-THE LIFE OF CHRIST - THE GALILEAN MINISTRY

  Jesus Re-calls His Initial Followers

-Jesus Re-Calls His Initial Followers

-Matt 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20, Luke 5:1-11

-By simply reading Matthew, Mark and Luke’s accounts of the Gospel, it would seem that this was the

  first time Jesus had met these men.  However, as we’ve already seen in our study, John indicated

  that Jesus had previously encountered some or all of them.  (John 1:35-51 – Although John and James

  are not specifically named, it seems that John was one of the “two disciples” in verse 37 and probably

  then involved his brother James at that time.)

-It seems that these men had previously returned to their houses, families and jobs – perhaps when

 Jesus re-entered Galilee.  This does not indicate unfaithfulness on their part.  Their previous following

 had been an initial stage in their learning and development.  Now it would intensify.

-In Luke 5:1-11 we find fishermen becoming fishers of men.

            -In Luke’s account, we find that Jesus was not alone when He called these men again.  It

             was at this time that a crowd of people was forming.  It seems that these men whom Jesus

             called had brought their ships to shore and were taking care of their equipment (including

             cleaning/mending their nets) in preparation of following Jesus.  Jesus then sat in Peter’s

             boat and taught from the shallow water.

            -After teaching the crowd, Jesus used the occasion as an opportunity to teach the disciples. 

             He had Peter (and those working in his boat) launch out into deeper water and let their nets

             down.  Peter explained that they had fished all night and caught nothing.  But, because of his

             belief in Jesus, Peter followed the instructions.  (Again, this is evidence that unfaithfulness

             had not led these men to leave Jesus.)   There were so many fish in the net that it couldn’t

             hold them and broke.  They then motioned to their partners (James and John – vs 10) to

             come and help.  They then filled both ships to the point that they were about to sink.  Once

             again, their faith had been strengthened at the astonishment of the scene.  Jesus then told

             them that, from that time on, they would catch men. 

-The disciples, upon returning to shore, forsook all and followed Jesus.