Jesus’ Call of Discipleship

I will make you Fishers of Men

The entire earth was experiencing a new day. Not just an ordinary newness from the passing of one day to the next as before. Now each new day sang with great hope as the Messiah prepared to slowly reveal Himself and play out His redemptive act for the salvation of mankind. New Testament writers will refer to this song as a groaning; like that from the depths of a wanting soul which knows no other satisfaction but to be united with God the creator.

For almost thirty years as Jesus the Messiah lived hidden in the midst of mankind, the new days passed in silence but with still great anticipation and hope because the God-man Himself; Jesus Christ, was walking on the earth. In obedience, each step He took, consecrated His works so that all may return to Him for the Glory of God.

Creation was not going to sit on the sidelines anymore. Now it would actively participate in the unfolding of events. Mankind was no longer going to be a motionless victim of its own circumstance but was going to be allowed to stand as beneficiaries of God’s Grace. By choosing to be transformed they would wait, without-stretched arms, souls peaked with anticipation, hearts opened, and minds expunged from needless thought, in order to allow for the coming grace which will set them free and unite them with God the creator.

Jesus the Messiah was born into humble circumstances and grew up in the midst of his creation. Now thirty years old, Jesus is ready to make Himself known. He begins by allowing himself to be Baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan (Matt 3:13-17). From His baptism Jesus is tried in the desert of temptation (Matt 4:1-11) by Satan.

It is literally the dawn of a new kind of day.  Jesus walks along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. As He does so, He is watching all the fishing activity with people coming and going. Many people are there because it is a safe route to travel by day. Others are there because of work in the fishing boats. Still others are there for the buying and selling at the fish markets.

The scene is boisterous because of all the early morning activity. With all the clamoring, chattering and mulling about it depicts a scene without form. The scene’s symbolism is reminiscent of the very beginning of creation as recalled in the book of Genesis[1] where it says that creation “was without form.”  Genesis also recalls how the spirit like a mighty wind “moved across the seas of the deep.” These words depict how God, as recalled in Genesis, created all things new from nothingness.

 Now God was going to do something new. Jesus the Messiah will begin a new process and do it by calling out from amongst the nothingness of man, then transform them. It is from this scene Jesus selects some fishermen because they were “without form” and initiates them to be part of the new beginning. 

18  As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.19He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”20At once they left their nets and followed him.21He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them,22and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.            (Matt 4:18-22) 

What did the new disciples do when Jesus called them? 

What do you suppose it means to be a “Fisher of Men?”

It should be pointed out that Peter, Andrew, James and John were unskilled as teachers, preachers or theologians. It does not indicate whether they had any formal education beyond what someone would normally receive at an early age in that culture. Yet Jesus picked them.

Like unformed clay in the potter’s hand, where it is placed on the potter’s wheel and molded to become a usable vessel. Likewise, Jesus begins to mold the disciples. Jesus observes His disciples first. He would test them as in the case of St. Peter He makes a request for him to go out into the deep water and drop His nets. The initial disciples who be the apostles would later go on to establish the Church Jesus desired.

What does this point say to me about my own nothingness? 

Can God work from me where there is no previous experience? 

Would such an encounter require trusting exclusively in God?

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[1]Genesis 1: 2 : and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters

When you think about it, how bad could discipleship have been initially? They ate together and had camaraderie, When Jesus spoke, it really moved their soul and strongly leant credibility to His call. There were those among them who knew Jesus (or so they thought) and could vouch for His character. So, it was sensible to conclude, He was not a charlatan. Besides He was now headed to the town of Cana because He was invited to a wedding and He was taking them. Excitement about attending a seven-day joyful wedding occasion, making new friends, plus free food and wine seemed pretty good.  At Cana they would soon learn, more would be asked of them.

You may suspect, there could have been some doubt in the minds of the disciples. More than likely, it stemmed from a need of additional proof. The disciples really had not learned their first lesson of faith. They were about to learn this and learn it well. It would surprise them. They would realize their call to discipleship came with a mandate. Eventually they would realize their call came with a lifelong commitment to have faith in Jesus. Most of them would also learn that discipleship is not about fulfilling their own expectations, but by having fulfillment based on what God expects.

1  On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.  2 Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.

3  When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”

4  [And] Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.”  5  His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6  Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons.

7  Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So, they filled them to the brim.  8  Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So, they took it. 9 And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom  10  and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 

11Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him  

(John 2:1-11) 

Listen and Do whatever he tells you

The Wedding in Cana is a pivotal revealing point as to who Jesus really is. It also marks a prophetic fulfillment as part of Jesus’ credentials. The disciples of Jesus pickup on this revelation. It occurs to them, that in order be a disciple of Jesus and to witness about Him, it will require them to listen and do what it is He tells them to do.

