Today we talked about Matthew 4:18-22
(Good News Bible TEV)
As Jesus walked along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers who were fishermen, Simon (called Peter) and his brother Anerew catching fish in the lake with a net.
Jesus said to them, "come with me, and I will teach you to catch men." At once they left their nets and went with him.
He went on and saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in their boat with their father, Zebedee, getting their nets ready. Jesus called them and at once they left the boat and their father, and went with him.
The Bible study today was facilitated by Phyllis Burleson and she had much to offer in the commenting, as well.
First it was noted that Jewish children in the first century were educated according to the Jewish laws and traditions and the Torah until the age of 12-13 and after that, only the brightest ones were chosen to continue their education and even fewer were selected to later leave home and study under a Rabbi in order to become a Rabbi. So, to become a Jewish Rabbi would have been considered a great honor that any Jewish boy would have sought after. Interestingly, here in the first couple of verses we see Jesus calling them. Although he isn't calling them to become rabbi's, He IS calling them to become His follower to learn from Him. It was something that they neither sought after or expected..................and nothing they had to work for. He sought them.
From the passage, we see that they went immediately, with no questions asked and no delay.
We might begin to wonder how someone would step forward to follow a man they didn't know, leaving family, occupation, and all of life as they knew it behind. Phyllis learned from her studying, however, that these guys had most likely had some involvement with Jesus before. Andrew had followed John the Baptist, and it is thought that John probably had too. So they had probably seen Jesus show up there when John the Baptist was baptizing. They would have seen him baptize Jesus and they would have seen heaven open and the Spirit descend on Him and a voice declaring him the Son of God. In the book of John we see that Jesus came by the Jordan again the next day after He was baptized and took Andrew and John home with Him to spend the day after they spotted Him and asked where He lived. It also tells us that just after that, Andrew ran to tell his brother Simon (who becomes Peter) to come and meet the "Messiah". So we know by all this that they had associated with Him before. Probably they had seen some amazing things since they were immediately referring to Him as "Messiah." Just how much association they had had, we don't really know. But for them to immediately give up life as they knew it to follow a man, apparently they had spent enough time with Him to truly believe that He was the "Messiah" they had waited for. It is known that He already had a following at this time, so Peter and John and Andrew, no doubt, had begun to follow Him.
It was noted that they were busy preparing their nets. It was a day like any other, where they were doing the mudane things of life. And He called to them. And we see all through the gospels that He most always called people as they were busy with their everyday chores of life. All He really asks us to do is live and He will call to us as He chooses to use us. No doubt, they were mindful of Him already as they fished. But when He called, they abandoned all. Also noted that He still pursues us today and that He loves us so much that He will continue to pursue us even if we don't come immediately or even though we don't abandon all. Look how He continues to love all of them later on when their commitment to Him fails.
They were also just regular, "blue collar" folks. They were fishermen. They were probably tough and rugged with a lot of stamina. They probably had some business skills as well since they would be responsible for selling the fish for profit and taking care of a family. Other than being educated in Jewish law when they were children, they probably had no further education after the age of 13. So we see from this that Jesus called ordinary folks to follow him. This teaches us that we are accepted just as we are with no need of any accolades, education or credentials...............although, those are fine too.
In verse 21 we see that next Jesus sees James and John and calls them. They, too, were preparing their nets and they followed Him immediately. They were on the boat with their father, Zebedee. So they left their father, as well. Zebedee had servants who could care for him. If God calls us, He will take care of the rest when we follow. Our walk depends on obedience and to be obedient, we must hang loose in life to be always open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus had many followers.................certainly not just the twelve. Remember in Luke when He sent out the seventy that came back saying that they had been able to "even cast out demons." and Jesus was filled with joy. Remember too that when Mary got the report from the angels that Jesus was no longer in the tomb, she went back to tell the "eleven and all the others." On the road to Emmaeus , as well, "eleven and all the others" are mentioned. Before His ascension, it is recorded that He met with 500.
Those early followers were ordinary people who went on to tell others about this man, Jesus, the Messiah. New groups would spurn more groups and the Word spread into all the world. Today, as His followers, we too should be passing it on.................
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