Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus having a special inner circle of disciples that included Peter, James, and John. These three men accompanied Jesus at some of the most pivotal moments of His ministry and clearly shared a close bond with Him. But why did Jesus choose these three to be part of His inner circle?
Here are a few key reasons why Peter, James, and John may have been selected by Jesus for this special status:
1. Their zeal and commitment to following Jesus
Peter, James, and John are described in the Gospels as being among the first disciples called by Jesus and as leaving everything behind to follow Him (Matthew 4:18-22). Their quick willingness to drop their livelihoods as fishermen and dedicate themselves fully to becoming “fishers of men” demonstrated their zeal and wholehearted commitment to Jesus’ call. This zeal and lack of hesitation likely caught Jesus’ eye and made them well-suited for the inner circle.
2. Their boldness and courage
On various occasions, we see Peter, James, and John demonstrating boldness and courage in ways that set them apart. For instance, when Jesus foretold His death, Peter boldly rebuked Him and declared he would never let that happen (Matthew 16:21-23). While rebuking Jesus was incorrect, it showed Peter’s daring boldness and courage. At the transfiguration, Peter boldly declared intent to erect shelters at the sight of Moses and Elijah with Jesus (Matthew 17:4). At the Last Supper, when Jesus declared one of them would betray Him, the disciples were sorrowful but it was Peter who boldly asked to know specifically who it would be (John 13:21-26). The inner circle repeatedly showed this kind of bold courage, which Jesus likely saw fitting for leadership.
3. Their intimacy with and love for Jesus
The three disciples in the inner circle also demonstrated a strong intimacy with and love for Jesus. John is described as the “disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23) and the one who reclined close to Jesus at the Last Supper. Peter declared his love for Jesus three times after denying Him, showing the depth of his devotion (John 21:15-17). James and John attempted to call down fire from heaven to defend Jesus, highlighting their protective love (Luke 9:54). The intimacy and adoration for Jesus they exhibited made them well-suited for the inner circle.
4. Their spiritual maturity and understanding of His identity
At key moments in Jesus’ ministry, we see evidence that Peter, James, and John may have had a greater spiritual maturity and understanding of His identity compared to the other disciples. For instance, Peter declared Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the Living God” by divine revelation (Matthew 16:16). The three disciples witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration in glory and heard the voice of God, gaining insight into His divine nature (Matthew 17:1-8). They were closer to grasping who He really was. This spiritual insight suited them for leadership in the inner circle.
5. Jesus saw their potential for future leadership
As the foundation of the early church following His ascension, Jesus likely recognized the future leadership potential in Peter, James, and John. Peter would become a pillar of the Jerusalem church (Galatians 2:9) and a preeminent apostle. James and John would become leading apostles with John also authoring five New Testament books. Jesus likely identified this potential in them early on, preparing them for leadership through the inner circle.
6. Representing the diversity of disciples
The makeup of the inner circle with Peter, James, and John may have been intended to represent the diversity of the twelve disciples. Peter was likely the oldest, James around Jesus’ age, and John the youngest. Their backgrounds and personalities varied. Yet Jesus brought unity through this diverse inner group, signaling an inclusive kingdom.
7. Availability and willingness to be present with Jesus
Peter, James, and John may have simply been the disciples most available and willing to spend time in close proximity with Jesus. Their lives as fishermen likely afforded them flexibility to leave behind work and be present with Jesus at key moments, like His late nights of prayer (Matthew 26:37). Their eagerness to be near Christ set them apart.
8. Relationships formed prior to their calling
Some biblical scholars speculate that Peter, James, and John may have had relational ties to Jesus prior to their official calling as apostles. If some of them were followers of John the Baptist, they could have known of Jesus before thestart of His ministry. Their preexisting relationships may have bred closeness.
9. Peter and John’s familial connection
Peter and John are speculated to have been brothers or related in some way. Peter’s significant role may have provided opportunity for his brother John to also gain insider access. Their family tie could explain their joint prominence.
While Scripture does not explicitly state why Jesus chose Peter, James, and John for His inner circle, these reasons provide insightful possibilities. Jesus likely saw their zeal, spiritual maturity, courage, leadership potential and relationship with Him as making them well-suited to be pillars of the early church following His ascension. He invested in them through special time in His inner circle, preparing them for prominent leadership and influence in advancing the Gospel.
At the same time, the inclusion of the inner circle was not intended by Jesus to indicate superiority over the other disciples. Each disciple played a vital role, as seen even in the diversity of the four Gospel accounts provided through their witness. And issues like arguing over who was the greatest among them showed their continued imperfection. Still, through the inner circle Jesus cultivated a core team of intimacy, understanding, and leadership that would powerfully shape the church in its formative years.
As followers today, we can learn from the examples of Peter, James, and John in their zeal, courage, and love for Jesus. While we may not be called to the same kind of inner circle intimacy, we are each called to our own relationship with Christ as we seek to follow Him. We also see that Jesus delights to take imperfect people like the disciples, and transform them by His love into leaders who advance His kingdom for His glory.