It is Mary, Jesus’ mother, who echoes what all true disciples are to do and that is to encourage one another to “Do whatever he tells you.” Notice it does not say, “pick and choose.” Notice it does not say “Analyze it.” It does not even say “Think about it and choose later” or choose whatever you think is ‘Good!’ It simply says, “Do it!”

In choosing to answer the call to follow Christ, the disciples will come to know it is truly Jesus as God calling them for a unique reason. As a disciple of Jesus, they were to listen more than speak and to follow His will. Would there be questions? Yes. Would inexorable doubt remain in them? No! The new disciples would begin to operate more on faith.

As a Disciple of Christ, you are asked to “Do whatever he tells you.”

How do I typically respond when being told to do something?

Is my response dependent on Who it is that is doing the asking?

Do you think your response sometimes has to do with your attitude?

God loves us so much to take us the way we are, but he loves us too much to leave us as we are!

A Disciple is Never Greater than the Master

A choice to follow Jesus is not a decision to allow yourself to look at life through rose colored glasses. Jesus provides a clear perspective for the disciple, and so you are to heed the words Jesus spoke to His first disciples “whoever receives you receives me” (John 13:20). Jesus makes no mistake about what his call entails. Jesus was loved and hated. It is the same for his disciples. Some of the love will surprise you as a good thing. Some of the hate is direct and indirect coming in the form of temptation.

There are some wonderful experiences Jesus offers those responding to the call to be His disciples. However, it is into the world He has called His disciples to go to affect His change. It is against worldly desires the true disciple of Christ is up against. Why? Because these are the things which lead man away from God and these are the things Jesus spoke against. So, it stands to reason that as the world treated Jesus when he came, so also His disciples can expect to be treated the same way.

We go into the world as Jesus did. We do what Jesus did. Jesus followed the will of the Father. Likewise, the disciple must seek to follow the will of God.

12 So when he had washed their feet [and] put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you?13You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am.14If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.15I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.16Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.

(John 13:12-16)

Jesus Calls Whom He Pleases

The invitation by Jesus to discipleship is done regardless of any personal merit. Jesus invites each individual regardless of their past or present, to be a disciple. His love for you is beyond measure. God seeks you out and uses countless ways to get your attention to respond to His call. He is longing for you to have a relationship with Him. Yes, there are those who claim, “I found Jesus.” But the truth is Jesus found them!

It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.                                                                    (John 15:16)

Following the will of God will require me to face areas or experience things which are unfamiliar to me. Am I willing to trust in God?

The world mocked Jesus when He first came. Since no one is greater than their master I will be mocked too! Can I endure this? How Can I Endure this?

Jesus’ first disciples were a motley crew They had no credentials nor academic degrees (Some Scholars believe Judas Iscariot might have had some upper education). They had no pedigree, were not part of the elite or upper crust in society. One of the early evangelists in the New Testament is an adulteress as told in the story of the ‘Woman at the well’ (John 4:4-42). From amongst these first disciples He chose His apostles.

When Jesus is gathering His apostles, one of those He calls was a sinful tax collector (A publican) who ends up following Him and later this same apostle wrote one of the gospels (Matthew). Many of our most beloved saints were people of humble and small standing from the point of view in the eyes of the world. Some were children. Still other saints were originally sinners, from murderers, cheaters, liars and even prostitutes. All of them were handpicked by Jesus. All of them humbled themselves at the call of Jesus, becoming disciples and were transformed.

It is these good saints that Jesus chose. It is you that he now chooses to be transformed. You just need to respond.  You are called to be a light unto a darkened world! You are called in your imperfection not so much to a life of goodness but a life which is holy.

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father

After Jesus had died on the cross and rose from the grave, he returned and stayed with the apostles for a short time. During this time not only did He convinced them He did rise; He also gave them assurance. This assurance, along with the power of the Holy Spirit received at Pentecost and the authority granted by Jesus, the apostles became the defining force which would build and shape the church.

Jesus privileged the apostles with many things. He commissioned them to be His witnesses. For this is what a disciple of Jesus does. In the end they would be able to see Him ascend into heaven. They in turn would give witness to this event and write about how this would be linked to His second coming.

6 When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.

10 While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”                                                          (Acts 1 6-11)

Jesus now in His place in Heaven “sits at Gods right hand.”[1] This profession comes from an older biblical metaphor meaning “to have the same authority – to be equal in power.” These words in the Nicene creed come from the early church fathers as a way to affirm Jesus is God.

In becoming a disciple of Christ, Jesus first offers you an invitation to follow in His footsteps allowing Him to provide for you a sanctifying union with God. He offers his continued grace. He offers guidance from His Spirit. Along with this are strength you are given  forbearance to endure, wisdom to understand, piety to walk clearly towards God in Holiness and God’s love which comes from His salvation and mercy.

Jesus’ ascension into heaven offers His disciples the blessed assurances of His promises. This includes but is not limited to the promise to be without Him always, even to the end of the age and including His eventual return.

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[1] Romans 8:34: Who will condemn? It is Christ [Jesus] who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.