The story of how Jesus called his disciples is one of the most intriguing and captivating stories from the Bible. Each disciple had a unique encounter with Jesus, which led to a life-changing event. Let’s take a closer look at how each of the disciples met Jesus.
Simon Peter
Simon Peter was a fisherman, and he was introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew. Andrew had already been following Jesus and immediately recognized him as the Messiah. He brought Simon Peter to meet Jesus, and Jesus saw potential in him and called him to be a disciple.
Andrew
Andrew was also a fisherman and the brother of Simon Peter. He first learned about Jesus through John the Baptist, who had baptized both him and his brother. After meeting Jesus, Andrew immediately recognized him as the Messiah and began following him.
James
James was another fisherman, and he was also introduced to Jesus by his brother John. They were both fishing when Jesus approached them and called them to be disciples.
John
John was also a fisherman, along with his brother James. They were both working when they first encountered Jesus. He called them to be his disciples, and they left everything behind to follow him.
Philip
Philip came from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter. He was introduced to Jesus by Andrew, who told him that they had found the Messiah.
Nathanael
Nathanael (also known as Bartholomew) was skeptical when Philip told him about Jesus. However, Philip convinced him to come see for himself. When Nathanael met Jesus, he was amazed that he knew everything about him even though they had never met before.
Matthew
Matthew (also known as Levi) was a tax collector. Jesus saw him sitting at his tax booth and called him to be a disciple. Matthew immediately left everything behind and followed Jesus.
Thomas
Thomas was also known as “Doubting Thomas” because he was skeptical about Jesus’ resurrection. However, he initially became a disciple after Jesus visited him and showed him his wounds.
James the Less
James the Less (also known as James the son of Alphaeus) is one of the lesser-known disciples. Not much is known about how he met Jesus, but it is believed that he may have been introduced to him by one of the other disciples.
Jude Thaddeus
Jude Thaddeus (also known as Judas, not Iscariot) is another lesser-known disciple. It is believed that he may have been one of the followers who joined Jesus during his ministry in Galilee.
Simon the Zealot
Simon the Zealot was a member of a Jewish sect that opposed Roman rule. It is unclear how he met Jesus, but it is believed that he may have been drawn to him because of his anti-establishment message.
In conclusion, each disciple had a unique encounter with Jesus, which led them to follow him and become part of his inner circle. Their stories remind us that God can call anyone to serve him, regardless of their background or past mistakes.