Gospel in Art: Jesus called to him his twelve disciples

The Twelve Tribes Encamped around the Tabernacle, by Johann Christoph Weigel. Published circa 1700, Nuremberg © Alamy

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 8 July 2026
Matthew 10:1-7

At that time: Jesus called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, 'Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." '

Reflection on the Antique Print

From the beginning of his public ministry, Jesus had been drawing people to himself and forming a community of disciples. In today's Gospel, he chooses twelve from among this wider group and entrusts them with a special share in his mission. The choice of twelve is no accident. It recalls the twelve tribes of Israel. The twelve apostles were given unique privileges: they travelled with Jesus, listened to his teaching up close, witnessed his miracles, and received authority in his name. Yet when the hour of the Passion arrived, their weaknesses were exposed. They fled, Peter denied knowing him, Judas handed him over, most were not anywhere near the cross. Despite all they had received, they struggled to remain faithful when discipleship became costly.

Their failure reminds us that God's call never overrides human freedom. The Lord invites, guides and equips us, but he cannot compel our response. We too can find our hearts divided, torn between faithfulness and self-interest, courage and fear. Yet the Gospel does not end with the failure of the Twelve. After the Resurrection, Jesus sought them out once more, restoring their friendship with him and entrusting them again with his mission. Their story reveals a profound truth about the Lord: while he respects our freedom, even when we fail him, he never ceases to be faithful to us. His mercy is always greater than our weakness.

Our fascinating engraving, The Twelve Tribes Encamped around the Tabernacle, was produced around 1700 by the German engraver Johann Christoph Weigel. It depicts the people of Israel gathered around the Tabernacle during their forty years of wandering in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt. Following the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, God instructed Moses to build the Tabernacle: a sacred tent that would serve as the dwelling place of God's presence among His people. Unlike later temples built of stone, the Tabernacle was portable, allowing it to accompany the Israelites on their journey. At its heart stood the Holy of Holies, containing the Ark of the Covenant, making it the spiritual centre of Israel's life and worship.

Weigel's print carefully shows the twelve tribes arranged around this sacred sanctuary according to the instructions found in the Book of Numbers. The image beautifully conveys how God was not merely leading His people from a distance, but He was dwelling in their very midst in the tabernacle. For us Christians, this image also points forward to the Gospel. When Jesus chose twelve Apostles, he deliberately echoed the twelve tribes of Israel, signalling that he was gathering a renewed people of God around Him. Just as the tribes encamped around the Tabernacle with God's presence at their centre, so the Apostles were now gathered around Christ himself, the true Tabernacle, Emmanuel, "God with us." The print therefore becomes more than a map of an ancient camp; it is a visual reminder that God's people find their unity when they gather around Him.

LINKS

Christian Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reading: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-10-1-7-2026/