JESUS: the Calling of the Disciples INTRODUCTION

JESUS: The Calling of the Disciples

INTRODUCTION: • The Jesus Series review o Digging in deeper to who Jesus was and what He did Calling of the First Disciples • We are going to look at the callings of The Fishermen (Peter, Andrew, James, and John), and Philp and Andrew. o It is my desire that this is not just a history lesson, but that we will be able to draw some life application from their stories to apply in our lives. § You may be a seeker, a new Christian, or a seasoned saint, but Jesus call to discipleship and deeper discipleship rings on. • Wherever you find yourself today Jesus is calling; are you listening and how will you respond to His call? • Let’s look at what happened in the lives of these men who later would be the men that would turn the world upside down with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Fishermen • First Encounter with Jesus John 1:35-42 (NKJV) 35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). 40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone). o A few observations § Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist. § Jesus statement: Come and See § Andrew Spent time with Jesus § Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. § Jesus gave Simon a new name -- Peter. § There is no mention of Peter following Jesus at this point. • The calling to be a disciple (not apostle yet- that is found in Luke 6:12-16) o Matthew and Mark are similar in the calling of the fishermen.

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Mark 1:17-18 (NKJV) 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. • Scholars debate over if the Luke passage is a different encounter than that of Matthew and Mark or the same instance. o This morning we are going to treat it as the same encounter. Luke just goes into greater detail. o Jesus was known by them because He was preaching in and around Galilee, where they lived. § Some scholars believe that Peter encountered Jesus when Jesus raised his mother-in-law from the dead. (ref. Luke 4:38-39) o The Fishermen were not necessarily the down-and-outers; fishing was a good business. They were not the cream of the crop of religious society. They were uneducated men in the scriptures. § Think country cousin/ Not of polite society Acts 4:13 (NKJV) 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. • The encounter in Luke 5:1-11. Luke 5:1-11 (NKJV) 5 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. o Jesus had a decent following; He needed to get in a boat to speak to them all. o They wanted to hear the Word of God. o Jesus looks for who and what is available to share the message. o It was boats and fishermen this time. o Simon listened to the message; Jesus was in his boat. o Talk about a captive audience! o Simon didn’t allow the inconvenience of Jesus to rob him of a greater blessing to come. 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”

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o Many people listen and like being around Jesus, but doing what He says to do is a completely different story. James 1:22 (NKJV) 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. o This is an interesting scenario-- a trained carpenter telling a trained fisherman how to fish. o Peter let Jesus know that they had tried and caught nothing, but he was willing to do what the Master said to do. o What would it be like if we would not just listen to the Word, but do what it says? § Even when it doesn’t make sense. Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV) 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. o God will sometimes have us dig a hole just to see if we will be obedient so He can trust us with greater. § Doing what Jesus says is not dependent on our understanding of everything, but on our faith and trust in the One that KNOWS ALL. • Personal Abandonment and Absolute Trust o He had faith from what he heard. Romans 10:17 (NKJV) 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. --- 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. o Now that is a fish story. o With Jesus everything changes-- our perspectives, our understanding, our lives. o We will miss the miracle every time if we hold on to what we know instead of holding onto Jesus. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.

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o Simon may have encountered Jesus a few times before this; and maybe even experienced the miracle of his mother-in-law being healed. He had heard of Jesus doing miracles. But this time was different. Ephesians 1:18 (NKJV) 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, o You can see how God has been drawing Simon Peter for a while to this point. John 6:44 (NKJV) 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. • When Simon Peter recognizes he is broken (ptōchos), he sees that he is in the presence of the Messiah. No longer just the Rabbi, but the Christ. From Master to Lord. o When you are in the presence of Jesus does it remind you of your need for Him to be your everything? o When Jesus does something all involved are impacted. o James and John were partners with Andrew and Simon Peter. § Who do you let into your life that will experience Jesus doing something that will cause them to be astonished as well? 10bAnd Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. o Jesus is all about relationship. Notice He starts with calming Simon Peter’s heart. o “Do not be afraid.” § God says a variation of that a lot through the Bible- 365- how many days in a year? Interesting. o Then Jesus gives Peter and those with him a new calling, mission...and a new Identity. o “From now on you will catch men.” (Fishers of Men) § To bring people into the kingdom of God. o They forsook all and followed Him at that point. o Mark 1:20- James and John left their boats with hired men. § Again, not as poor as you might think. o The key point here is not that you leave your vocation or family, but more where are you finding your identity-- work, family, money, home, car, retirement, entertainment, or Christ? o We all have nets and boats to leave behind to follow Jesus. Philip and Nathanael

