Matthew 4:18-22

I'm finished with Genesis! Woo hoo! The way the story ended with the death of Israel (Jacob), it made me think the story is really about him. Or the beginning of his people or nation. Of course I knew that, because that's what I had been taught, but I wanted to look at it as if I didn't know anything about it. It was interesting when the story got pretty involved with Joseph to look back and see how it then tied it in with Jacob. Good stuff.

After a conversation with a friend, I have decided to look at what Jesus says about what it means to be a disciple. That's what I'm studying next. What does Jesus say it means to be a disciple? What did Jesus say someone had to do to be a disciple?

That led me to Matthew 4, Jesus' first encounter with his disciples. This passage isn't the first time Jesus' words are recorded. The first we see words in red is when John baptised Jesus. After that was Jesus being tempted by Satan, then a short account of the fact that Jesus began preaching after he visited Galilee.

Simon Peter and Andrew were the first people Jesus called. Here is the text:

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

The Sea of Galilee was a big place for fishing. Jesus was probably pretty familiar with the way of life for a fisherman. They worked long, hard hours in a trade that required great skill and persistence.

Evidently when Jesus called Simon and Andrew, they weren't far from shore. Or at least in ear-shot. Because as they were casting a net into the sea, Jesus called to them, and they heard.

Not sure what it was about what Jesus said that they responded to so quickly. Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

I find it interesting that Jesus' call to be a disciple is directly correlated with them making more disciples. First, he says for them to follow Him so that they could catch men instead of fish. He didn't just say "follow me." He said follow me so you can do this. Interesting.

James and John were next. They were mending their nets, a frequent practice among fishermen. We don't know the exact words that Jesus said when he called. That's OK. The point is that He did call, and James and John immediately left their boat AND their father to follow Jesus.

A few points of application.

Both calls are pretty emphatic about the fact they left what they had immediately.
Both calls say the people left what they had, including occupation, possession, and family.