Jn.1:35-38, ‘Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?”’
Verses 31 to 57 of the 1st chapter of the gospel of John is all about the first few disciples who chose to follow Jesus. This is very much different from what we see in other gospels. Does that mean that these four gospels are not in unity? To understand this, we’ll refer to certain historical background of this gospel. Bible scholars are of the view that when Mathew, Mark and Luke published their gospels, John was still preaching about Jesus Christ. After accepting and witnessing the truthfulness about the other three gospels, John proceeded to write to present those things that lacked in other three gospels. John wrote this gospel between 90-100 AD, in a place called Ephesus. Hence, the difference in the gospels does not mark the lack of unity. Rather, it’s just the provision of those facts which were missing in other gospels.
The end of John, the Baptist’s ministry marked the beginning of the ministry of Jesus in the other three gospels, while it overlapped for a certain time period in the gospel of John. Here, we see John pointing out Jesus as the Lamb of God to his disciples. And immediately, these disciples stop following John and start following Jesus. When we read the gospels carefully, we note that there were many who followed Jesus. Basically, the crowd that followed Jesus can be divided into disciples, multitudes and Scribes and Pharisees. Even today, we see many following Jesus. Some follow Him for a healing, some for a blessing, some to accuse Him and some to hear from him. Jesus turns back and asks you and me, ‘what do you seek?’ In other words, ‘why are you following me?’
Why did Jesus choose disciples? Mk.3:14, ‘He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.’ Jesus came into this world to begin a great ministry. He was the 1st missionary sent by His own heavenly Father to reach out to the lost mankind. For this, even at the beginning of His ministry, He called a few to be His disciples. These disciples were supposed to be with Him, to learn from Him before finally being sent out into the world to preach Jesus. This also showsthat only those who walk and have fellowship with Jesus are eligible to be sent out for preaching.
Jesus chose twelve disciples at the beginning of His ministry. Math.10:2, ‘These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.’ The disciples were given the mission to preach. They were also given the authority over sicknesses and against the unclean spirits. Now let’s see how these twelve became the disciples of Jesus.
- All the twelve of them started following Jesus as soon they were called. This is really amazing. How could they leave everything and follow a person about whom they did not know anything. Or did they know about Him? The answer to this question is given in the gospel of John. The ones who were called to follow Jesus were actually seeking a Messiah within their hearts. Andrew, one of them was a disciple of John, the Baptist, who had pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God. The conversations between the disciples show this clearly. Jn.1:40-41, ‘One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). Jn.1:45,’Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”Hence, they left all that they had to follow Jesus, who was pointed as the same by John, the Baptist.’ Even before they were called by Jesus, these disciples were seeking their Messiah about whom the Scriptures talked. They sought neither a miracle nor a temporary deliverance. They indeed sought the Messiah and hence, they could follow Jesus at His very call. They began to become a disciple of Christ Jesus by having a seeking heart that sought Messiah who would deliver them from sins. Such can alone be a true disciple of Christ Jesus.
- But did that alone make them His disciples? Dear friends, let’s take note that becoming a disciple was not an easy thing for them. They had to forsake certain things of their life. We need to note that although these disciples, on the basis of the testimony of John the Baptist and the revelation that the Spirit of the Lord gave them, met their Messiah, they did not yet forsake all to follow Him.
- Mk.1:16-18, ‘And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.’ They left their nets. The nets were their source of livelihood. Leaving the nets does not mean to resign from the job or the source of livelihood……’the so called full time ministry or part time ministry’. It refers to the primary concern for the livelihood…..the concern which is deeper than that for a sincere faith life in Christ Jesus. A person resigning from job to do the work of the Lord need not have left the deep concern or anxiety about his or survival on this earth in terms of finance. Such attitudes of many servants of God often are a big barrier, not only to their own spiritual growth, but even to other’s spiritual growth. Such have not yet left their nets. They have just left their previous means of livelihood. Earlier, they used nets and boats. But now, they use the name of the Lord as nets to earn their livelihood. Their primary concern is to earn their livelihood and not to follow Jesus. A true disciple leaves his nets. He leaves the anxiety and deep concern for his livelihood. He puts his complete trust in the Lord for his daily provision. At the same time, he willingly takes the risk of not being provided and depending upon His presence to overcome the pangs of basic needs, if the Lord allows. We come across many servants of God in the history of church who stayed hungry and thirsty for days together and yet never complained or fell in faith life. Following Jesus is more important than even the daily provisions in the life of a disciple, and for such, the faithfulness of God provides all that they need at the right time.
- Mk 1:19-20, ‘When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.’They left their father…..A true disciple leaves their 1st love for their own family members. Math.10:37, ‘He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.’ They left their father. They left the guidance and protection of their parents, which had guided them and protected them thus far. Although, this sounds a little harsh, it becomes easier to be followed when the love of Christ dawns into our hearts. It’s easy to love someone who loves us. Our parents love us but sooner or later, we discover that even their love has limitations. But the love of Christ crossed all limitations to fill us with His love to love our parents without any limit…..to love them without expecting anything in return…..to lead them to the divine love which saves their soul. A true disciple steps into the sphere of unconditional love for his family as he leaves their conditional love for their family.
- They left the hired servants… ‘And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.’ A true disciple leaves even their deep concern towards their responsibilities. It was the responsibility of James and John to pay the wages of the hired servants. But before the call of Jesus, their liability changes. They now felt more responsible towards their heavenly calling than their earthly responsibilities. But is that being irresponsible towards one’s family? No. The secret here is that when we give priority to our divine responsibility 1st, all our worldly responsibilities are taken care of by our Lord Himself.
- They left their miracle. In Luke 5, we come across a great miracle which Jesus did in the lives of the fishermen, who were called to be His disciples. In fact, this was the 1st miracle done by Jesus. They had toiled the whole night and had caught nothing. But when they set their nets into the deep upon the word of Jesus, they caught a great multitude of fish (Lk.5:5-6). These disciples did not hesitate to forsake even this miraculous catch to follow Jesus. It doesn’t mean that Jesus does not do miracles. But to be His disciples, we need not follow miracles. Instead, miracles follow those who believe. Mk. 16:17-18, ‘ And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they[b] will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”’ The great multitude of people often followed Jesus for healing, deliverances and various other miracle blessings. They followed miracles and not Jesus and hence, could not become His disciples. Dear friends, the greatest miracle is the amazing passion of our Lord for a lost and unworthy sheep like you and me. There cannot be a greater miracle than this. Peter saw that love in the eyes of Jesus…which made him conscious of his sinfulness…..which made him see the great gap between the holiness of God and sinfulness of man. Hence, he could say, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (Lk.5:8)
These disciples, with a seeking heart had found Jesus as their Messiah and left their nets, family, responsibilities and even miracles to follow Jesus. But did that make them His disciples? Not yet.
We’ll go through the next part of this article in the next issue. Till then, may our Lord strengthen us through this message to submit and leave all that obstructs in our becoming His disciples?
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