EXPLORE THE TEXT
Following Jesus will require personal sacrifice.
18 As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew.
They were casting a net into the sea-for they were fishermen.
19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”
20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers,
James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them.
22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Share the requirements identified for Jesus’s disciples.
A disciple is an “apprentice, pupil, or follower.” Share this content from page 24 of the PSG to highlight how Jesus broke norms in choosing His disciples:
Typically, a promising Jewish student would choose a rabbi
he wanted to attach himself to and would ask
to become his disciple. .
. . Jesus reversed the procedure by approaching those He wanted to be His disciples
and calling them to follow Him.
Also, these disciples were called to much more than to simply learn from Jesus.
They were summoned to be actively involved in reaching others
to become disciples of Jesus.
Abandoning nets and boats was tantamount to abandoning their occupation,
while leaving a father elevated Jesus above family.