It might have been neat to be one of the first followers of Jesus. But what made them follow Him? Why would grown men leave everything and follow someone they don't even know? I don't think he had a big bag of candy as someone suggested at bible study....so it must have been something else. But what. Each of the first five - Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip, Nathanael and John all had different reasons for dropping everything else. to follow Jesus. Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist. He was directed to Jesus by John. In turn, Andrew told his brother Simon Peter. Philip was from the same home town as the brothers - so maybe he heard through them. Philip in turn told Nathanael. There was something catchy about Jesus.
Nathanael had questions - he was cautious - but Philip just said - come and see for yourself. Sometimes we don't talk about our faith becasue we don't know what to say - or we wonder what folks will think. Maybe we don't have to have all the answers - Just maybe Jesus can "speak for himself"
In Mark 2: 13-17, we read about Jesus calling another disciple - Levi (also known as Matthew)
13 Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.
15 Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) 16 But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”
17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
We know a bit more about Matthew (Levi) than we do about some of the others that Jesus called. I wonder what you think about Matthew. Was he worthy of being called? At least Nathanael had not deceit. that could not be said of a tax-collector. I wonder what it says about you and me?
Nathanael had questions - he was cautious - but Philip just said - come and see for yourself. Sometimes we don't talk about our faith becasue we don't know what to say - or we wonder what folks will think. Maybe we don't have to have all the answers - Just maybe Jesus can "speak for himself"
In Mark 2: 13-17, we read about Jesus calling another disciple - Levi (also known as Matthew)
13 Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.
15 Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) 16 But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”
17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
We know a bit more about Matthew (Levi) than we do about some of the others that Jesus called. I wonder what you think about Matthew. Was he worthy of being called? At least Nathanael had not deceit. that could not be said of a tax-collector. I wonder what it says about you and me?