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John 1:43-51 (NKJV) 43 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” o Jesus found Philip---This was not by accident. • Jesus didn’t call you by accident, but for a purpose. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. o Jesus uses the same phrase again- “Follow Me”. § It’s not a call to like Him from afar, but up-close and personal. • To do life together. • To take on Jesus’ teachings (yoke) and live them out. o And ultimately someday to teach it to others. 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” o Jesus was a known figure to the communities in that region through His teachings and the miracles that He had performed. o Like Andrew did, he went to his brother Nathanael to tell him that they have found the ONE that Moses and the prophets speak of. § It is interesting that Philip doesn’t say the Messiah, or Lord, but the One the Law and Prophets spoke about. Then Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” o Nathanael may have had an issue with Nazareth or that the Messiah was not to come from there but Bethlehem. Either way, he sounds skeptical. o Pre-conception or history can at times hinder us experiencing Jesus. Philip said to him, “Come and see.” o Philip didn’t argue his point or why he was right, he just said “come and see”. The same thing Jesus told Andrew. o When we are seeking who Christ is, I would encourage you to Come and See. Psalm 34:8 (NKJV) 8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! o When you are sharing Jesus with someone, don’t argue but help them Come and See Jesus. (Encounter Him) o Woman at the well—“Come and See a man”.

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o People can argue, but they cannot deny once they have encountered Jesus. Then they make a choice. 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” o Jesus’ greeting may seem strange, but He again knows us and sees us before we see or know Him. He knows our name! (your true self) o He is saying that Nathanael is a true believer that is honest. 48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” o This is what happens when we encounter Jesus. How does He know what He knows about us? o HE is GOD! o He then speaks to us things about us that He could only know about us- beyond natural ability. o Here’s the amazing part, Jesus sees you when you are at your darkest and hardest times and says, “I want you to come and follow me”. He sees you at your best and happiest times and says, “I want you to come and follow me”. § Don’t allow your past to hinder your future with Jesus. 49 Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” o Nathanael’s heart was open and ready to receive what Jesus was saying in that moment. He declared the rabbi is the Son of God and King of Israel. o Those were not just terms of endearment, but declarations of Who Jesus really was. § What is our answer when Jesus calls and tells you something about you? • To declare He is the Son of God and King of King, or to run and hide? Common Themes o Here are a few common themes, from these passages, of how Jesus calls us to discipleship that I would like to recap: o Holy Spirit Draws o Come and See § Jesus or another asks you to come and see. o Jesus Calls to Follow Him § We have a choice to make.

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§ Knowing Christ o New Propose/Mission § Fishers of Men § Making Him Known o Leaving the old Identity to live in the new identity § What does that look like in your life? • Leave your past behind and move forward. Take away questions o How will you respond to Jesus? o Is He calling you to come and see? o IS He calling you to follow Him? o Is He calling you to share the Gospel with someone? o Is He calling to walk in your new identity in Him? o Is He calling you grow deeper in your discipleship? Closing o Discipleship is a lifelong process of drawing closer to Jesus until we are face to face with Him Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV) 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. o Jesus isn’t looking for great listeners of His Word or even doers of the Word. He is looking for disciples that are sold out for Him living in personal abandonment and absolute trust. o How will you answer the call?