It was common for teachers, rabbis, philosophers and those of great influence to have disciples. Disciples were students learning from a master who would then become the foot soldiers that took their teacher’s message out to the world.
Socrates, Aristotle, and other philosophers each had disciples. The Pharisees and Jewish rabbis, even John the Baptist had disciples. Jesus had twelve, and Matthew will draw our attention to the time when Jesus called four of these men to follow Him.
Simon and Andrew
Matthew 4:18-19—“Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was 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.’”
Jesus was walking along the Sea of Galilee when He saw Simon and Andrew. These men were hard at work, casting their nets into the water when they encountered Jesus for the first time. Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men!
The two fishermen had an honorable profession, working a business to provide food for their families and their community. Jesus, however, called them from casting their nets for fish to casting their nets for men and women. It’s a significant promotion!
James and John
Matthew 4:21—“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.”
Continuing along the Sea of Galilea, Jesus saw James and John. These men were out in a boat with their father mending nets together. Just as Jesus called out to Simon and Andrew, He issued the same call to James and John.
We don’t know exactly what Jesus said to these two men. We just know that He called out. I would imagine that since they’re fishermen, He probably called to them the same way He called to Simon and Andrew. Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men!
The Response of Four Fishermen
All four men responded to the Messiah in a dramatic way! Simon (who became known as Peter) and Andrew dropped their nets and followed. Matthew 4:20 says, “Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” The response was even more dramatic for James and John: “Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him” (v. 4:22).
I have always pictured James and John leaving their poor old dad high and dry in the boat without any help with the family business. But the parallel passage in the Gospel of Mark gives us a little more detail. James and John’s father, Zebedee, had other employees as well. It was a significant fishing operation, able to operate even with two men suddenly leaving.
Matthew 4:22—“Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”
Focus on the word, “immediately.” It tells us there were no questions. The new disciples had no argument or lengthy discussion. They simply dropped what they were doing and immediately followed Jesus. It was obedience.
The four disciples did not permanently leave their professions, yet. They were only beginning to follow Jesus and were in training. Jesus’ ministry is relatively local at this time. In fact, Matthew 4:23 tells us that Jesus traveled throughout Galilee teaching, preaching, and healing. Simon and Andrew, James and John followed Jesus throughout Galilee while still going back at times to fishing.
Luke 5:1-11 adds another detail for us. We learn that Jesus gave these fishermen a miraculous catch in order to convince them of His identity. He didn’t just tell them to come—He performed a miracle. Each of these men saw it and dropped everything to follow.
A Bunch of Nobodies
Consider the kind of men that Jesus called. Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John were fishermen. Matthew, himself, was a tax collector. The only highly educated man called by Jesus was the apostle Paul, and that was after the Resurrection. The twelve men that Jesus called were ordinary. They were just a bunch a nobodies until they followed Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:26-27—“For consider your calling brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.”
Paul tells us that God did not call the highly successful to Himself. Why not? Because when great people do great things, they receive all the glory. However, it catches our attention when a nobody does something great. By using twelve ordinary men to do extraordinary things, Jesus knew that through their lives God would receive all the glory.
As Jesus called these four men to follow Him, He did not offer a better life or prosperity. He only offered Himself, and gave them the opportunity to gather others to Him. With the exception of John (and Judas), all of disciples died as martyrs. Jesus never promised health, wealth, long life, or prosperity. Regardless, these men counted the cost and followed.
The apostle Paul exclaimed that “to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21). He understood the danger, and he was willing to fulfill his calling to Jesus no matter the cost.
The Gospel of the Kingdom
Traveling around Galilee, “Jesus was teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every kind of disease and sickness among the people” (Matt 4:23). Jesus ministry was in full swing, and the crowds began following him everywhere He went.
What is the gospel of the kingdom that Jesus preached? (see also Matt 4:17). It was a message of repentance, the same as John the Baptist’s message. Jesus was calling men and women to turn from their sin, for the kingdom of heaven was at hand.
The word “gospel” simply means “good news.” What exactly does Jesus mean by “kingdom”? Why is it good news?
The kingdom of heaven is here in some ways, though not yet fully. Every kingdom has a king, a realm or land, and a people—the kingdom of God is no different. God’s kingdom was, is, and will be reigned by Jesus Christ. The citizens of this kingdom are all who have received this King by faith. What is the land? All the world belongs to the Lord, but there is a land more specific here. The land of Israel, as promised to Abraham, will be the focal point of God’s kingdom when Christ returns.
Conclusion
The gospel of the kingdom preached by Jesus is being preached to you today! The ordinary fishermen who became disciples of the extraordinary Son of God were used in amazing ways to spread this message. Until the King returns, His kingdom is growing with new citizens. I hope you are one of them.