Thursday: The Call of the Fishermen
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17, NKJV). Just like John, Jesus began His ministry with a call to repentance. He knew, as did John, the fallen state of humanity and the need for all people to repent and come to a knowledge of God. Thus, it’s not surprising that His first public proclamation, at least as recorded here in Matthew, was with a call to repentance.
Read Matthew 4:17-22. What do these texts tell us about the totality of that call that Jesus has on our lives?
Image © Darrel Tank from GoodSalt.com
Here, in the forgotten land of Galilee, was a small fishing partnership run by four young men: two sets of brothers. These men apparently had a heart for God because for a while some of them followed John the Baptist. But, to their surprise, John the Baptist had pointed them in the direction of another young man from their own region.
These men had approached Jesus of Nazareth and asked to spend time with Him (see John 1). That’s how this culture worked: men would approach a rabbi and ask to follow him. But it was the rabbi who made the final decision about who his disciples would be. And when a rabbi asked you to be his disciple, it was a very exciting moment.
Many people have grown up with the idea that when Jesus called the disciples at the sea, this was the first time they had met Him. But we know from John 1 through John 5 that these men had already spent a year with Jesus—apparently on a part-time basis.
“Jesus chose unlearned fishermen because they had not been schooled in the traditions and erroneous customs of their time. They were men of native ability, and they were humble and teachable,—men whom He could educate for His work. In the common walks of life there is many a man patiently treading the round of daily toil, unconscious that he possesses powers which, if called into action, would raise him to an equality with the world’s most honored men. The touch of a skillful hand is needed to arouse those dormant faculties. It was such men that Jesus called to be His colaborers; and He gave them the advantage of association with Himself.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 250.
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“Jesus chose unlearned fishermen because they had not been schooled in the traditions and erroneous customs of their time. They were men of native ability, and they were humble and teachable,—men whom He could educate for His work."
What would happen today?
Would Jesus pick some 3rd or 4th generation SDA schooled in the institutional traditions and approaches of the denomination?
How can one tell if they are teachable?
Can you actually explain what the gospel, grace or salvation is to anyone? Can you do it without using religious/theological lingo?
Brother Jim Bob, your question: Can you actually explain what the gospel, grace or salvation is to anyone? Can you do it without using religious/theological lingo? The three word you mentioned: Gospel, Grace and salvation are all found Jesus Christ.
Gospel means 'good news" about what Jesus has done for all us who accept Him as personal savior. Last week we studied the "Son Of David", Matt.1:21 "And she will bring forth a Son, and you (Joseph) shall call His name *Jesus, for He will save His people from their sin."
Grace" is "unmerited favor" Look at 2 Corn.5:17 "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
And the word "Salvation" is spelled out in Acts 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
In my opinion we cannot explain the three words without mentioning Jesus Christ because He is all these words. Further more read (Phil. 2:9-11).
God being what He is, truly is not a respector of persons. Because He made the constitution of all He created, He understood all He was doing. And being God, He saw the end from the beginning.
As we go about our daily life, the world is always corrupting almost everything around and about us but within us there is a place reserved for only our Maker. And when we make conscious effort to have Him residing in it more and always, it is then that we become His Temple. Amen.
Christ is looking for servants with open and humble hearts, servants who are willing to labor for perishing souls. Many times we think we know so much about Christ that when the light of the scripture it is shown to us we reject it because we have been in the church for many years, we think we have all the light to be saved.
Esther Moran
As we read in (Matt. 4:17-22), when Jesus called these first disciples, they dropped everything they were doing and immediately followed Him. This equates to the excitement and happiness you experience when you finally receive a long-awaited phone call to report to work, following a job interview, for a job that you would die for. If we were asked to start the next day or even the same, most of us would not hesitate even if we were in the middle of something when the call came,-- we would not pass this up for anything, even if it meant some personal or family inconveniences.
This is how importantly and urgently these men regarded Jesus' call on their lives and we are required to do the same, as Jesus says "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). If they saw the urgency of the Master's work more than two millennium ago, more urgent than their livelihood, family, friends or anything else, what prevents us from catching the vision?. There is no time for delay "today is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2). How much are we willing to give up, - though no monetary rewards are attached - recognizing the 100% commitment that this job requires and God's calling on our lives?.
No. 359 - SDA hymnal
Hark, the voice of Jesus calling,
“Who will go and work today?
Fields are ripe and harvests waiting,
Who will bear the sheaves away?”
Long and loud the Master calls us,
Rich reward He offers free;
Who will answer, gladly saying,
“Here am I, send me, send me”?
Real and True Education is found at the feet of Jesus. He is our Creator, He knows our abilities.The Highly learned men and women by and large are more self-sufficient because of their education forgetting the one who gives the that knowledge. They feel they can not be taught or they would question the wisdom behind what they should believe. The unlearned are open to be led and instructed. How many of our learned men and women today living luxurious lives can be willing to leave their place for some lowest and poorest suburbs for the sake of the gospel?
Life is complete at the feet of Jesus!
I Love my God.he doesn't look at financial status,as poor as you are,if you want to work for him,you are welcome.
Good Morning Saints ,
I like the sentence where it says "JESUS CHOSE"- I reference these two words to the bible verse that Matthew 22:14 says"For many are invited, but few are chosen." To be Chosen (it's like a selection, for example when you go for a job interview and you receive a call saying you were Chosen amongst the people that came for the interview) You feel special in a sense, a sense of importance, being given a Second chance.
So coming back to the story Jesus chose: I am 100% that Jesus saw something in those Fisherman that no man could see, only Jesus saw it. Yes they were humble, teachable, as the lesson describes but there was more. Jesus choses people not only to be disciples but to be Ambassadors of Heaven. Whenever Jesus chooses men, meaning even in Heaven, you have been chosen, and the person who gives the approval is Jesus. So imagine if Jesus chooses you to be his disciple, that is a WOW moment, a privilege. Then you don't only learn from this earth education, but you learn heaven education. There is no higher Education than the Education of Jesus Christ.
So when he chose these fisherman, they were never the same again, because they were registered in the school of heaven, they had to pass tests, exams and do practicals. Finally they will graduate as Jesus comes again. The Bible says 1John 3:2 Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. They were ordinary people , but when Jesus appears again we shall be like him.
God bless