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What was the relationship of Jesus to the apostles?

The twelve whom Jesus had chosen from among the disciples all had to labor hard for their daily bread, but Jesus helped them by sharing with them the gifts that he received from those who loved him.

Some of the companions of Jesus had wife and home and were therefore not always able to accompany him, but he went often to their dwellings to rest a few days when his body was weary after his many travels. His companions received him with much joy and were saddened whenever he departed, for he was much loved by all his disciples, loved by men and women alike.

Eleven of the companions of Jesus were of the Youngest. They were good and strong of spirit, but were much below Jesus in worldly wisdom and learning; and the remembrances they bore in their hearts of the times that were before mankind were faint, for their earthly bodies and their eldest brother's curses lay heavily upon them.

The twelfth companion of Jesus was of the Eldest.

And his name was Judas—Judas of Iscariot.

Often when Jesus spoke to the disciples, before the time when he had chosen the twelve, he saw Judas among them. And when the spirit of Jesus knew him, he saw that Judas bore the heavy burdens of the Darkness.

And when Jesus had chosen the eleven companions, he went to Judas and said: "Brother, come and be one of us."

But Judas turned his face away, and said: "Master, are you able to give me the peace I seek?"

Jesus answered him and said: "Not I, but the Most High."

And he spoke further to him, and he said: "Judas, seek to repent of what you have sinned; take your burdens to our Heavenly Father, then will He forgive you that your heart may become pure."

But Judas answered: “Never can my heart be cleansed. I must bear my burdens alone. None can bear them for me.”

Then Jesus continued to speak to him.

And Judas harkened to the words and promised to go with him. But he said: "I am not able to help you in your mission, for did I this then the impure would defile the pure."

From that time, Judas was among the companions of Jesus. And when Jesus spoke to them, Judas listened to the words; but his visage was dark, and he questioned not, nor spoke to the people. He chose to walk alone, for the eleven companions shunned him. They loved him not.

Jesus spoke often with his companions, and he attempted to rouse the full strength of their spirit.

And he taught them how they could, by the strength of their spirit and the will of their thought, heal the weak and drive out unclean spirits.

And he said to them: “Pray the Most High to give you understanding, that you may know when you are able to help and when you are not; for this you cannot know of yourselves.”

And Jesus often sent them two and two to the cities of the region, that they might proclaim his words to many.

This he did to strengthen them in their task, this he did to try their strength of spirit.

And he spoke much with them of the time to come, when they should be alone upon the great mission; spoke of the time when he should leave them. For he understood that he was not able to overcome the people’s will toward evil, and he told his companions that his death should come soon.

But when he spoke in this manner, his followers said: “Master, how shall we fare when you are no longer with us? For we have not your wisdom and not your power?"

When he had spoken thus, some of his companions asked: "Master, tell us, when you have departed from us will you then never return? Shall we not see you amongst us while we are here? Shall we not meet again until we also have departed this world?"

When they had asked this, Jesus was silent a time; for he remembered the radiant forms he had seen with his earthly eyes.

And he said: "Does our Heavenly Father so permit, then shall you surely see me amidst you."

Then they all asked: "Master, when shall we then expect you?"

To this, Jesus answered: “None know this, only God.”