Scripture Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20;
Luke 5:4-11; and John 1:29-2:2
Jesus calls everyone to follow
him.
Jesus calls everyone to full time discipleship.
Jesus calls everyone to fish for him.
Jesus calls everyone to a deeper relationship with him.
Jesus wants an ongoing ever growing relationship with you.
Matt 4:18-22
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. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 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, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Notice that it already says 2 brothers, “Simon called Peter”. Jesus is the one who named him Peter. This could be commentary (like, Judas, the one who would betray him) or it could be showing us a chronology not immediately apparent.
Mark 1:16-20
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 18 At once they left their nets and followed him. 19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
Luke 5:4-11
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken (more people in their boat), and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything, and followed him.
Would it make a difference if Simon Peter and the others already had a relationship of some kind with Jesus before this day when he says, “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men?” And the immediately leave everything and follow him!?
I believe it makes all the difference in the world, depending on how well they knew him. If they had not met him previously, we would think them insane. If they were only brief acquaintances, it would still seem a bit odd. What if they had known Jesus for some time? What if they were already following Jesus before this day? What if they were already his disciples when Jesus said this? That would make this famous story of the calling of these 4 fishermen a totally different story than we normally imagine and cannot relate too because we would not do what they did and so we feel like a lesser disciple.
All right – hang on – here we go....
John 1:29-51 - (2:2)
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." (That doesn’t mean he didn’t know Jesus – he was actually related to him – it means he did not know Jesus was the messiah until God reveled it to him.) Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me." 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote — Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." (Phillip believes Jesus is the messiah spoken of in the scriptures) "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." (Nathanael becomes a disciple and believes Jesus is the Messiah) Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." John 2:1-2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples (at least 6 disciples at this point) had also been invited to the wedding.
Everything
we just read in John 1 & the beginning of 2 took place before John was put
in prison. Once John is thrown in prison, he is in there for approximately 10
months before he is beheaded – From prison he will send his own disciples to
Jesus and receive word back from Jesus that he truly is the messiah.
We now understand that at least these men were disciples of Jesus for some time before John was thrown in prison!!! Let’s go back to the first text we looked at earlier - 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 make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.
Going back only 6 verses before this big story of Jesus calling the disciples, and them leaving everything to follow him; we read, Matthew 4:12-17 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
When
Jesus called them to go deeper “cast out into the deep Peter” “Come, follow me”
and “I will make you fishers of men” they were already following him.
FISH: Catch first; clean later! I didn’t know anything about Jesus when I first put my trust in him other than I believed he was God and was real. It wasn’t until I had been his disciple for a while he said, go and preach my name. Jesus had to catch me before he could clean me. People think they have to clean up their lives before they come to Jesus – that is what John the Baptist was saying – make things straight – make a clear road for Jesus to come. But before anyone could do that, Jesus started building relationships with them. As they knew him he continually called them to go deeper and deeper and deeper.
We should not be discouraged by the disciple’s faith that allowed them to leave everything and follow him. That did not happen on the first day. It should however cause us to do the hard work, the daily work, the continual faithful work of a disciple and invest in daily prayer, studying the scriptures, Christian fellowship, worship, and service, so when he does call us to go deeper and further, to cross a border we have never crossed before, we are not only equipped, but are ready to say yes, leave whatever we were previously doing and follow him into new unchartered waters to catch so many fish, we will have to call to our brothers and sisters for help and wonder together if our nets will even hold so many who are putting their faith in Jesus.
Children’s Message: Red Light – Green Light
Play the game – would Jesus play that? As a kid I am sure he did.
But Jesus wants us always going for him. Sometimes fast – sometimes slow.
How can we grow before we go for Jesus?
Read the Bible, Pray, Go to church, Help others, Hang out with other people who also love Jesus, sing praises, ask for forgiveness, tell others about Jesus.
Jesus has a big green light and wants you growing and going for Him.
Jesus calls everyone to full time discipleship.
Jesus calls everyone to fish for him.
Jesus calls everyone to a deeper relationship with him.
Jesus wants an ongoing ever growing relationship with you.
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. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 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, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Notice that it already says 2 brothers, “Simon called Peter”. Jesus is the one who named him Peter. This could be commentary (like, Judas, the one who would betray him) or it could be showing us a chronology not immediately apparent.
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 18 At once they left their nets and followed him. 19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken (more people in their boat), and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything, and followed him.
Would it make a difference if Simon Peter and the others already had a relationship of some kind with Jesus before this day when he says, “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men?” And the immediately leave everything and follow him!?
I believe it makes all the difference in the world, depending on how well they knew him. If they had not met him previously, we would think them insane. If they were only brief acquaintances, it would still seem a bit odd. What if they had known Jesus for some time? What if they were already following Jesus before this day? What if they were already his disciples when Jesus said this? That would make this famous story of the calling of these 4 fishermen a totally different story than we normally imagine and cannot relate too because we would not do what they did and so we feel like a lesser disciple.
All right – hang on – here we go....
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." (That doesn’t mean he didn’t know Jesus – he was actually related to him – it means he did not know Jesus was the messiah until God reveled it to him.) Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me." 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote — Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." (Phillip believes Jesus is the messiah spoken of in the scriptures) "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." (Nathanael becomes a disciple and believes Jesus is the Messiah) Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." John 2:1-2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples (at least 6 disciples at this point) had also been invited to the wedding.
We now understand that at least these men were disciples of Jesus for some time before John was thrown in prison!!! Let’s go back to the first text we looked at earlier - 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 make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.
Going back only 6 verses before this big story of Jesus calling the disciples, and them leaving everything to follow him; we read, Matthew 4:12-17 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
FISH: Catch first; clean later! I didn’t know anything about Jesus when I first put my trust in him other than I believed he was God and was real. It wasn’t until I had been his disciple for a while he said, go and preach my name. Jesus had to catch me before he could clean me. People think they have to clean up their lives before they come to Jesus – that is what John the Baptist was saying – make things straight – make a clear road for Jesus to come. But before anyone could do that, Jesus started building relationships with them. As they knew him he continually called them to go deeper and deeper and deeper.
We should not be discouraged by the disciple’s faith that allowed them to leave everything and follow him. That did not happen on the first day. It should however cause us to do the hard work, the daily work, the continual faithful work of a disciple and invest in daily prayer, studying the scriptures, Christian fellowship, worship, and service, so when he does call us to go deeper and further, to cross a border we have never crossed before, we are not only equipped, but are ready to say yes, leave whatever we were previously doing and follow him into new unchartered waters to catch so many fish, we will have to call to our brothers and sisters for help and wonder together if our nets will even hold so many who are putting their faith in Jesus.
Play the game – would Jesus play that? As a kid I am sure he did.
But Jesus wants us always going for him. Sometimes fast – sometimes slow.
How can we grow before we go for Jesus?
Read the Bible, Pray, Go to church, Help others, Hang out with other people who also love Jesus, sing praises, ask for forgiveness, tell others about Jesus.
Jesus has a big green light and wants you growing and going for Him.
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