Matthew 4:18-22
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Sit comfortably and breathe deeply for a few seconds before you begin. As you breathe in, say the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
As you read about the calling of Jesus’ first disciples in Matthew 4:18-22, remember that he has recently arrived in the region of Galilee and has begun his public ministry.
What is it about Jesus that compels these people to walk away from the life they know, and even the people they know, to immediately follow him? You may remember that in John’s Gospel we learned that Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was a disciple of John the Baptist who spent an afternoon with Jesus after hearing John call him the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Andrew was convinced after that experience that Jesus was the Messiah spoken of in the Scriptures (John 1:35-42).
Word probably spread among those in the Galilee fishing trade, so it’s likely James and John had heard about Jesus from Andrew and Simon. By their profession we can see that these young men were less educated and lower on the social ladder than those who had already been chosen as disciples by other rabbis. And when Jesus singles these two sets of brothers out and invites them to join him just as they are, they accept without hesitation.
Take a moment to remember who you were when you were first drawn to Jesus. Consider the fact that Jesus singled you out and invited you to follow him just as you were. What do you want to say to Jesus about this?
Read Matthew 4:18-22 again noticing what Jesus offers to Andrew and Simon Peter.
Jesus doesn’t just invite these brothers to follow him, he tells them what they will become if they accept his invitation. Jesus will “make” them into fishers of human beings. A literal translation of Jesus’ invitation is: “Come follow after me and I will make you fishers of humans.”
The Greek word for “make” means “to cause” or “to be the author of.” Jesus is not just offering these brothers a new profession, he’s promising them a new identity. Where before they have spent their days casting nets in hope of accumulating fish, they will now join Jesus in gathering new disciples. Jesus will author a new story with their lives.
What kind of story would you like Jesus to write with your life? Talk to him about this.
For the final minutes of this meditation imagine Jesus offering this invitation to you:
“Come follow after me, and I will make you [a fisher] of people.”
How do you react? Speak to Jesus and answer him honestly. Then get quiet and listen to him.
You may sense that there is something Jesus is calling you to do or stop doing so you can be free to follow him. If so, begin making a plan to follow through, and take a first step by the end of the day.
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