Jesus called his disciples, as fishermen, but he did not intend them to stay fishermen (not as they had been). It is not our righteousness that compels a call to "follow me". Our relationship with Jesus may not lead to a new occupation, but it will require a change. Jesus makes demands on his disciples and on us today. We are compelled to "do justice" to "love mercy" and to "walk humbly with our God". God tolerates our sin against him. Our disrespect. Our rebellion. Our violation of the commandments which outline what He expects of us. However, He does not and will not tolerate our treating each other badly.
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Jesus Calls Four Disciples (Part 1)
JESUS stood on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, teaching the word of God to those who pressed abut him.
He entered one of two ships that were standing by the lake and requested Simon, called Peter, whose boat it was to thrust out a little from the land. Simon did so, and Jesus taught the assembled crowd from the boat.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon:
“Launch out into the deep, and let down your nest for a draught.”
Simon replied:
“Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing. Nevertheless, at thy word, I will let down the net.”
They did so and caught a great multitude of fished, so many that their net was broken. They beckoned to Simon’s partners, James and John, sons of Zebedee, who came and helped them. They filled both ships so full that the ships began to sink.
When Simon saw the great catch of fished, he knelt at Jesus’ knees, saying:
“Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
For he and all who were with him were astonished at the amount of fish that they had taken.
Then Jesus said to the fishermen:
“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
When they had brought their ships to the land, Simon and his brother Andrew followed after Jesus. Also James and John, the sons of Zebedee, left their ship and their father and followed Jesus. (The gospel of John omits the Temptation scene and seems to place the calling of the first disciples nearer to the time of Jesus’ baptism that do the other three writers. John mentions Philip and Nathanael, instead and James and John. Nathanael asks the well-known question, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”)
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CHAPTER 5 SCRIPTURES (KJV):
MATTHEW 4:18-22
And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
MARK 1:16-20
And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
LUKE 5: 1-11
And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
