Introduction. (Matthew 4:18-22). This text records for us the call of four of Jesus’ first disciples - whom He would latter designate “Apostles” (i.e. those “sent forth”). This morning let’s consider a few things about this encounter.
I. “They Were Fishermen” (vs. 18).
Fishing was (and is) a rough job. There was a movie last year about Tuna fishermen who risked their lives for a haul of fish. It was a true story about a ship that was lost when it was caught between two storms. It showed how rough this kind of work can be.
Imagine handling nets all day. You have wet hands all day that become cracked and caloused. If you’ve ever done any fishing you know that handling fish even a little bit, you get a smell on your hands that won’t come out. They say lemon juice and ketchup get’s is out (it works pretty well). They probably used olive oil or something like that.
II. “Follow Me” (vs. 19).
“Follow” = Gr. deute. This is not the usual word for follow. It is most generally translated “come” (e.g. John 4:29 - “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did...” & Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all [you] who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”). Not the same as in vs. 20 “follow.”
I don’t want to make too much of this distinction but sometimes the call to follow Jesus can be intimidating. It is true that we are to imitate Jesus (I Corinthians 11:1). It is true that we are to walk as He walked (I John 2:6). It is true that we are to live by His example (John 13:15 ). But sometimes when we first consider this task we may think to ourselves - “I can’t be like Jesus!” - “I can’t be pure - I have sinned all my life (as it sometimes seems)” or ”I can’t forgive like He forgave” or “I can’t be as religious as He was” or “I can’t lay down my life for others.”
In this text Jesus doesn’t present them with the ominous task of changing to become all that He was - He simply says “come to Me.” There is something about being in the presence of Jesus that can give us the motivation and strength and incentive to try and be like him.
Example: Have you ever been around someone who inspires you? They have qualities that you don’t possess. They have talents that you don’t but simply being with them stirs up within you the desire to be like them.
III. “Fishers of Men” (vs. 19).
Fishing is a rather solitary thing. A fisherman isn’t a politician. A politician lives upon interaction with other people. In modern language people speak of “Type A” and “Type B” personalities. A type A person is a people person. They get energy from being with people. Type B is a bit more solitary. They don’t dislike people, but it is something that takes energy. I would just guess that these grisled fishermen were what we would call “Type B.” And yet the Lord calls them to pursue (to seek out) people.
Not like the politician - seeking support because of the power that it grants to them. Instead they are to become those who seek souls to save.
IV. “Immediately” (vss. 20, 22).
Note: This doesn’t suggest that these men acted impulsively. They aren’t following the first “snake-oil” salesmen that comes along. In John 1:35,36 we learn that Andrew and (probably) John were disciples of John the Baptist. Andrew brought Peter to Jesus sometime before this (John 1:40-42).
The point is that once they had had sometime to consider the situation. When the time came for them to make a decision they had to decide do we follow Jesus - or not? They could have chosen another course.
Wrong Turns: When I was in Tampa, my brother met me at the airport and I was going to follow him into town. He asked me to meet him with my rental car at the airport post office, just as you leave the airport. I looked and didn’t see the post office and tried to exit to turn around. Before I knew it I was on the long bridge leading across Tampa Bay to St. Petersburg. 20 minutes later I met him at the airport post office.
Peter, Andrew, James and John could have stayed fishermen. They could have kept doing what they had before, but it might have cost them thier souls.
V. “He Called Them” (vs. 21).
There is much that is said in the religious world about hearing a “calling.” I read a posting on the internet last week written by our own brethren in which it referred to hearing a “personal calling by God.” One denominational semminary that I saw spoke to the prospective student beginning “If you have heard the call to preach...”
In this text Jesus directly said to these men - “Come to me” i.e. “follow Me.” Is that the way Jesus “calls” us now?