Disciples Accept and Follow Jesus as Messiah

Luke 5:1-11; Mark 1:16-20; Matthew 4:18-22; From these abbreviated and fragmentary gospel accounts, it is difficult to reach a positive conclusion as to whether one or two calls are involved. Clearly Matthew and Mark are recording the same event, but Luke may have reference to a later and different occasion. Added details easily could harmonize the two seemingly different accounts and establish that they are records of one and the same event. Viewing the whole New Testament record as it now stands, however, it is not unreasonable to conclude that some of the disciples received as many as five separate calls to follow Jesus:

Luke 5:1-11; Mark 1:16-20; Matthew 4:18-22; (1) In Judea, John, Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip, and Nathaneal, seek out Jesus, receive assurance of his Messiahship, forsake all, and follow him. (John 1:35-51; I. V. John 1:42.)

Luke 5:1-11; Mark 1:16-20; Matthew 4:18-22; (2) In Galilee, Jesus walking, apparently alone, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, finds Peter and Andrew as they fished in their ship; he calls them to follow him and promises to make them fishers of men. Later and at a distance he finds James and John as they mend their nets in another ship and calls them. These four, in groups of two, forsake all and follow him. Such is the account of Matthew and Mark.

Luke 5:1-11; Mark 1:16-20; Matthew 4:18-22; (3) At a seemingly later time, though also on the shores of the Sea of Galilee (as Luke records the account), Jesus finds two ships together; pressed by the multitude around him, he enters Simon's ship, preaches to the people, and performs the miracle of filling the net with fish; James and John come to Simon's assistance; Simon is told that his mission is to catch men; and again those involved forsake all and follow Jesus.

Luke 5:1-11; Mark 1:16-20; Matthew 4:18-22; (4) Five of the disciples mentioned in these calls—Peter, Andrew, James, John, Nathaneal (Bartholomew)—are later called to the apostleship. (Matthew 10:1-4.)

Luke 5:1-11; Mark 1:16-20; Matthew 4:18-22; (5) Even after his resurrection, Jesus is still calling some of these same followers back to their appointed ministries. (John 21.) Indeed, it is not until after the day of Pentecost, when the full enjoyment of the gift of the Holy Ghost has come upon them, that the disciples forsake all in the full sense of never returning again to their temporal pursuits.

Matthew 4:19. Fishers of men] Jesus here uses a familiar expression. Israel also is to be gathered in the last days, one of a city and two of a family by the Lord's fishers and hunters, by legal administrators sent out to "catch men." "Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them." (Jeremiah 16:13-21.)

I. V. Matthew 4:18. I am he of whom it is written by the prophets] 'I am the promised Messiah of whom the prophets testified.'

Mark 1:20. Hired servants] Zebedee was not poor. That he and his sons engaged in manual labor was in keeping with the custom of the day. Even the sons of the wealthy were expected to learn trades.

Luke 5:1. Lake of Gennesaret] Sea of Galilee.

5. Toiled all the night] The usual time for fishing. (John 21:3.)

8. Peter's purpose was not to separate himself and his fortunes from those of his Lord. Rather, he was overwhelmed with the renewed realization that he was in Messiah's personal presence. It was as though he had said: 'I am unworthy of this honor; a sinner such as I is not fit company for "the King, the Lord of hosts" (Isaiah 6:5); depart from me that another more deserving may see thy countenance and behold thy person.'