In the Bible, we find that Jesus called his first disciples in a very unique and personal way. Let’s dive into the Gospel of Matthew to see how it all unfolded.
The Call of Simon Peter and Andrew
Matthew 4:18-20: “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.”
This passage shows Jesus approaching Simon Peter and Andrew while they were at work. He simply tells them to follow him, and they immediately drop everything and do so.
What’s interesting to note here is that Jesus didn’t give them a lot of information about what following him would entail. He simply asked them to come along with him.
The Call of James and John
Matthew 4:21-22: “Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”
Similarly to Simon Peter and Andrew’s call, Jesus approaches James and John while they are working with their father. He calls them to follow him as well, but this time they leave not just their work but also their family behind without hesitation.
The Significance of These Calls
It’s important to understand that these calls were not just random encounters with a wandering preacher – they were divine appointments orchestrated by God himself.
Furthermore, these calls signify that following Jesus requires both faith and action. The disciples had faith in who Jesus was and what he stood for, and they took action by dropping everything to follow him.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Jesus called his first disciples in a personal and unique way. He approached them while they were at work, asked them to follow him, and they immediately dropped everything to do so. These calls signify the importance of faith and action when it comes to following Jesus.