broader picture of Jesus and His interactions with the disciples, we will see this as an ongoing pattern. Jesus wanted the disciples to know Him, believe Him, and trust Him. He never wanted the disciples to settle for a surface-level faith. He always wanted them to experience more of His presence and power. I love the heart of Jesus for His friends. He met them in the storm, and then He calmed the storm around them.
Snapshot 2: Their Future
Peter, James, and John made up Jesus’s inner circle. They later became key leaders in the development of the early church. These three men were present for some of the most impactful moments of Jesus’s ministry, including the mountaintop transfiguration, where they saw Jesus in His divine glory (Mark 9:2-13), and the garden of Gethsemane, where He grieved on the eve of the crucifixion. Through the highs and lows, Peter, James, and John were equipped for the days ahead.
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transfigured in front of them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling—extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them. 4 Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— 6 because he did not know what to say, since they were terrified.
7 A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my beloved Son; listen to him!”
8 Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept this word to themselves, questioning what “rising from the dead” meant.
11 Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
12 “Elijah does come first and restores all things,” he replied. “Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did whatever they pleased to him, just as it is written about him.”Mark 9:2-13 CSB
In the garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-41), Jesus was deeply distressed, troubled, and grieved, so He prayed to the Father. Jesus asked for the cup of God’s wrath to be taken from Him. In short, Jesus asked if His going to the cross was necessary (or the only way). Yet, Jesus surrendered to God’s plan: “Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will” (v. 36).
In verses 34 and 38, Jesus told his friends to stay awake and pray. He knew that in the face of His crucifixion and the wake of His ascension back to heaven, Peter, James, and John would face intense spiritual testing. While the cross was waiting for Jesus, the temptation to compromise and abandon hope was waiting for the disciples. The future leaders of the early church needed to know how to prepare for spiritual battles. Prayer was the way Jesus prepared for the cross. And prayer was the way He encouraged the disciples to strengthen their faith for the season ahead. Peter, James, and John had specific calls on their lives. Peter became known as the rock (Matt. 16:18). He preached on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came (Acts 2). James and John were known as the Sons of Thunder because of their boldness for the Lord (Mark 3:17). Historically, James was the first disciple to be martyred for his faith. John was the last of the disciples to die, but not before writing several books of the Bible. None of their lives were easy, but their time with Jesus prepared them for the mission.
32 Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.” 35 He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.” 37 Then he came and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake one hour? 38 Stay awake and pray so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 Once again he went away and prayed, saying the same thing. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. They did not know what to say to him. 41 Then he came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. See, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Mark 14:32-41 CSB
Snapshot 3: Their Needs
Jesus had a heart for the one. Whether it was washing feet, entrusting His mother to John, or restoring Peter after he sinned, Jesus met His friends at their greatest points of need. He saw them individually and loved them completely.
24 But Thomas (called “Twin”), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.”
28 Thomas responded to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”John 20:24-29 CSB
In John 20:24-29, Thomas hesitated to believe the other disciples when they said they had seen Jesus after His death and resurrection. Thomas answered, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
The word “never” communicates Thomas’s resolve. Apart from Jesus moving in his life, Thomas would never believe the resurrection happened. He needed to see and touch Jesus’s nail-scarred hands.
Thomas’s struggle did not deter Jesus. When He visited His disciples a week after Thomas had declared his refusal to believe without proof, Jesus said to Thomas: “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.”
“My Lord and my God” (v. 28) was Thomas’s reply. Thomas knew Jesus was alive, and he knew Jesus was the Savior. He knew that everything Jesus ever said was true.
Jesus met the needs of His friends. Thomas needed to see it to believe it. Your deepest need may be forgiveness, faith to believe, strength to begin again, or healing from shame or guilt. No matter your need, bring it to Jesus.
Jesus wanted friends and took the necessary steps to have friends. His disciples were ministry partners who enjoyed life with Him—the miraculous moments, the mundane moments, and everything in between. As I think about my friendships, I want to do the same. I want friendships that are real.
I want to encourage others to develop their faith, so they are prepared for the mission. I also want to meet needs as I point others to Jesus, who alone can meet the deepest needs in our lives.
Jesus modeled concentric circles of friendships that poured into twelve, narrowed down to three, and always made time for the one. What a great model that will lead to meaningful snapshots in our lives!