BaptistWay Bible Series for January 4: The dawning light

As far back as I can remember, I worked on my dad’s farm each summer. At the time, I felt he got the better end of the bargain: He got a worker, while I just had to work.

I learned at an early age the importance of listening to my father’s instructions. For instance, one time when I was too young to be driving a tractor, I chose to speed things up in order to finish faster. The end result was not what I expected, but instead I had to explain how I plowed through a fence.

I was faced with several decisions during my years on the farm. New tasks were presented with wise advice, which I did not always heed. Familiar responsibilities were littered with the miscues of youthful arrogance. Time and time again, I found myself facing a common predicament—follow my father’s advice or try my own way. I was not a prodigal by any stretch of the imagination, but I still had to make the decision as to what I would do.

So far, we find Jesus being faithful to his Father in every task. Last week, we saw Jesus being obedient in the midst of three intense temptations. His faithfulness to God was unwavering in the midst of hunger, exhaustion, pain and loneliness. Jesus followed his Father and proved why God had said in Matthew 3:17, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

After hearing of John the Baptist’s imprisonment, Jesus left Nazareth and moved to Capernaum to begin his Galilean ministry. Matthew quoted Isaiah 9, highlighting the fact that Jesus was the light that had dawned. As Jesus began his ministry in Galilee, his message was simple: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (4:17).

The use of the phrase “kingdom of heaven” is unique to Matthew. One possible reason for Matthew’s use of “kingdom of heaven,” instead of the more common “kingdom of God,” is the Jewish reverence for the name of God. Referring to the “kingdom of heaven” would be less offensive to early Jewish readers. Either way, “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” are synonymous.

Verses 18-22 present the calling of the first disciples. Jesus was in a new area, and it was interesting to note that Jesus approaches the disciples. While Peter and Andrew may have known who Jesus was, their choice was clear. They were fishermen and just doing what they knew they should be doing. They were not doing anything out of the ordinary. There was no special magic to the casting of nets they did that day. The nets were not special, nor were the men casting the nets.

So imagine their shock when they heard the teacher calling to them. Jesus called out to Peter and Andrew and offered an invitation they could relate to: “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (v. 20). Jesus did not set out a detailed itenerary of the years ahead, but kept the call simple. Peter and Andrew responded to the call with a simple response—“at once they left their nets and followed him” (v. 20).

James and John were in a similar situation. They were fishing, except we are told they are fishing with their father. This could imply James and John were part of the family business and expected eventually to take it over. Matthew does not share Jesus’ wording, but simply that he extended an invitation to the brothers, who immediately followed and left both their boat and father.

After calling a few disciples, Matthew tells us Jesus began going throughout Galilee teaching in the synagogues, healing the sick and preaching about the kingdom. Everywhere Jesus went, people were faced with how they were going to respond to him. Most people displayed a willingness to bring their sick friends and family to Jesus, while still countless more chose to simply follow him wherever he went. The crowds knew there was something unique about Jesus, and they chose to act in accordance with their knowledge.

Today, we are faced with a similar situation. We have our comfortable jobs with cushioned chairs and relatively stress free decisions. Our futures may be unsure, but we know where we stand at the moment and we are okay with that. But what is Jesus challenging us to do differently?

Every person in this passage was faced with a decision. For most, it simply was whether or not they would make the effort to help their relative get healed. But for a few, like Andrew, James, John and Peter, the decision was life changing. The teacher approached them and invited them to a life with him.

Jesus is doing the same for you. He is inviting you to make a life-changing decision. The road is not easy, but the journey with Jesus is worth more than anything you might have to give up. What are you waiting for today?

Questions to explore

•  If you were a character in today’s passage responding to Jesus, which character would you be? Why?

•  What are some benefits of following Jesus with a faithfulness similar to that of the first disciples?