“Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.” John 1:35-37
Read John 1:35-51; Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11
John the Baptist’s ministry pointed the way to Jesus. The Holy Spirit affirmed John’s faith and testimony when He descended from Heaven like a dove and abode on Jesus. I can imagine John excited at seeing Jesus again and pointing Him out to his disciples. I imagine the disciples curious and, having believed John’s word, determined to follow Jesus to see how He would fulfill John’s statements.
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I love Jesus’ response, “Come and see.”
He didn’t make them feel bad. He didn’t chase them away. He didn’t even try to ‘convert’ them to His way. He simply answered their question, and that led to the opportunity for them to get to know Him, “They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day:…” (John 1:39).
Andrew, Peter’s brother was one of the two who followed Jesus. He went and told Simon Peter he found the Messiah, and Jesus said, “Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.” (John 1:42).
From other passages of Scripture (Matthew 4:18, Mark 1:16), we know Andrew and Peter were fishermen. What else do we know about these two?
This encounter happened away from where they lived. They lived in Galilee, Bethsaida to be precise (John 1:44). They met Jesus along the Jordan River, south of the sea of Galilee.
In Galilee, they fished for a living. What brought them away from their community? Andrew followed John the Baptist, but the Scripture doesn’t clearly state Peter did. Yet, Peter must have been within the vicinity.
We know Jesus later called both men to follow him and be ‘fishers’ of men’ (Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16), and we know they had a house together (Mark 1:29).
What does this tell us about them?
Andrew, Peter’s brother was one of the two who followed Jesus. He went and told Simon Peter he found the Messiah, and Jesus said, “Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.” (John 1:42).
From other passages of Scripture (Matthew 4:18, Mark 1:16), we know Andrew and Peter were fishermen. What else do we know about these two?
This encounter happened away from where they lived. They lived in Galilee, Bethsaida to be precise (John 1:44). They met Jesus along the Jordan River, south of the sea of Galilee.
In Galilee, they fished for a living. What brought them away from their community? Andrew followed John the Baptist, but the Scripture doesn’t clearly state Peter did. Yet, Peter must have been within the vicinity.
We know Jesus later called both men to follow him and be ‘fishers’ of men’ (Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16), and we know they had a house together (Mark 1:29).
What does this tell us about them?
They had the freedom to come and go. In other words, they were not servants or slaves, but self-employed. Since they owned a house large enough to house both their families, Peter’s mother-in-law, and to entertain a crowd which visited with Jesus, one would assume they had some financial status (Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:29–34; Luke 4:38-41), though not considering themselves rich (Matthew 19:23-25; Mark 10:23-31; Luke 18:24-30).
Peter and Andrew partnered with James’ and John’s family when fishing (Luke 5:10). James and John’s family had servants (Mark 1:20).
Often, people portray these men as poor fishermen, yet I’m not sure ‘poor’ describes them correctly. They forsook their livelihood to follow Jesus. However, they had family and servants helping them. On a practical level, I’d say God positioned them in life to be able to care for their families as well as follow Jesus. Yes, leaving their business to family and servants would be a sacrifice. Yet, they had freedoms a servant or slave would not have.
God never calls us to impossible situations. And when something seems impossible, He always makes a way. I think perhaps we see the impossible and therefore assume God doesn’t want us to do whatever He may be calling us to do. I wonder how often in my life I’ve missed opportunities to stand in awe of God simply because I looked at the impossible and did not acknowledge that with God all things are possible.
How often do we look at our situations, can even see we can follow God, but choose not to because to do so would mean not only ourselves, but our families, would have to suffer some discomfort and perhaps even embarrassment.
I do not have the wisdom of Solomon. However, I do have the Holy Spirit dwelling in me. Over the years, I’ve learned God doesn’t call everyone to the same service, and I shouldn’t be surprised at the roads people go down.
Hardships, heartaches, and trials come to those who follow God. I’ve had people tell me these things meant I was walking in disobedience. Maybe. Maybe not. But I can’t bend to the urgings of men. I must bend to the urgings of the Holy Spirit.
I imagine Peter and Andrew were given some grief for dropping everything and following Jesus. But I love the rock of faith Peter has when Jesus asked who the disciples thought Jesus was:
“Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:17-19Have you considered all God has given you? Are you positioned to serve God in a particular way? Do you feel an unction to serve Him and to trust He’ll provide?
“But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.” I John 2:20
